Senate Bill sb1366
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Florida Senate - 2006 SB 1366
By Senator Atwater
25-752-06
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to radiologist assistants;
3 amending s. 468.301, F.S.; providing
4 definitions; amending s. 468.302, F.S.;
5 providing for identification and duties of a
6 radiologist assistant; requiring that a
7 radiologist assistant be under the supervision
8 of a radiologist in certain circumstances;
9 amending s. 468.304, F.S.; providing criteria
10 for certification as a radiologist assistant;
11 amending s. 468.305, F.S.; revising standards
12 of training for certification for categories of
13 radiological personnel; amending s. 468.306,
14 F.S.; exempting an applicant for certification
15 as a radiologist assistant from a requirement
16 to pass an examination; amending s. 468.3065,
17 F.S.; providing for the Department of Health to
18 issue a certification by endorsement as a
19 radiologist assistant to an applicant holding
20 certain credentials; amending s. 468.314, F.S.;
21 revising the membership of the Advisory Council
22 on Radiation Protection; providing an effective
23 date.
24
25 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27 Section 1. Present subsection (15) of section 468.301,
28 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (17), and new
29 subsection (15) and subsection (16) are added to that section,
30 to read:
31 468.301 Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:
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1 (15) "Radiologist" means a physician specializing in
2 radiology who is certified by or board-eligible for the
3 American Board of Radiology or the American Osteopathic Board
4 of Radiology, the British Royal College of Radiology, or the
5 Canadian College of Physicians and Surgeons.
6 (16) "Radiologist assistant" means a person, other
7 than a licensed practitioner, who is qualified by education
8 and certification, as defined in s. 468.302, as an
9 advanced-level radiologic technologist who works under the
10 supervision of a radiologist to enhance patient care by
11 assisting the radiologist in the medical-imaging environment.
12 Section 2. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 468.302,
13 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
14 468.302 Use of radiation; identification of certified
15 persons; limitations; exceptions.--
16 (2)(a) A person holding a certificate as a basic X-ray
17 machine operator may use the title "Basic X-ray Machine
18 Operator."
19 (b) A person holding a certificate as a basic X-ray
20 machine operator-podiatric medicine may use the title "Basic
21 X-ray Machine Operator-Podiatric Medicine."
22 (c) A person holding a certificate as a general
23 radiographer may use the title "Certified Radiologic
24 Technologist-Radiographer" or the letters "CRT-R" after his or
25 her name.
26 (d) A person holding a certificate as a limited
27 computed tomography technologist may use the title "Certified
28 Radiologic Technologist-Computed Tomography" or the letters
29 "CRT-C" after his or her name.
30 (e) A person holding a certificate as a radiation
31 therapy technologist may use the title "Certified Radiologic
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1 Technologist-Therapy" or the letters "CRT-T" after his or her
2 name.
3 (f) A person holding a certificate as a nuclear
4 medicine technologist may use the title "Certified Radiologic
5 Technologist-Nuclear Medicine" or the letters "CRT-N" after
6 his or her name.
7 (g) A person holding a certificate as a radiologist
8 assistant may use the title "Certified Radiologist Assistant"
9 or the letters "CRA" after his or her name.
10
11 No other person is entitled to so use a title or letters
12 contained in this subsection or to hold himself or herself out
13 in any way, whether orally or in writing, expressly or by
14 implication, as being so certified.
15 (3)(a) A person holding a certificate as a basic X-ray
16 machine operator may perform general diagnostic radiographic
17 and general fluoroscopic procedures, specifically excluding
18 nuclear medicine and radiation therapy procedures, under the
19 direct supervision and control of a licensed practitioner in
20 that practitioner's office or in a hospital pursuant to
21 paragraph (b). A basic X-ray machine operator may participate
22 in additional approved programs as provided by rule of the
23 department.
24 (b) A basic X-ray machine operator or basic X-ray
25 machine operator-podiatric medicine may not practice
26 radiologic technology in walk-in emergency centers,
27 freestanding breast clinics, freestanding cancer clinics,
28 state mental hospitals, state correctional institutions, or in
29 any facility regulated under chapter 390, chapter 392, chapter
30 393, chapter 394, or chapter 641. For a facility licensed
31 under chapter 395, a basic X-ray machine operator may only
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1 perform the procedures specified in paragraph (a) in a
2 hospital with a capacity of 150 beds or fewer less. If such a
3 hospital has or acquires radiographic or fluoroscopic
4 equipment other than general diagnostic radiographic and
5 general fluoroscopic equipment, that hospital shall keep a
6 record documenting which personnel performed each radiographic
7 or fluoroscopic procedure. For purposes of this paragraph, a
8 walk-in emergency center does shall not include a
9 physician-operated walk-in clinic that which operates with or
10 without appointments and with extended hours and that which
11 does not hold itself out to the public as an emergency center.
12 (c) A person holding a certificate as a basic X-ray
13 machine operator-podiatric medicine may perform only podiatric
14 radiographic procedures under the direct supervision and
15 control of a licensed podiatric physician.
16 (d) A person holding a certificate as a general
17 radiographer may not perform nuclear medicine and radiation
18 therapy procedures, except as provided in this paragraph. A
19 person who is a general radiographer certified pursuant to
20 this part who receives additional training and skills in
21 radiation therapy technology procedures as referenced in this
22 paragraph may assist with managing patients undergoing
23 radiation therapy treatments if that assistance is provided to
24 a person registered with the American Registry of Radiologic
25 Technologists in radiation therapy who is also certified
26 pursuant to this part as a radiation therapy technologist.
27 Both the general radiographer and the radiation therapy
28 technologist must perform these radiation therapy services
29 under the general supervision of a physician licensed under
30 chapter 458 or chapter 459 who is trained and skilled in
31 performing radiation therapy treatments. The radiation therapy
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1 technologist identified under this paragraph may not delegate
2 any function to the general radiographer which could
3 reasonably be expected to create an unnecessary danger to a
4 patient's life, health, or safety. The general radiographer
5 identified under this section may not, however, perform the
6 following services while assisting the radiation therapy
7 technologist: radiation treatment planning, calculation of
8 radiation therapy doses, or any of the duties of a medical
9 physicist. The general radiographer identified under this
10 section must successfully complete a training program in the
11 following areas before assisting with radiation therapy
12 technology duties:
13 1. Principles of radiation therapy treatment;
14 2. Biological effects of radiation;
15 3. Radiation exposure and monitoring;
16 4. Radiation safety and protection;
17 5. Evaluation and handling of radiographic treatment
18 equipment and accessories; and
19 6. Patient positioning for radiation therapy
20 treatment.
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22 In addition, a general radiographer may participate in
23 additional approved programs as provided by rule of the
24 department.
25 (e) A person holding a certificate as a limited
26 computed tomography technologist may perform only diagnostic
27 computed tomography examinations.
28 (f) A person holding a certificate as a radiation
29 therapy technologist may administer only X radiation and
30 ionizing radiation emitted from particle accelerators and
31 external beam teletherapy from sealed sources of radioactive
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1 material to human beings for therapeutic or simulation
2 purposes.
3 (g)1. A person holding a certificate as a nuclear
4 medicine technologist may only:
5 a. Conduct in vivo and in vitro measurements of
6 radioactivity and administer radiopharmaceuticals to human
7 beings for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
8 b. Administer X radiation from a combination nuclear
9 medicine-computed tomography device if that radiation is
10 administered as an integral part of a nuclear medicine
11 procedure that uses an automated computed tomography protocol
12 for the purposes of attenuation correction and anatomical
13 localization and the person has received device-specific
14 training on the combination device.
15 2. The authority of a nuclear medicine technologist
16 under this paragraph excludes:
17 a. Radioimmunoassay and other clinical laboratory
18 testing regulated pursuant to chapter 483;
19 b. Creating or modifying automated computed tomography
20 protocols; and
21 c. Any other operation of a computed tomography
22 device, especially for the purposes of stand-alone diagnostic
23 imaging, which must be performed by a general radiographer
24 certified under this part.
25 (h) A person holding a certificate as a radiologist
26 assistant may:
27 1. Perform specific duties allowed for a radiologist
28 assistant as defined by the department by rule. The rule must
29 be consistent with guidelines adopted by the American College
30 of Radiology, the American Society of Radiologic
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1 Technologists, and the American Registry of Radiologic
2 Technologists.
3 2. Use radiation or radiation-producing equipment on
4 human beings for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes while
5 operating, in each particular case, under the supervision of a
6 radiologist.
7 3. Not interpret images, make diagnoses, or prescribe
8 medications or therapies.
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10 For the purpose of this paragraph, the term "supervision"
11 means the radiologist must be present in the office suite and
12 immediately available to furnish assistance and direction
13 throughout the performance of the procedure. The term does not
14 mean that the radiologist must be present in the room when the
15 procedure is performed.
16 Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 468.304, Florida
17 Statutes, is amended to read:
18 468.304 Certification.--The department shall certify
19 any applicant who meets the following criteria:
20 (3) Submits satisfactory evidence, verified by oath or
21 affirmation, that she or he:
22 (a) Is at least 18 years of age at the time of
23 application;
24 (b) Is a high school, vocational school, technical
25 school, or college graduate or has successfully completed the
26 requirements for a graduate equivalency diploma (GED) or its
27 equivalent;
28 (c) Is of good moral character;
29 (d) Has passed an examination as specified in s.
30 468.306 or meets the requirements specified in s. 468.3065;
31 and
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1 (e)1. Has successfully completed an educational
2 program, which program may be established in a hospital
3 licensed pursuant to chapter 395 or in an accredited
4 postsecondary academic institution which is subject to
5 approval by the department as maintaining a satisfactory
6 standard; or
7 2.a. With respect to an applicant for a basic X-ray
8 machine operator's certificate, has completed a course of
9 study approved by the department with appropriate study
10 material provided the applicant by the department;
11 b. With respect to an applicant for a basic X-ray
12 machine operator-podiatric medicine certificate, has completed
13 a course of study approved by the department, provided that
14 such course of study shall be limited to that information
15 necessary to perform radiographic procedures within the scope
16 of practice of a podiatric physician licensed pursuant to
17 chapter 461;
18 c. With respect only to an applicant for a general
19 radiographer's certificate who is a basic X-ray machine
20 operator certificateholder, has completed an educational
21 program or a 2-year training program that takes into account
22 the types of procedures and level of supervision usually and
23 customarily practiced in a hospital, which educational or
24 training program complies with the rules of the department; or
25 d. With respect only to an applicant for a nuclear
26 medicine technologist's certificate who is a general
27 radiographer certificateholder, has completed an educational
28 program or a 2-year training program that takes into account
29 the types of procedures and level of supervision usually and
30 customarily practiced in a hospital, which educational or
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1 training program complies with the rules of the department;
2 or.
3 e. With respect to an applicant for a radiologist
4 assistant's certificate who is a general radiographer
5 certificateholder, has completed an advanced educational
6 program encompassing a nationally recognized curriculum for
7 training radiologist assistants, culminating in a
8 baccalaureate degree, postbaccalaureate certificate, or
9 graduate degree that incorporates a radiologist-directed
10 clinical preceptorship.
11 Section 4. Section 468.305, Florida Statutes, is
12 amended to read:
13 468.305 Certification; standards.--The department
14 shall develop standards for certification for the categories
15 of radiological personnel or procedures specified in s.
16 468.302. The certification standards shall be developed by
17 the department to provide for educational programs for persons
18 who are duly licensed or have a credential in a recognized
19 health care profession or who have other training that is
20 relevant to the program of study to be undertaken. All such
21 categories shall include a demonstration of safety procedure
22 competency; however, an operator nothing in this part shall be
23 construed to require that all operators of radiation equipment
24 is not required to be a registered radiologic technologist,
25 with the exception of a radiologist assistant technologists.
26 An application fee of not more than $350 shall be assessed
27 those educational programs seeking approval from the
28 department. Application for approval shall be made on forms
29 provided by the department. Once approved by the department,
30 an educational program shall be assessed an annual fee not to
31 exceed $150.
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1 Section 5. Section 468.306, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 468.306 Examinations.--All applicants, except those
4 certified by endorsement pursuant to s. 468.3065, shall be
5 required to pass an examination. The department may is
6 authorized to develop or use examinations for each type of
7 certificate. The department may require an applicant who does
8 not pass an examination after five attempts to complete
9 additional remedial education, as specified by rule of the
10 department, before admitting the applicant to subsequent
11 examinations.
12 (1) The department may shall have the authority to
13 contract with organizations that develop such test
14 examinations. Examinations may be administered by the
15 department or the contracting organization.
16 (2) Examinations shall be given for each type of
17 certificate at least twice a year at such times and places as
18 the department may determine to be advantageous for
19 applicants.
20 (3) All examinations shall be written and include
21 positioning, technique, and radiation protection. The
22 department shall either pass or fail each applicant on the
23 basis of his or her final grade. The examination for a basic
24 X-ray machine operator shall include basic positioning and
25 basic techniques directly related to the skills necessary to
26 safely operate radiographic equipment.
27 (4) A nonrefundable fee not to exceed $75 plus the
28 actual per-applicant cost for purchasing the examination from
29 a national organization shall be charged for any subsequent
30 examination.
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1 Section 6. Section 468.3065, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 468.3065 Certification by endorsement.--
4 (1) The department shall issue a certificate by
5 endorsement to practice as a radiologist assistant to an
6 applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting a
7 nonrefundable fee not to exceed $50, demonstrates to the
8 department that he or she holds a current certificate or
9 registration as a radiologist assistant granted by the
10 American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
11 (2) The department may issue a certificate by
12 endorsement to practice radiologic technology to an applicant
13 who, upon applying to the department and remitting a
14 nonrefundable fee not to exceed $50, demonstrates to the
15 department that he or she holds a current certificate,
16 license, or registration to practice radiologic technology, if
17 provided that the requirements for such certificate, license,
18 or registration are deemed by the department to be
19 substantially equivalent to those established under this part
20 and rules adopted under this part.
21 Section 7. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
22 468.314, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
23 468.314 Advisory Council on Radiation Protection;
24 appointment; terms; powers; duties.--
25 (2) The council shall be comprised of:
26 (g) A certified radiologist assistant health
27 physicist.
28 Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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2 SENATE SUMMARY
3 Provides for identification and duties of a radiologist
assistant. Revises criteria for certification as a
4 radiologist assistant. Revises standards for
certification for categories of radiological personnel.
5 Provides an exception for use of an examination for
certification as a radiologist assistant. Revises the
6 requirements for certification by endorsement. Amends the
membership of the Advisory Council on Radiation
7 Protection.
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