Subchapter E. PERFORMANCE OF RADIOLOGIC PROCEDURES BY AUXILIARY PERSONNEL

§ 25.221. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   ARRT—The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

   Auxiliary personnel—Persons other than a medical doctor—allopathic physician—osteopathic physician, dentist, podiatrist or chiropractor.

   Direct supervision—Directly controlling the performance of a procedure by authorizing performance of that procedure under the specific instructions of the osteopathic physician, and monitoring performance of the procedure to ensure compliance with those instructions.

   Ionizing radiation—Gamma rays and X-rays, alpha and beta particles, high-speed electrons, neutrons, protons and other nuclear particles. The term does not include ultrasound, sound or radio waves or visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.

   Premises of an osteopathic physician—A location at which an osteopathic physician practices medicine, other than a health care facility regulated by the Department of Health, the Department of Public Welfare or the Federal government.

   Radiologic procedure—A medical diagnostic or therapeutic procedure that utilizes ionizing radiation.

   The provisions of this §  25.221 issued under sections 13a and 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. § §  271.13a and 271.16); and section 812.1 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §  279.3a).

 (a)  Auxiliary personnel who take the ARRT Examination in Radiography, and who pass that examination as determined by ARRT, or who have been certified by ARRT, or by another certifying body recognized by the Board, as the result of satisfactory completion of a test and an educational course accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Board, as a radiologic technologist in radiography, may apply ionizing radiation to human beings for diagnostic purposes on the premises of an osteopathic physician under the direct supervision of a physician. The physician is not required to personally observe performance of the procedure, nor be on the premises when the diagnostic procedure is performed.

 (b)  Auxiliary personnel who take the ARRT Examination in Radiation Therapy Technology, and who pass that examination as determined by ARRT, or who have been certified by ARRT, or by another certifying body recognized by the Board, as the result of satisfactory completion of a test and an educational course accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Board, in radiation therapy technology, may apply ionizing radiation to human beings for therapeutic purposes on the premises of an osteopathic physician under the direct supervision of a physician. The physician is not required to personally observe performance of the procedure. The physician shall be on the premises when the therapeutic procedure is performed.

 (c)  Auxiliary personnel who take the ARRT Examination in Nuclear Medicine Technology, and who pass that examination as determined by ARRT, or who have been certified by ARRT, or by another certifying body recognized by the Board, as the result of satisfactory completion of a test and an educational course accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Board, in nuclear medicine technology, may use radionuclide agents on human beings for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes on the premises of an osteopathic physician under the direct supervision of a physician. The physician shall be on the premises when the diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is performed.

 (d)  Auxiliary personnel who take the ARRT Limited Examination in Radiography, and who receive a score of 70 or higher on that examination as determined by ARRT, may use ionizing radiation on the thorax and extremities of human beings for diagnostic purposes on the premises of an osteopathic physician under the direct supervision of a physician. The physician is not required to personally observe the performance of the procedure. The use of ionizing radiation is restricted to producing radiographs of the thorax and the extremities to demonstrate the following:

   (1)  Ankle.

   (2)  Chest.

   (3)  Clavicle.

   (4)  Elbow.

   (5)  Femur.

   (6)  Foot.

   (7)  Hand.

   (8)  Humerus.

   (9)  Knee.

   (10)  Radius and ulna.

   (11)  Scapula.

   (12)  Shoulder.

   (13)  Soft tissue (foreign body localization).

   (14)  Tibia and fibula.

   (15)  Wrist.

 (e)  Auxiliary personnel who take the ARRT Limited Examination in Radiography—Skill and Sinuses, and who receive a score of 70 or higher on that examination as determined by ARRT, may use ionizing radiation on the skull and sinuses of human beings for diagnostic purposes on the premises of an osteopathic physician under the direct supervision of a physician. The physician is not required to personally observe the performance of the procedure. The use of ionizing radiation is restricted to producing radiographs of the skull and sinuses to demonstrate the following:

   (1)  Facial bones.

   (2)  Mandible.

   (3)  Paranasal sinuses.

   (4)  Skull.

 (f)  Auxiliary personnel who take the Examination in Nuclear Medicine Technology of the Nuclear Medicine Technology College Board, and who pass that examination as determined by the Nuclear Medicine Technology College Board, or who have been certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology College Board as a radiologic technologist in nuclear medicine technology as the result of satisfactory completion of a test and an educational course accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Board, may use radionuclide agents on human beings for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes on the premises of an osteopathic physician under the direct supervision of a physician. The physician is not required to personally observe performance of the procedure. The osteopathic physician shall be on the premises when the diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is performed.

 (g)  A person licensed by the State Board of Dentistry as a dental hygienist may use ionizing radiation on the maxilla, mandible and adjacent structures of human beings for diagnostic purposes on the premises of an osteopathic physician under the direct supervision of a physician. The physician is not required to be on the premises when the diagnostic procedure is performed.

   The provisions of this §  25.222 issued under sections 13a and 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. § §  271.13a and 271.16); and section 812.1 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  279.3a); amended under section 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. §  271.16); and section 902(b) of the Health Care Services Malpractice Act (40 P. S. §  1301.902(b)).

   The provisions of this §  25.222 adopted July 17, 1987, effective July 18, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 3021; amended November 15, 1991, effective November 16, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 5342. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (148346) and (119323) to (119324).

 (a)  A person may apply to take any of the following examinations by securing an application from the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, and by submitting the application accompanied by the required fee to Health Boards, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Post Office Box 2649, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-2649:

   (1)  ARRT Examination in Radiography.

   (2)  ARRT Examination in Radiation Therapy Technology.

   (3)  ARRT Examination in Nuclear Medicine Technology.

   (4)  ARRT Limited Examination in Radiography.

   (5)  ARRT Limited Examination in Radiography—Skull and Sinuses.

 (b)  An application for the ARRT examinations in radiography, radiation therapy technology and nuclear medicine technology may be filed directly with ARRT. However, ARRT is a private certifying body and may require the satisfaction of minimum education and training criteria for certification purposes. An examination application may not be filed with ARRT if the applicant wishes to take the ARRT Limited Examination in Radiography or the ARRT Limited Examination in Radiology—Skull and Sinuses, or if the applicant does not qualify for or desire private certification of competence to perform the radiologic procedures covered by the other ARRT certification examinations. Alternatively, an application shall be filed with ARRT and not with the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs if the applicant desires to not only perform radiologic procedures as authorized in §  25.222 (relating to auxiliary personnel performing radiologic procedures), but also desires certification by ARRT in the field of radiologic procedures covered by the examination.

   The provisions of this §  25.223 issued under sections 13a and 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. § §  271.13a and 271.16); and section 812.1 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §  279.3a); amended under section 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. §  271.16); and section 902(b) of the Health Care Services Malpractice Act (40 P. S. §  1301.902(b)).

   The provisions of this §  25.223 adopted July 17, 1987, effective July 18, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 3021; amended November 15, 1991, effective November 16, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 5342; amended June 30, 2006, effective July 1, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 3236. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (210055) to (210056).

 The Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs will begin accepting applications to take an examination set forth in §  25.223(a) (relating to applications for examination) prior to July 18, 1987. After January 1, 1988, no auxiliary person may administer radiologic procedures on the premises of an osteopathic physician except as set forth in this subchapter.

   The provisions of this §  25.225 issued under sections 13a and 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P. S. § §  271.13a and 271.16); and section 812.1 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §  279.3a).

   The provisions of this §  25.225 adopted July 17, 1987, effective July 18, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 3021.