H.B. 375

1

RADIOLOGIST ASSISTANT PROVISIONS
2 2013 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Edward H. Redd
5 Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends the scope of practice of radiologist assistants under the Radiologic
10 Technologist, Radiologist Assistant, and Radiology Practical Technician Licensing Act.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . defines terms; and
14 . establishes conditions when a radiologist assistant may practice under the general
15 supervision of a supervising radiologist.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 58-54-102, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 61
23 58-54-304, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 61
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 58-54-102 is amended to read:
27 58-54-102. Definitions.

28 In addition to the definition in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
29 (1) "Board" means the Radiologic Technologist Licensing Board established under this
30 chapter.
31 (2) "Critical access hospital" means a hospital in a rural or medically underserved area
32 that is recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as meeting the conditions
33 of participation specified in 42 C.F.R. 485.601-647.
34 [(2)] (3) "General supervision" means the supervising radiologist is available to
35 provide immediate communication with the supervised person and is aware of the procedure
36 before it is performed.
37 [(3)] (4) "Indirect supervision" means the supervising radiologist:
38 (a) has given either written or verbal instructions to the person being supervised;
39 (b) is present in the facility in which the person being supervised is providing services;
40 and
41 (c) is available to provide immediate face-to-face communications with the person
42 being supervised.
43 [(4)] (5) "Practice of radiologic technology" means using radiation from a radioactive
44 substance, radiology equipment, or any other source, in amounts beyond normal background
45 levels, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes on humans.
46 [(5)] (6) "Practice of radiologist assistant" means the performance of non-invasive and
47 minimally invasive radiological procedures:
48 (a) delegated to a radiologist assistant by a radiologist; and
49 (b) performed under the indirect supervision of a radiologist.
50 [(6)] (7) "Radiologic technologist" means a person licensed under this chapter to
51 engage in the practice of radiologic technology under the general supervision of a radiologist or
52 radiology practitioner including the administration of parenteral contrast media, radionuclides,
53 and other medications incidental to radiology procedures provided the administrations are
54 under the direct supervision of a qualified physician and the technologist is currently certified
55 in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and appropriate patient care procedures.
56 [(7)] (8) "Radiologist" means a physician certified by the American Board of
57 Radiology, the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, the British Royal College of
58 Radiology, or the Canadian College of Physicians and Surgeons.

59 [(8)] (9) "Radiologist assistant" means a person licensed under this chapter to engage
60 in the practice of a radiologist assistant.
61 [(9)] (10) "Radiology equipment" means any medical radiation device that emits
62 ionizing or nonionizing radiation or detects that radiation for the purpose or intended purpose
63 of:
64 (a) diagnosing disease or other medical conditions in humans; or
65 (b) treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing disease in humans.
66 [(10)] (11) "Radiology practical technician" means a person licensed under this chapter
67 to engage in a practice of radiologic technology performing limited diagnostic radiology
68 procedures:
69 (a) as defined and permitted by rule in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
70 Administrative Rulemaking Act; and
71 (b) under the supervision of a radiologist or radiology practitioner.
72 [(11)] (12) "Radiology practitioner" means any person or individual licensed in this
73 state as a physician and surgeon, osteopathic physician, podiatric physician, chiropractic
74 physician, dentist, dental hygienist, or a physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse
75 specialist practicing under the supervision of an approved supervising physician and in
76 accordance with an approved protocol and utilization plan.
77 [(12)] (13) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-54-501 .
78 [(13)] (14) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-54-501
79 and as may be further defined by administrative rule adopted by the division.
80 Section 2. Section 58-54-304 is amended to read:
81 58-54-304. Scope of practice for radiologist assistant.
82 (1) The scope of practice for a radiologist assistant includes:
83 (a) determination of whether a patient has been appropriately prepared for the
84 radiologic procedure;
85 (b) assessment and evaluation of the physiologic responsiveness of a patient
86 undergoing a radiologic procedure;
87 (c) assessment and evaluation of possible contraindications to a procedure;
88 (d) obtaining informed consent from the patient as specified by a Delegation of
89 Services Agreement between the radiologic assistant and the supervising radiologist in

90 accordance with Subsection (2);
91 (e) evaluation of image quality and communication of initial image observations only
92 to the supervising radiologist;
93 (f) administration of contrast media or other medications prescribed by the supervising
94 radiologist; [and]
95 (g) performance of radiologic procedures under the indirect supervision of a
96 radiologist[.]; and
97 (h) performance of radiologic procedures under the general supervision of a radiologist
98 only if:
99 (i) the radiologist assistant is practicing in a critical access hospital; and
100 (ii) the supervising radiologist has the necessary privileges for the procedure to be
101 performed by the radiologist assistant.
102 (2) The radiologist assistant and supervising radiologist shall enter into a Delegation of
103 Services Agreement identifying radiologic procedures to be performed by the radiologist
104 assistant and establishing a regular review process by the supervising radiologist for all work
105 performed by and records kept by the radiologist assistant. The Delegation of Services
106 Agreement shall:
107 (a) be kept at the place of practice at which the radiologist assistant is performing
108 delegated services; and
109 (b) be consistent with radiologist assistant practice guidelines developed by the
110 American College of Radiology, as supplemented by recognized radiology organizations such
111 as the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and the American Registry of Radiologic
112 Technologists.
113 (3) The radiologist assistant shall not interpret images, provide diagnosis, or prescribe
114 medications or therapies.




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as of 2-22-13 11:55 AM

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