Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 03-14-144.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-926-100 Definitions--Alternative training for radiologic technologists, 246-926-110 Diagnostic radiologic technologist -- Alternative training, 246-926-120 Therapeutic radiologic technologist -- Alternative training, 246-926-130 Nuclear medicine technologist -- Alternative training.

     Hearing Location(s): Department of Health, Point Plaza East Conference Center, Rooms 152 and 153, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, on October 13, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: October 13, 2005.

     Submit Written Comments to: Holly Rawnsley, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504-7866, e-mail http://www3.doh.wa.gov/policyreview/, fax (360) 236-2406, by September 28, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Holly Rawnsley by September 21, 2005, TTY (800) 833-6388 or (360) 236-4941.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposal reduces the required number of years of supervised clinical practice experience from four to three for diagnostic radiologic technologists. The proposal reduces the required number of years of supervised clinical practice experience from five to three for therapeutic radiologic technologists. The proposal reduces the required number of years of supervised clinical practice experience from four to two for nuclear medicine technologists. The proposal adds the mandatory requirement of thirty-three contact hours of sectional anatomy for diagnostic radiologic technologists and twenty-two contact hours of sectional anatomy for therapeutic radiologic technologists to be comparable to the requirements of traditional educational programs. The proposal adds a requirement for individuals participating in the alternative training program to notify the radiologic technologist program, in writing, of their participation in the program prior to beginning the program. The proposal adds the requirements for foreign trained individuals to become certified as required by statute. The proposal also updates the acceptable accrediting bodies and updates the current examination requirements. The proposal also fixes typographical and grammatical errors and removes definitions which are obsolete.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposal clarifies the requirements for certification through the alternative training program and will more accurately reflect current practice. The proposal presents the benefit of ensuring that patient care is being provided in a safe and expedient manner. The proposal will allow patients to have more access to treatment by allowing individuals to become certified who would not qualify through a traditional educational program. The proposal will ensure that individuals pursuing certification through alternative training will have adequate experience, knowledge and skills comparable to traditional educational programs.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.84.040.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 18.84 RCW.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Health, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Holly Rawnsley, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504-7866, (360) 236-4941.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The agency has not conducted a small business [economic] impact statement. The proposed rule does not impose more than minor costs on small business per RCW 19.85.030.

     A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Holly Rawnsley, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504-7866, phone (360) 236-4941, fax (360) 236-2406, e-mail Holly.Rawnsley@doh.wa.gov.

August 15, 2005

M. C. Selecky

Secretary

OTS-7064.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-10-100, filed 5/7/03, effective 6/7/03)

WAC 246-926-100   Definitions -- Alternative training radiologic technologists.   (1) Definitions. For the purposes of certifying radiologic technologists by alternative training methods the following definitions ((shall)) apply:

     (a) "One quarter credit hour" equals eleven "contact hours";

     (b) "One semester credit hour" equals sixteen contact hours;

     (c) "One contact hour" is considered to be fifty minutes lecture time or one hundred minutes laboratory time;

     (d) "One clinical year" is considered to be 1900 contact hours.

     (e) (("Immediate supervision" means the radiologist or nuclear medicine physician is in audible or visual range of the patient and the person treating the patient.

     (f))) "Direct supervision" means the supervisory clinical evaluator is on the premises((,)) and is quickly and easily available.

     (((g))) (f) "Indirect supervision" means the supervising ((radiologist or nuclear medicine)) physician is on site no less than half-time.

     (((h))) (g) "Allied health care profession" means an occupation for which programs are accredited by the ((American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, Sixteenth Edition of the Allied Health Education Directory, 1988 or a previous edition)) Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, the Joint Review Committee for Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology or the former American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation.

     (((i))) (h) "Formal education" ((shall be)) means education obtained ((in)) from postsecondary vocational/technical schools and institutions, community or junior colleges, and senior colleges and universities accredited by regional accrediting associations or by other recognized accrediting agencies or programs approved by the ((Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association)) Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, the Joint Review Committee for Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology or the former American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation.

     (2) Clinical practice experience shall be supervised and verified by the approved clinical evaluators who must be:

     (a) A ((certified)) radiologic technologist ((designated in the specialty area the individual is requesting certification)) who provides direct supervision and is certified by the department in the specialty area for which the individual in the alternative training program is requesting certification; and

     (b) A ((radiologist for those individuals requesting certification in practice of diagnostic radiologic technology or therapeutic radiologic technology; or for those individuals requesting certification as a nuclear medicine technologist, a)) physician ((specialist in nuclear medicine)) who provides indirect supervision. The physician supervisor shall routinely critique the films and evaluate the quality of the trainees' work; or

     (c) The physician ((specialist in nuclear medicine)) who is providing indirect supervision may also provide direct supervision, when a certified nuclear medicine technologist is not available, for individuals requesting to become certified as a nuclear medicine technologist.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040. 03-10-100, § 246-926-100, filed 5/7/03, effective 6/7/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-926-100, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040. 89-01-015 (Order PM 802), § 308-183-090, filed 12/9/88.]

     (1) Have obtained a high school diploma or GED equivalent, a minimum of ((four)) three clinical years supervised practice experience in radiography, and completed the course content areas outlined in subsection (2) of this section; or have obtained an associate or higher degree in an allied health care profession or meets the requirements for certification as a therapeutic radiologic technologist or nuclear medicine technologist, have obtained a minimum of ((three)) two clinical years supervised practice experience in radiography, and completed course content areas outlined in subsection (2) of this section.

     (2) The following course content areas of training may be obtained directly by supervised clinical practice experience: Introduction to radiography, medical ethics and law, medical terminology, methods of patient care, radiographic procedures, radiographic film processing, evaluation of radiographs, radiographic pathology, introduction to quality assurance, and introduction to computer literacy. Clinical practice experience must be verified by the approved clinical evaluators.

     The following course content areas of training must be obtained through formal education: Human anatomy and physiology - 100 contact hours; principles of radiographic exposure - 45 contact hours; imaging equipment - 40 contact hours; radiation physics, principles of radiation protection, and principles of radiation biology - 40 contact hours; and sectional anatomy - 33 contact hours.

     (3) Individuals participating in the diagnostic radiologic technologist alternative training program must annually report to the department of health radiologic technologist program the progress of their supervised clinical hours. Notification must be made in writing and must include the street and mailing address of their program and the names of the individual's direct and indirect supervisors.

     (4) Must ((satisfactorily)) pass an examination approved or administered by the secretary with a scaled score of 75.

     (((4))) (5) Individuals who are registered as a diagnostic radiologic technologist with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists shall be considered to have met the alternative education and training requirements.

     (6) Individuals educated and/or credentialed to practice as a diagnostic radiologic technologist in another country must provide official documentation of their education and training proving that they meet or exceed alternative training requirements. They must also pass an examination approved or administered by the secretary with a scaled score of 75.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040 and 18.84.080. 92-05-010 (Order 237), § 246-926-110, filed 2/7/92, effective 2/19/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-926-110, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040. 89-01-015 (Order PM 802), § 308-183-100, filed 12/9/88.]

     (1) Have obtained a baccalaureate or associate degree in one of the physical, biological sciences, or allied health care professions, or meets the requirements for certification as a diagnostic radiologic technologist or nuclear medicine technologist; have obtained a minimum of ((five)) three clinical years supervised practice experience in therapeutic radiologic technology; and completed course content areas outlined in subsection (2) of this section.

     (2) The following course content areas of training may be obtained by supervised clinical practice experience: Orientation to radiation therapy technology, medical ethics and law, methods of patient care, computer applications, and medical terminology. At least fifty percent of the clinical practice experience must have been in operating a linear accelerator. Clinical practice experience must be verified by the approved clinical evaluators.

     The following course content areas of training must be obtained through formal education: Human anatomy and physiology - 100 contact hours; oncologic pathology - 22 contact hours; radiation oncology - 22 contact hours; radiobiology, radiation protection, and radiographic imaging - 73 contact hours; mathematics (college level algebra or above) - 55 contact hours; radiation physics - 66 contact hours; radiation oncology technique - 77 contact hours; clinical dosimetry - 150 contact hours; quality assurance - 12 contact hours; ((and)) hyperthermia - 4 contact hours; and sectional anatomy - 22 contact hours.

     (3) Individuals participating in the therapeutic radiologic technologist alternative training program must annually report to the department of health radiologic technologist program the progress of their supervised clinical hours. Notification must be made in writing and must include the street and mailing address of their program and the names of the individual's direct and indirect supervisors.

     (4) Must ((satisfactorily)) pass an examination approved or administered by the secretary with a scaled score of 75.

     (((4))) (5) Individuals who are registered as a therapeutic radiologic technologist by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists shall be considered to have met the alternative education and training requirements.

     (6) Individuals educated and/or credentialed to practice as a therapeutic radiologic technologist in another country must provide official documentation of their education and training proving that they meet or exceed alternative training requirements. They must also pass an examination approved or administered by the secretary with a scaled score of 75.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040 and 18.84.080. 92-05-010 (Order 237), § 246-926-120, filed 2/7/92, effective 2/19/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-926-120, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040. 89-01-015 (Order PM 802), § 308-183-110, filed 12/9/88.]

     (1) Have obtained a baccalaureate or associate degree in one of the physical, biological sciences, allied health care professions, or meets the requirements for certification as a diagnostic radiologic technologist or a therapeutic radiologic technologist; have obtained a minimum of ((four)) two clinical years supervised practice experience in nuclear medicine technology; and completed course content areas outlined in subsection (2) of this section.

     (2) The following course content areas of training may be obtained by supervised clinical practice experience: Methods of patient care, computer applications, department organization and function, nuclear medicine in-vivo and in-vitro procedures, and radionuclide therapy. Clinical practice experience must be verified by the approved clinical evaluators.

     The following course content areas of training must be obtained through formal education: Radiation safety and protection - 10 contact hours; radiation biology - 10 contact hours; nuclear medicine physics and radiation physics - 80 contact hours; nuclear medicine instrumentation - 22 contact hours; statistics - 10 contact hours; radionuclide chemistry and radiopharmacology - 22 contact hours.

     (3) Individuals participating in the nuclear medicine technologist alternative training program must annually report to the department of health radiologic technologist program the progress of their supervised clinical hours. Notification must be made in writing and must include the street and mailing address of their program and the names of the individual's direct and indirect supervisors.

     (4) Must ((satisfactorily)) pass an examination approved or administered by the secretary with a scaled score of 75.

     (((4))) (5) Individuals who are registered as a nuclear medicine technologist with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or with the nuclear medicine technology certifying board shall be considered to have met the alternative education and training requirements.

     (6) Individuals educated and/or credentialed to practice as a nuclear medicine technologist in another country must provide official documentation of their education and training proving that they meet or exceed alternative training requirements. They must also pass an examination approved or administered by the secretary with a scaled score of 75.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040 and 18.84.080. 92-05-010 (Order 237), § 246-926-130, filed 2/7/92, effective 2/19/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-926-130, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.84.040. 89-01-015 (Order PM 802), § 308-183-120, filed 12/9/88.]

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