Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 641 - Public Health Department › Chapter 42 - Permit to Operate Ionizing Radiation Producing Machines or Administer Radioactive Materials › Rule 641-42.1 - Purpose and Scope

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Applicability.
Except as otherwise specifically provided,
			 these rules apply to all individuals who operate as a diagnostic radiographer,
			 nuclear medicine technologist, radiologist assistant, podiatric radiographer,
			 or radiation therapist as defined below.
The provisions of this chapter are in addition to, and not in
				substitution for, any other applicable portions of 641-Chapters 38 to
				41.
(2)
Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the definitions
			 of 641-Chapter 38 may also apply.
"Approved course of study"
means a curriculum
				and associated training and testing materials which the department has
				determined are adequate to train students to meet the requirements of this
				chapter.
"ARRT"
means the American Registry of
				Radiologic Technologists.
"Chest"
is defined as the lung fields
				including the cardiac shadow, as taught in the approved limited radiography
				curriculum. Radiography of the shoulder, clavicle, scapula, ribs, thoracic
				spine and sternum for diagnostic evaluation of these body structures or chest
				radiography using anything other than a vertical cassette holder is not allowed
				under this body part classification for limited diagnostic radiographers.
				Limited diagnostic radiographers already approved in chest radiography may
				perform oblique, apical lordotic, and decubitus chest views under this
				definition upon completion of additional training approved by this
				agency.
"Clinical education "
means the direct
				participation of the student in radiographic exposures as part of the approved
				course of study.
"Clinicalpodiatric sponsor "
means a person
				who is licensed under Iowa Code chapter 149 and who is supervising a podiatric
				radiography student.
"Continuing education course "
means a planned
				program of continuing education having sufficient scope and depth of a given
				subject area directly related to the field of diagnostic radiography, nuclear
				medicine, or radiation therapy to form an educational unit that is planned,
				coordinated, administered, and evaluated in terms of educational objectives and
				that provides a defined level of knowledge or specific performance skill. This
				concept involves the organized presentation of a body of knowledge so that the
				subject matter is comprehensively covered in sufficient detail to meet the
				educational objectives of the course.
"Contrast media"
means material intentionally
				administered to the human body to define a part(s) which is not normally
				visualized radiographically.
"Diagnostic radiographer"
means an individual,
				other than a licensed practitioner, podiatric radiographer, or dental assistant
				with radiography qualification, who applies X-radiation to the human body for
				diagnostic purposes while under the supervision of a licensed practitioner or
				registered nurse under 641-subparagraph 41.1(3)
"a"(T).
The
				types are as follows:
1. "General
			 diagnostic radiographer" applies X-radiation to any part of the human
			 body.
2. "Limited diagnostic
			 radiographer" applies X-radiation to only the following body parts: chest,
			 extremities (upper and lower), spine, or sinus. This individual is restricted
			 to performing radiography in that area of the facility specifically designed
			 for X-ray. This individual may not perform pediatric radiography (children
			 under three years of age) without additional training in pediatric radiography
			 taken as a part of the basic limited training or a specifically approved
			 training program (see 42.2(6)).
3.
			 "Limited in-hospital radiographer" applies X-radiation as permitted in
			 42.3(1)
"c. " "Diagnostic radiography"
means the science and
			 art of applying X-radiation to human beings for diagnostic purposes other than
			 in dental radiography. It shall include adjustment or manipulation of X-ray
			 equipment and appurtenances including image receptors, positioning of patients
			 and processing of films so as to materially affect the radiation exposure of
			 patients.
"Directly related"
means covering a subject
				listed in the training requirements for a specific certification.
"Formally educated"
means completion of a
				formal course of training and testing approved by the agency.
"In vitro "
means a procedure in which the
				radioactive material is not administered to a human being.
"In vivo "
means a procedure in which the
				radioactive material is administered to a human being.
"Lower extremities "
refers to those body
				parts from the distal phalanges of the foot to the head of the femur and its
				articulation with the pelvic girdle as taught in the approved limited
				radiographer curriculum. True hip radiographs are prohibited under this
				category for limited diagnostic radiographers. This definition applies to
				641-Chapter 42 only.
"Nuclear medicine procedure "
means any
				procedure utilizing radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis or treatment of disease
				in human beings and any duties performed by the technologist during sealed
				source procedures and includes, but is not limited to:
1. Administration of any radiopharmaceutical
			 to human beings for diagnostic purposes.
2. Administration of radioactive material to
			 human beings for therapeutic purposes.
3. Use of radioactive material for diagnostic
			 purposes involving transmission or excitation.
4. Quality control and quality assurance.
"Nuclear medicine technologist"
means an
				individual, other than a licensed physician, who performs nuclear medicine
				procedures while under the supervision of a physician who is authorized by NRC
				or Iowa to possess and use radioactive materials.
"Podiatric radiographer "
means an individual
				employed in a podiatry office who performs podiatric radiography but not CT or
				fluoroscopy.
"Podiatric radiography"
means the application
				of X-radiaton to the human foot and ankle for diagnostic purposes only.
"Quality assurance "
means all aspects of a
				nuclear medicine program that ensure the quality of imaging and therapy
				procedures.
"Quality control"
means specific tests and
				measurements that ensure the purity, quantity, product identity, and biologic
				safety of radiopharmaceuticals.
"Radiation therapist"
means a person, other
				than a licensed physician, who performs radiation therapy technology under the
				supervision of a radiation oncologist.
"Radiation therapy technology"
means the
				science and art of performing simulation radiography or applying ionizing
				radiation emitted from X-ray machines, particle accelerators, or radioactive
				materials in the form of sealed sources to human beings for therapeutic
				purposes.
"Radiologist assistant"
means an
				advanced-level radiographer, other than a licensed practitioner, who works
				under the supervision of a radiologist to enhance patient care by assisting the
				radiologist in the diagnostic imaging environment.
"Simulation radiography"
means the science and
				art of applying radiation to human beings for the purpose of localizing
				treatment fields and for treatment planning.
"Simulation therapist"
means an individual,
				other than a physician, who applies radiation to human beings for the purpose
				of localizing treatment fields and for treatment planning.
"Sinus "
as used in the limited radiographer
				curriculum refers to the paranasal sinuses only.
"Special category course "
means those
				programs still related to health care but indirectly related to diagnostic
				radiography, nuclear medicine technology, or radiation therapy. Such programs
				are: advanced CPR, educator's programs, management programs, personal
				improvement, for example.
"Spine "
refers to the cervical, thoracic
				(dorsal), lumbar vertebrae and their articulations. It may also include the
				sacrum or coccyx and the sacral articulation with the pelvic girdle. True
				pelvis radiographs performed with the image receptor positioned perpendicular
				to the long axis of the torso are prohibited under this limited category.
				Lumbo-pelvic or full spine radiography may be performed if the long axis of the
				image receptor is positioned parallel with the long axis of the spine as taught
				in the approved limited radiographer curriculum.
"Student"
means an individual enrolled in and
				participating in an approved course of study.
"Supervision "
means responsibility for and
				control of quality, radiation safety and protection, and technical aspects of
				the application of ionizing radiation to human beings for diagnostic or
				therapeutic purposes. Indirect supervision is being physically present in the
				immediate vicinity and able to assist if needed. Direct supervision is
				physically observing and critiquing the actual procedure and giving immediate
				assistance if required.
"Upper extremities "
refers to those body
				parts from the distal phalanges of the hand to the head of the humerus. These
				projections may include the acromioclavicular or glenoid-humeral areas as
				taught in the approved limited radiographer curriculum. True shoulder
				radiography that includes both distal and proximal ends of the clavicle is
				prohibited under this category for limited diagnostic radiographers. This
				definition applies to 641-Chapter 42 only.