Breast screening is a service for well women. For most women attending BreastScreen Aotearoa, the Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) is the only health professional with whom they interact. The quality of this interaction is critical to the woman's decision to re-attend for subsequent screens. MRTs therefore require skills that will make this an acceptable experience for women with minimal anxiety at all stages of the screening pathway.

Responsibilities for MRTs

The MRT has two main areas of responsibility:

1. the provision of an acceptable screening experience for women who participate in BreastScreen Aotearoa
2. the provision of medical images of high quality to ensure the detection of small cancers. The detection of such cancers will demonstrate the benefits of screening mammography for women.

Professional Standards

Qualifications

An MRT is a trained and qualified health professional employed in the field of medical radiation technology. All MRTs performing screening mammography within BreastScreen Aotearoa must be registered with the Medical Radiation Technologist Board (MRTB) and hold a current annual practising certificate.  Additionally all MRTs must have completed a Clinical Competence in Mammography (NZIMRT, or its recognised equivalent) within two years of commencing employment with the Programme.

Continuing professional development

To assist in maintaining the necessary skill level and expertise, MRTs should:

1. remain up-to-date with advances in clinical practice and mammography techniques
2. be conversant with current methods of early detection and treatment of breast disease.

These should be achieved by regular attendance (three in any five-year period) at validated update courses, conferences or seminars. These may be regional, national or international and it is desirable that one event contains a clinical component. Within each screening centre, ongoing education must occur through regular in-house study programmes, journal reviews and peer teaching sessions.
All continuing education should be of a quality that would enable it to be included in the continuing professional development programme (CPD) endorsed by NZIMRT.

Medical Radiation Technologists Workforce Surveys

In 2004, BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) commenced annual workforce surveys for Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) working in the breast screening programme. The surveys have been refined over time and provide accurate demographic information on MRTs currently employed by BSA Lead Providers and subcontractors, and their views on some key issues.