CHAPTER OFFICER UPDATE

CARE Bill Update

As of the summer deadline for this publication, we had 54 co-sponsors on H.R. 1011, the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence (CARE) bill.

Senator Kennedy did not introduce the bill to the Senate before the July 4^th recess. We remain confident that he will still do so soon.

State Licensure

Arizona enacted nuclear medicine technologist licensure. As enacted and signed by the governor, HB 2042:

• Requires nuclear medicine technologists to be licensed in Arizona, beginning January 1, 2004.

• Adds one nuclear medicine technologist to the Medical Radiologic Board of Examiners.

• Requires the Board to adopt rules for the certification, minimum education and training for nuclear medicine technologists.

• Requires the Board to adopt rules requiring 24 h of continuing education every 2 y for nuclear medicine technologists. The Board may require documentation of the continuing education for license renewal after August 1, 2004.

In the Spring/Summer 2002 issue of UPTAKE, we described the Iowa Department of Public Health’s amendment to state regulations that allows the establishment of on-the-job-training (OJT) programs in nuclear medicine technology. We want to clarify that individuals who are certified under the program are only certified in the state of Iowa—the certification is not nationally recognized.

NRC Proposes $3000 Fine

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has proposed a fine of $3000 against Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for an incident in which a medical technology student was given ^99mTc without approval by an authorized physician as required by NRC regulations.

The student was given a quantity of ^99mTc that is normally given to patients for diagnostic studies, and no adverse effects resulted. The NRC also cited the hospital for its radiation officer’s failure to conduct an adequate investigation after the incident.

In a letter to the hospital’s regional president, Fredrick W. Slunecka, NRC Regional Administrator Ellis W. Merschoff emphasized the intentional nature of the violation and the importance of prompt corrective action for violations of this type and significance.

The violation has been categorized as a Severity level III violation, which carries a civil penalty of $3000. The NRC uses a 4-level scale to rate the seriousness of violations, with Severity level I being the most serious. The violation for failing to conduct an adequate investigation has been categorized as Severity level intravenous, which has no civil penalty.

—William Uffelman, SNM Director of Public Affairs and General Counsel

Changes to VOICE Guidelines

The Continuing Education Committee and National Council approved the following changes to the VOICE Guidelines at the Annual Meeting in June.

Section III - B Audiovisual Program

• The composition of the audiovisual program has been expanded to include CD-Roms and Web-based instructional activities.

Section IV—H Activities not eligible for CE Credit

• Reading of scientific papers

Section V - Transcripts

• Are available to SNM-TS members online. Transcripts are no longer mailed from the SNM headquarters office.

Section VI - B Application Processing Fees for Approval of CE Programs

• The fee for SNM chapters will be raised by $10.00, from $25.00 to $35.00.

• The fee for commercial companies will increase by $25.00, from $100.00 to $125.00.

Section VII - A - 2 Responsibilities of Sponsoring Organizations or Applicants

• Applications should be submitted at least 4 wk in advance of the activity.

• Applications received less than 2 wk before the activity may not be evaluated for approval or, if approved, may not receive credit reporting forms until after the meeting is over.

Section VII - A - 3

• Verification of attendee participation (registration list) must be typewritten.

Please contact me at (703) 708-9000, ext. 1210 or jjordan@snm.org if you have any questions about the changes.

—Jannine Jordan, Continuing Education Manager