CRNAs
lobby Senator Morales to be exempt from
licensure to use radiation.
The NMSRT is making their feeling known
concerning the bill being introduced by
Senator Morales to exempt CRNAs from being
licensed to use radiation in our state.
Danny Gonzales, Chairman of the Board has
written a letter (below) to Senator Morales
expressing his concerns.
Please take moment to let your Senator know your
feelings.
Senator Morales,
My name is Daniel Gonzales and I am a Radiologic
Technologists from Carlsbad New Mexico. I am
currently the Director of Radiology at Artesia
General Hospital. I have been in Health Care going
on 25 years. I am a member of several boards and
councils regarding the profession of Radiology two
being the Radiation Technical Advisory Council (RTAC)
and the New Mexico Society of Radiologic
Technologists. I have an Associate Degree in
Radiologic Technology, a Bachelors Degree in
Business Administration and a Masters Degree in
Radiological Administration. As a registered
Radiologic Technologists and a technologist of
higher education I have to continue to be
re-certified every two years to keep my employment
as a technologist. We are not allowed to be exempt
because we are of higher education. We continue to
work on certifications in our field of practice and
not in nursing.
It has been brought to my attention that the CRNA’s
have lobbied you and convinced you to propose an
amend sections of the Medical Imaging and Radiation
Therapy Health and Safety Act. First of all what
qualifications do they carry to be exempt? In order
for a Radiologic Technologist to perform the duties
of the profession they must meet the imaging
prerequisites plus re-certify every two years with
24 hours of continuing education. We will be one of
the first states to certify Ultrasonographers and
MRI Technologists in order to perform their job. Not
once have we asked that the “Technologist” be exempt
from performing these specialties only because they
are “Radiologic Technologist”. We understand that in
order for a technologist to do Ultrasound and
perform MRI that they be properly educated and meet
all the criteria and competencies to perform these
tasks.
The exemptions that they
are asking for is out of their scope of practice! If
the “Radiologic Technologist” is being ask to become
certified in, Sonography, MRI and be certified to
use ionizing radiation then so should the CRNA’s
CNP’s CNS’s and midwives! This is something that
should not be ignored but work towards keeping
patients safe from the over use or over exposure of
radiation and the misdiagnosis of certain
pathologies because the person performing the exam
was not properly educated. If our Ultrasound
Technologists have to be certified by the American
Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
or the Registry for Vascular Technology (RVT) then
so should the CRNA, CNP’s, CNS and midwives.
I can speak for the
technologist of this state by saying that being a
nurse of higher education or advanced certification
should not exempt you from this law. Imaging is a
whole different area than nursing.
Things to think about:
·
Poor quality images
can lead to additional testing, increased dose,
delays in treatment and needless anxiety for the
patient.
-
Professional, well trained Radiologic
Technologists
reduce health care costs by lowering the number
of radiologic examinations that must be repeated
due to improper positioning or poor technique.
-
Safety in radiologic procedures.
Administered properly, radiation is an
invaluable tool in the diagnosis, treatment and
management of disease. However, most radiologic
procedures also carry a potential health risk,
and radiation can be harmful if mis-administered.
-
Those professionals listed above, while well
trained in their area of expertise, are not
trained in radiation use and safety,
technique or positioning. This is our area
of expertise.
-
Radiologic professionals are specifically
qualified to ensure the best possible
outcome in diagnostic procedures.
Senator considering that you are an educator does it
make sense to you that I as a Radiographer can go in
and teach your class? That is what we ask, let us do
what we do best “Advanced Medical Imaging” and allow
them to do what they do best “Advanced Nursing
care”.
Thank you for your time.
Daniel L. Gonzales, MSRS, RT(R)
Director of Radiology Artesia General Hospital
Chairman of the Board of the New Mexico Society of
Radiologic Technologists
Member of the Radiation Technical Advisory Council
NEW MEXICO SOCIETY OF RADIOLOGIC
TECHNOLOGISTS
47 Yucca Lane • Placitas, NM 87043 •
http://www.nmsrt.org
radiographer@gmail.com
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