To amend rules to include current practice standards for radiologic technologists issued by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) last year, and to approve and recognize the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board’s (NMTCB) ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Division of Environmental Health

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

64E-3.002Definitions

64E-3.0034Specialty Technologists

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To amend rules to include current practice standards for radiologic technologists issued by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) last year, and to approve and recognize the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board’s (NMTCB) new Computed Tomography (CT) certification as acceptable for endorsement in Florida and to clarify the criteria required for proof of certification, as recommended by the Advisory Council on Radiation Protection.

SUMMARY: The rule amendment updates the practice standards for radiologic technologists, clarifies proof of certification for general and specialty technologists, and adopts ARRT and NMTCB for Computed Tomography.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Based on the SERC checklist, this rulemaking will not have an adverse impact on regulatory costs in excess of $1 million within five years as established in s.120.541(2)(a), F.S.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 468.302, 468.303 FS

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 468.302(2)(h), (3)(g)(i) FS

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Brenda Andrews, Bureau of Radiation Control, 4025 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-21, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1741, [phone] or [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64E-3.002 Definitions.

(1) through (8) No change.

(9) “Practice of radiologic technology” means the performance of activities requiring special knowledge and skills, including positioning, technique, safe operation of radiation equipment and radiation protection.

(a) For a general radiographer, the practice is further specified in the “Radiography Practice Standards” issued June 25, 2017, by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, which is incorporated herein by reference and can obtained at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-XXXXX, or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/rad-tech.

(b) For a nuclear medicine technologist, the practice is further specified in the “Nuclear Medicine Practice Standards” issued June 25, 2017, by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, which is incorporated herein by reference and can obtained at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-XXXXX, or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/rad-tech.

(c) For a radiation therapy technologist, the practice is further specified in the “Radiation Therapy Practice Standards” issued June 25, 2017, by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, which is incorporated herein by reference and can be obtained at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-XXXXX, or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/rad-tech.

(10) through (14) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 468.303 FS. Law Implemented 381.0034, 468.302(3)(a), (b), 468.303, 468.304 FS. History–New 4-10-85, Formerly 10D-74.42, Amended 3-21-88, 9-17-92, 5-7-96, Formerly 10D-74.042, Amended 7-16-02, 3-4-08,                  .

 

64E-3.0034 Specialty Technologists.

(1) An applicant for specialty technologist certification shall submit an application to the department as specified in Rule 64E-3.003, F.A.C., and pay the required fee for endorsement, and submit proof of current certification from an approved national organization in an advanced, post-primary, or specialty area of radiologic technology. Such proof shall be an unexpired wallet card bearing the organization’s name, the expiration date, the applicant’s certification number, the applicant’s name and the applicant’s area of certification.

(2) The following are approved as national organizations for certain advanced, post-primary or specialty areas of radiologic technologist certification, and for the technologists’ duties (also known as practice standards). In all cases, proof of current certification by a national organization shall be an unexpired wallet card bearing the organization’s name, the applicant’s name and the applicant’s area of certification:

(a) National Organizations for Computed Tomography and Mammography.

1. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) for the Computed Tomography (CT) and Mammography (M) area areas of certification.

2. The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) for the respective Computed Tomography (CT), and M practice standards.

(b) Mammography.

1. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for the Mammography (M) area of certification.

2. The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) for the Mammography (M) practice standards.

(c)(b) National Organization for Positron Emission Tomography.

1. through 2. No change.

(3) The title, initials and duties for specialty technologists certified by the department are as follows:.

(a) Computed Tomography.

1. For a person who is currently registered by the ARRT, or certified by the NMTCB, in Computed Tomography, the title is Certified Radiologic Technologist – Computed Tomography (CT) and the initials are CRT-CT.

2. The duties of the CRT-CT are those contained in the June 25, 2017 June 19, 2011 ASRT “Computed Tomography Practice Standards," which is incorporated herein by reference and can be obtained from the internet at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-          02745, or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/rad-tech.

(b) Mammography.

1. For a person who holds current registration from the ARRT in Mammography, the title is Certified Radiologic Technologist – Mammography (M) and the initials are CRT-M.

2. The duties of the CRT-M are those contained in the June 25, 2017 July 1, 2012, ASRT “Mammography Practice Standards,” which is incorporated herein by reference and can be obtained from the internet at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-          02746, or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/rad-tech.

(c) Positron Emission Tomography.

1. For a person who holds current certification from the NMTCB in Positron Emission Tomography, the title is Certified Radiologic Technologist – Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and the initials are CRT-PET.

2. The duties of the CRT-PET are those contained in the January 26, 2013, SNMMI “Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Technologist Scope of Practice and Performance Standards,” which is herein incorporated by reference and can be obtained from the internet at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04021, or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/rad-tech.

Rulemaking Authority 468.302, 468.303 FS. Law Implemented 468.302(2)(h), (3)(i) FS. History–New 6-11-13, Amended 4-20-14, 4-27-16, 11-5-17,     .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Cynthia Becker, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Radiation Control

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Celeste Philip, MD, MPH, Surgeon General and Secretary

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 04, 2018

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: April 3, 2018