BILL REQ. #:  H-4410.2 

READ FIRST TIME 01/27/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to cardiovascular invasive specialists; amending RCW 18.84.020 and 18.84.080; adding new sections to chapter 18.84 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 18.84.020 and 2008 c 246 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Department" means the department of health.
     (2) "Secretary" means the secretary of health.
     (3) "Licensed practitioner" means any licensed health care practitioner performing services within the person's authorized scope of practice.
     (4) "Radiologic technologist" means an individual certified under this chapter, other than a licensed practitioner, who practices radiologic technology as a:
     (a) Diagnostic radiologic technologist, who is a person who actually handles X-ray equipment in the process of applying radiation on a human being for diagnostic purposes at the direction of a licensed practitioner, this includes parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology when performed under the direct supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW;
     (b) Therapeutic radiologic technologist, who is a person who uses radiation-generating equipment for therapeutic purposes on human subjects at the direction of a licensed practitioner, this includes parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology when performed under the direct supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW;
     (c) Nuclear medicine technologist, who is a person who prepares radiopharmaceuticals and administers them to human beings for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and who performs in vivo and in vitro detection and measurement of radioactivity for medical purposes at the direction of a licensed practitioner; ((or))
     (d) Radiologist assistant, who is an advanced-level certified diagnostic radiologic technologist who assists radiologists by performing advanced diagnostic imaging procedures as determined by rule under levels of supervision defined by the secretary, this includes but is not limited to enteral and parenteral procedures when performed under the direction of the supervising radiologist, and that these procedures may include injecting diagnostic agents to sites other than intravenous, performing diagnostic aspirations and localizations, and assisting radiologists with other invasive procedures; or
     (e) Cardiovascular invasive specialist, who is a person who assists in cardiac or vascular catheterization procedures under the personal supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW. This includes parenteral procedures related to cardiac or vascular catheterization including, but not limited to, parenteral procedures involving arteries and veins.
     (5) "Approved school of radiologic technology" means a school of radiologic technology, cardiovascular invasive specialist program, or radiologist assistant program approved by the secretary or a school found to maintain the equivalent of such a course of study as determined by the department. Such school may be operated by a medical or educational institution, and for the purpose of providing ((the)) any requisite clinical experience, shall be affiliated with one or more general hospitals.
     (6) "Approved cardiovascular invasive specialist program" or "approved radiologist assistant program" means a school approved by the secretary. The secretary may recognize other organizations that establish standards for radiologist assistant programs or cardiovascular invasive specialist programs and designate schools that meet the organization's standards as approved.
     (7) "Radiologic technology" means the use of ionizing radiation upon a human being for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
     (8) "Radiologist" means a physician certified by the American board of radiology or the American osteopathic board of radiology.
     (9) "Registered X-ray technician" means a person who is registered with the department, and who applies ionizing radiation at the direction of a licensed practitioner and who does not perform parenteral procedures.
     (10) "Cardiac or vascular catheterization" means all anatomic or physiological studies of intervention in which the heart, coronary arteries, or vascular system are entered via a systemic vein or artery using a catheter that is manipulated under fluoroscopic visualization.

Sec. 2   RCW 18.84.080 and 2008 c 246 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary shall issue a certificate to any applicant who demonstrates to the secretary's satisfaction, that the following requirements have been met to practice as:
     (a) A diagnostic radiologic technologist, therapeutic radiologic technologist, or nuclear medicine technologist:
     (i) Graduation from an approved school or successful completion of alternate training that meets the criteria established by the secretary;
     (ii) Satisfactory completion of a radiologic technologist examination approved by the secretary; and
     (iii) Good moral character; ((or))
     (b) A radiologist assistant:
     (i) Satisfactory completion of an approved radiologist assistant program;
     (ii) Satisfactory completion of a radiologist assistant examination approved by the secretary; and
     (iii) Good moral character; or
     (c) A cardiovascular invasive specialist:
     (i) Satisfactory completion of a cardiovascular invasive specialist program or alternate training approved by the secretary. The secretary may only approve a cardiovascular invasive specialist program that includes training in the following subjects: Cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, radiation physics and safety, radiation imaging and positioning, medical recordkeeping, and multicultural health as required by RCW 43.70.615(3);
     (ii) Satisfactory completion of a cardiovascular invasive specialist examination approved by the secretary. For purposes of this subsection (1)(c)(ii), the secretary may approve an examination administered by a national credentialing organization for cardiovascular invasive specialists; and
     (iii) Good moral character.
     (2) Applicants shall be subject to the grounds for denial or issuance of a conditional license under chapter 18.130 RCW.
     (3) The secretary shall establish by rule what constitutes adequate proof of meeting the requirements for certification and for designation of certification in a particular field of radiologic technology.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 18.84 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Until July 1, 2012, the secretary shall, in addition to certificates issued under RCW 18.84.080, issue a cardiovascular invasive specialist certificate to any person who:
     (a) Has held a health care credential in good standing issued by the department for at least five years; and
     (b) Has at least five years, with at least one thousand hours per year, of prior experience in cardiac or vascular catheterization during the period of time the person held the health care credential under (a) of this subsection.
     (2) A person certified as a cardiovascular invasive specialist under this section is subject to the same renewal requirements as all other certified cardiovascular invasive specialists, but shall not be subject to the education and examination requirements, unless he or she allows his or her certification to expire without renewal for more than one year. If the person allows his or her certification to expire without renewal for more than one year, he or she must meet the same education and examination requirements as all other certified cardiovascular invasive specialists before being issued a new certification.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 18.84 RCW to read as follows:
     Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit or restrict practice by a regularly enrolled student in a cardiovascular invasive specialist program approved by the secretary whose practice is pursuant to a regular course of instruction or assignments. Persons practicing under this section must be clearly identified as students.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Nothing in this act shall be interpreted to alter the scope of practice of any other credentialed health profession or to limit the ability of any other credentialed health professional to assist in cardiac or vascular catheterization if such assistance is within the professional's scope of practice.