201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 46:010

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 46:010 - Definitions for 201 KAR Chapter 46

RELATES TO: KRS 311B.020

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 311B.010 and 311B.050 require the Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy to promulgate administrative regulations to regulate medical imaging, radiation therapy, and related occupations. This administrative regulation establishes definitions for terms used in 201 KAR Chapter 46.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Accredited educational program" means an educational program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), which have been approved by the board.

(2) "Advanced imaging professional" means an individual who holds credentialing by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) as a registered radiologist assistant (R.R.A.) or nuclear medicine advanced associate (NMAA).

(3) "Alternate course of study" means an independent course of study that qualifies an individual to take an examination approved by the board.

(4) "Authorized user" is defined by KRS 311B.020(4).

(5) "Board" is defined by KRS 311B.020(5).

(6) "Clinical education" means the component of the educational program that provides for supervised, competency-based, clinical education and experience.

(7) "Computed tomography" or "CT" means the process of using specialized radiation producing equipment to create cross-sectional images of any part of the body.

(8) "Computed tomography technologist" or "CT technologist" means an individual who has obtained a post-primary certification in computerized tomography from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB).

(9) "Continuing education" is defined by KRS 311B.020(7).

(10) "Continuing education unit" or "CEU" means fifty (50) contact minutes of participation in a continuing education experience completed by:

(a) Attendance at a professional meeting;

(b) Documenting completed, approved independent study; or

(c) Documenting completed academic courses applicable to health care, medical imaging, radiation therapy, or related courses.

(11) "Contrast procedure" means a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure performed while administering contrast media into the human body to visualize anatomy not otherwise demonstrated on an image receptor.

(12) "Course of study" means a curriculum in radiologic technology, nuclear medicine technology, the advanced imaging profession, limited x-ray machine operation, or radiation therapy approved by the board.

(13) "Didactic education" means the component of the educational program that provides formal instruction with specific objectives and methods for assessing the student's progress for entry-level competency.

(14) "Direct supervision" means supervised by, and in the physical presence of, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts.

(15) "Educational program" means a board-approved, accredited educational program or limited x-ray machine operator program.

(16) "Facility" means a hospital, outpatient department, clinic, radiology practice, mobile unit, or office of a physician or portion thereof, in which medical imaging or radiation therapy are performed.

(17) "Indirect supervision" means supervised by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts who is immediately available in person or remotely via telecommunications device.

(18) "License" means the document issued to a licensee to work as an advanced imaging professional, a medical imaging technologist, a radiographer, a radiation therapist, a nuclear medicine technologist, or a limited x-ray machine operator in Kentucky.

(19) "Licensed practitioner" or "licensed practitioner of the healing arts" is defined by KRS 311B.020(8).

(20) "Licensee" means an individual licensed to perform the duties of an advanced imaging professional, a medical imaging technologist, a radiographer, a radiation therapist, a nuclear medicine technologist, or a limited x-ray machine operator.

(21) "Licensure" means the process by which a license is issued by the board pursuant to 201 KAR Chapter 46 and in accordance with KRS Chapter 311B.

(22) "Limited radiographic procedures" means the following procedures:

(a) Radiography of the thorax, lungs, and ribs;

(b) Radiography of the abdomen;

(c) Radiography of the skull and facial structures;

(d) Radiography of the upper and lower extremities;

(e) Radiography of the pectoral girdle, hips, and pelvis;

(f) Radiography of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines; and

(g) Bone densitometry procedures.

(23) "Limited x-ray machine operator" is defined by KRS 311B.020(9).

(24) "Medical Imaging" means producing visual images of the human body utilizing various types of energy and technologies to determine the presence of disease and injury. Medical imaging is used for diagnostic, screening, treatment and monitoring purposes.

(25) "Medical imaging technologist" is defined by KRS 311B.020(10).

(26) "National organization" is defined by KRS 311B.020(11).

(27) "Nuclear medicine advanced associate" means an individual certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) as a nuclear medicine advanced associate (NMAA) who works under the supervision of a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician, in accordance with practice standards.

(28) "Nuclear medicine technologist" is defined by KRS 311B.020(12).

(29) "Nuclear medicine technology" means technology applied by a nuclear medicine technologist utilizing radioactive material and with the nuclear medicine technologist being under the supervision of an authorized user.

(30) "PET" means the positron emission tomography.

(31) "Positron emission tomography" means the utilization of positron-emitting radioactive material for medical imaging under the supervision of an authorized user.

(32) "Practice standards" means the standards established by board-approved professional organizations that define the practice expectations of individuals within the professions.

(33) "Primary discipline" means radiography, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy.

(34) "Professional educational guidelines" means curriculum and educational standards established by national organizations and approved by the board.

(35) "Program director" means an individual designated by a sponsoring institution to assure that the educational programs for an advanced imaging professional, a medical imaging technologist, a radiographer, a radiation therapist, a nuclear medicine technologist, and a limited xray machine operator are properly conducted.

(36) "Provisional nuclear medicine technology license" means a license issued by the board to an individual participating in the alternate nuclear medicine course of study approved by the board.

(37) "Provisional training license" means a license issued to a nuclear medicine technologist or a radiation therapist pursuing post-primary certification in computed tomography or a license issued to a radiographer or radiation therapist pursuing post-primary certification in PET.

(38) "Radiation safety officer" means an individual who has the training, knowledge, and responsibility to apply appropriate radiation safety practices.

(39) "Radiation therapist" is defined by KRS 311B.020(15).

(40) "Radiation therapy" means the therapeutic administration of ionizing radiation by a radiation therapist.

(41) "Radioactive materials" means a solid, liquid, or gas that emits ionizing radiation spontaneously.

(42) "Radiographer" is defined by KRS 311B.020(16).

(43) "Radiography" means:

(a) The utilization and administration of ionizing radiation to produce medically relevant images for the diagnosis of injury or disease; and

(b) Includes a comprehensive scope of diagnostic-radiologic procedures.

(44) "Radiologist assistant" means an individual certified by the American Registry of Radio-logic Technologists (ARRT) as a registered radiologist assistant (R.R.A.) who works under the supervision of a radiologist, in accordance with supervision guidelines jointly established by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), and the ARRT.

(45) "Radionuclide" means a radioactive element or a radioactive isotope.

(46) "Radiopharmaceuticals" means radioactive drugs used for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

(47) "Scope of practice" means the parameter of the specific practice.

(48) "Source of radiation" means a radioactive material, device, or equipment emitting or capable of producing ionizing radiation.

(49) "Sponsoring institution" means an institution recognized by the board to provide a post-secondary educational program in medical imaging, limited x-ray machine operation, radiation therapy, or advanced imaging professions.

(50) "Student" means an individual enrolled in a board-recognized educational program.

(51) "Supervision of students" means supervised by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts or a licensee in the appropriate field of practice who directs the activity of students.

(52) "Temporary license" means a nonrenewable license issued by the board as established in 201 KAR Chapter 46 permitting an individual to practice for a specified period of time.

(53) "Therapeutic procedures" means medical treatments that can help diagnose, cure, or treat a patient's condition.

201 KAR 46:010

1 Ky.R. 1158; 2 Ky.R. 217; 3 Ky.R. 635; eff. 3-2-1977; 4 Ky.R. 289; eff. 3-3-1978; 12 Ky.R. 1424; eff. 3-4-1986; 18 Ky.R. 1586; eff. 1-10-1992; 34 Ky.R. 133; 607; 763; eff. 10-17-2007; Recodified from 902 KAR 105:010; 11-20-2013; 41 Ky.R. 2295; 42 Ky.R. 338; 1486; eff. 11-18-2015; 44 Ky.R. 1384, 1817; eff. 2-15-2018; 45 Ky.R. 2967, 3403; eff. 7-5-2019; 46 Ky.R. 2994; eff. 10-28-2020.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 311B.010, 311B.050