Creston councillors are weighing in on a provincial proposal that would let physiotherapists order X-rays and MRIs.
The idea came to council in a briefing from the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia (PABC), which said the change could ease pressure on physicians
“Physiotherapists in British Columbia are currently not allowed to order diagnostic imaging, like X-rays or MRIs,” wrote PABC knowledge lead Jason Craig.
“This creates unnecessary delays for patients, adds pressure on physicians and nurse practitioners, and underuses the training and skills of physiotherapists—especially when treating active individuals with musculoskeletal issues.”
The association wants the government to update legislation, regulations and policies to allow physiotherapists with advanced training to order diagnostic imaging as a restricted activity, noting that the practice is already implemented in several Canadian provinces.
Councillor Carolyn Hawton brought the proposal forward at Tuesday’s meeting and emphasized how the change could help residents get faster care.
“With so many people struggling to always be able to get into a physician in a timely way and get all of those diagnoses or diagnostics completed for a diagnosis, I just feel like this is another way that people can access timely care,” she said.
She added that physiotherapists “really understand the body and why things aren’t working,” and that without this authority, patients may face significant delays while waiting for imaging orders from a doctor. She also noted the potential consequences.
“We have people who then are decompensating their joints and their injuries. So I just think it’s a no-brainer. And there’s lots of expanded scopes for lots of other health-care professionals. So I just think this is smart,” Hawton said.
The PABC briefing notes argue that granting physiotherapists this authority could reduce wait times, improve patient outcomes and free up physicians for more complex cases.
Research cited by the association shows that physiotherapists order imaging judiciously and in line with best practices, often producing diagnoses closely aligned with those made by physicians.
Hawton said that the proposal is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Health.
“This isn’t a physiotherapist saying, ‘I think we should do this.’ This is actually coming from the ministry. So I think our endorsement as a council is prudent and we’re not championing something that is an out-there idea. It’s what our Ministry of Health is already looking at,” she said.
Council agreed to submit the proposal to the the Creston Valley Health Working Group Committee for review.
The Ministry of Health is accepting feedback on the proposal until March 31.
If implemented, PABC said the measure would align with broader provincial strategies to improve team-based care, reduce wait times and optimize health-care delivery.
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