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NSRT Legislation
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Nebraska Society of Radiologic Technologists (NSRT)
Information Sheet regarding LB 481
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LB 481 is a bill to exempt auxiliary personnel and cardiovascular technologists
from the medical radiography licensing act. This would allow non‐licensed personnel
to take direction from a cardiologist and perform tasks that fall under the medical
radiographer licensing law, one of which is fluoroscopy.
Fluoroscopy is a live, continuous x‐ray image that is seen on a monitor. It displays
the actual movement of a body part. A contrast agent may be used to differentiate
adjacent structures. It is used in the cardiac cath lab to guide the placement of
a catheter into the heart and surrounding blood vessels. Cath lab procedures have
increased dramatically over the past 20 years, and it is widely acknowledged that
the radiation dose from these procedures can be extremely high. It is also widely
acknowledged that there are risks with high doses of radiation. Therefore, it is
only logical that a licensed medical radiographer, who has had extensive training
in all that is material to keeping radiation dose as low as possible, be involved.
Chronology
July, 2010: NHA requested clarification from DHHS on the use of medical radiographers
in the cath labs. Physicians are exempt from the medical radiographer licensing
law that was initially passed in the mid‐ 1980’s; therefore they are allowed to
perform all the medical radiography tasks. Cardiologists want to supervise or direct
someone other than a medical radiographer to position the patient or the equipment
during fluoroscopy. It was clarified by the Department that that based on the scope
of practice, delegation of those functions to someone who is not licensed as a medical
radiographer is not permitted under the statute.
August, 2010: Letter from Randal Cassling, M.D. to DHHS requesting an exemption
under the medical radiography licensing act to avoid the requirement of having a
medical radiographer involved in the procedures.
September, 2010: Response from Dr. Schaefer to Dr. Cassling indicating that
cardiac cath lab techs are not exempted from the medical radiography law. She informed
him an exemption could be requested from the medical radiography licensing board.
The board would have to determine the exemption would not constitute a significant
risk to occupational and public health and safety.
December, 2010: The medical radiography licensing board denied the exemption,
stating it would constitute a significant risk to occupational and public health
and safety.
The NSRT has a multitude of concerns regarding this exemption. We are working to
consolidate those concerns and will present them at the public hearing March 4,
2011.
Linda Black, R.T.
Legislative Chair, NSRT
lindacoster@earthlink.net
Cell: 308‐991‐0753
Home: 308‐938‐5643
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