Nuclear medicine is an integral part of patient care and saves countless lives annually. High Degree of Training Required Nuclear medicine is practiced only by licensed physicians who are assisted by certified technologists and are supported by specially trained physicists and pharmacists. Nuclear medicine combines chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer technology, and medicine in using radioactivity to diagnose and treat disease. Physicians Physicians certified by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine must first receive a medical degree and have one or more years of training in a medical specialty other than nuclear medicine. A further two years of training in nuclear medicine is then required during which special instruction is given in physics, radiopharmacy and radiation biology, as well as patient evaluation, radionuclide therapy and diagnostic studies.
Emphasis is given to cost-effective approaches to patient care.
After successful completion of at least three years of postdoctoral training, a physician may take the certifying examination given by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine. Technologists Nationally approved training programs for nuclear medicine technologists have been in existence for many years. These include training in radiation safety, the correct handling of radioactive materials, and techniques of performing nuclear medicine exams. Safety Nuclear medicine procedures are among the safest diagnostic imaging exams available. A patient only receives an extremely small amount of radiopharmaceutical, just enough to provide sufficient diagnostic information.