P.R. Laws tit. 20, § 3351
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings stated below:
(a) Board. — Shall refer to the Examining Board for the Diagnostic Imaging and Treatment Radiologic Technologists of Puerto Rico created by this chapter.
(b) License. — Document duly issued by the Board, which certifies that the person to whom it was issued is a licensed radiologic technologist in diagnostic imaging and treatment duly authorized to practice the radiologic technologist profession pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(c) Specialty certificate. — Document issued by the Board to the person who has completed the requirements established in each one of the specialty areas.
(d) Recertification. — The procedure provided in §§ 3001 et seq. of Title 24, known as the “Health Services Integral Reform Act of Puerto Rico”, for health professionals.
(e) Secretary. — The Secretary of the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(f) Radiologic technologist. — Is the technologist who operates radiological equipment that emits x-rays over the human body producing diagnostic images. They may operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating rooms, emergency rooms and in the rooms where patients are supervised by a radiology physician.
(g) Radiologic technologist in radiotherapy. — Is the radiologic technologist specially trained to operate equipment for the administration of radiation treatment. He/She must be supervised by a radio-oncologist and a physicist.
(h) Cardiovascular and peripheral vascular radiologic technologist. — Is the technologist that operates imaging equipment, in which tests of the cardiovascular system are conducted, using catheters inserted into the body by a specialized physician. He/she must be supervised by a radiology physician.
(i) Computerized tomography radiologic technologist. — Is the technologist that operates computerized tomographic equipment to produce intravenous bi-dimensional and tridimensional images, whether by the radiologist or the infirmary personnel. There is a direct supervision to the patient by electronic intercommunicators and through the window of the control room. He/she must be supervised by a radiology physician.
(j) Magnetic resonance imaging technologist. — Is the technologist that operates resonance equipment in which images of the body are produced using electromagnetic energy. After explaining the procedure and making sure that there are no absolute contraindications that may endanger the health or life of the patient, any clinical and personal information of the patient that may help the radiology physician to make an accurate diagnosis is collected. He/she is always in communication with the patient through a microphone or the control room window. He/she must be supervised by a radiology physician.
(k) Radiologic technologist mammographer. — Is the technologist that operates radiological equipment to obtain high quality diagnostic images of the mammary glands. These professionals use ionizing radiation with accurate techniques, skills, positioning, and special procedures. They perform quality control to the mammography equipment and the radiography processors according to the requirements of the ACR and FDA, thus meeting the radiology safety standards, being supervised by a radiology physician at all times.
(l) Bone densitometry radiologic technologist. — Is the technologist that operates radiological equipment that emits x-rays over the human body producing images of the musculoskeletal system of the human body at the exam table. This technologist practices radiation protection techniques with all individuals, supervised by a radiology physician.
(m) Radiology physician. — Is a specialist physician duly certified by a formal training documented in an institution accredited by the Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico, and who has demonstrated his/her capacity and skills on the matter and has been certified by said Board.
(n) ACR. — Means the American College of Radiology.
(o) FDA. — Means the Food and Drug Administration.
(p) Credential evaluation agencies. — Are agencies engaged in the evaluation of the academic credentials of the candidates to diagnostic imaging and treatment technology who have studied in foreign universities to determine the equivalence with the established requirements to practice the profession. The Board shall provide a list of recognized evaluation agencies.
(q) Radio-oncologist. — Is that specialist physician duly qualified by means of a formal training as evinced by documents from an institution accredited by the Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico who has shown his capacity and knowledge in that field and who has been certified by said Board.
(r) Specialist. — Physicist duly qualified by means of formal training in radio-oncology, responsible for the methods of calculation, quality control and dosimetric functioning of the radiotherapy treatment equipment.
History —Apr. 12, 2006, No. 76, § 2; May 30, 2008, No. 74, § 2.