This notice replaces all previous scopes of practice and prescribed qualifications notices of the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board ("the Board").
Introduction
Under section 11 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 ("the Act"), the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board ("the Board") is obliged
to define each of the practice areas that make up the
practice of medical radiation technology. The Board's
role is to identify for each of these practice areas -
known as scopes of practice or scopes - the aspects of medical radiation technology covered by each scope. Medical radiation technology practitioners seeking to practise in New Zealand must first be registered with
the Board in one or more of the scopes of practice as defined in this notice.
Section 12 of the Act requires the Board to formally "prescribe" the specific qualifications that medical
radiation technology practitioners must have to be eligible for registration in each of the scopes of practice. The prescribed qualifications may be different for each scope
of practice.
The Board last published a full list of the scopes of
practice and prescribed qualifications for the profession
of medical radiation technology dated the 1st day of December 2010 and published in the New Zealand Gazette, 9 December 2010, No. 170, page 4208. Since then the Board has consulted on, and approved, changes to the descriptors for each of its scopes of practice and associated prescribed qualifications, and as contained in this new Gazette Notice.
The Profession of Medical Radiation Technology
Medical radiation technology is a patient centred profession that encompasses the practices of medical imaging and radiation therapy. Medical imaging practitioners use different technologies to create images of the human
body for diagnosis and the staging and management of disease. Radiation therapy practitioners use technology
to create and evaluate images and data related to the localisation, planning and delivery of radiation treatments.
Scopes of Practice
The profession of medical radiation technology contains eight scopes of practice. Pursuant to section 11 of the Act, the Council specifies those scopes of practice as:
1. Scope of Practice - Medical Imaging Technologist
Medical Imaging Technologists are responsible for
the outcome of the diagnostic imaging examination. The outcome of the examination is recorded electronically
to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.
Medical Imaging Technologists produce high quality diagnostic radiographs or carry out diagnostic procedures using ionising radiation. With appropriate training, Medical Imaging Technologists may practise computed tomography (CT), mammography, and angiography. Medical Imaging Technologists evaluate the diagnostic quality of images and take corrective measures as required.
Medical Imaging Technologists competencies include, but are not limited to, patient care, patient positioning, imaging physics and technology, anatomy and physiology identification and assessment, bioeffects and radiation safety, clinical and organisational responsibility for the examination, and quality assurance.
2. Scope of Practice - Radiation Therapist
Radiation Therapists are responsible for the planning
and delivery of radiation treatment, primarily for people diagnosed with cancer. Radiation Therapists create
and evaluate images for the localisation, planning and delivery of radiation treatment according to the prescription of the Radiation Oncologist.
Radiation Therapists provide specific care to patients throughout the course of their treatment and educate patients on the management of any treatment related side-effects.
Radiation Therapists' competencies include, but are not limited to, patient care, treatment design and delivery, radiation safety, clinical and organisational responsibility for the planning and treatment, and quality assurance.
3. Scope of Practice - Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Nuclear Medicine Technologists are responsible for
the outcome of the nuclear medicine examination. The outcome of the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists are involved in the preparation, administration, imaging and quantification of diagnostic pharmaceuticals to demonstrate organ and molecular function as well as the delivery of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals to treat a number of pathologies.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists operate gamma camera systems (SPECT) and PET imaging systems with or without sealed sources of radioactive materials or x-ray tubes for attenuation correction, anatomical fusion, transmission imaging or, subsequent to a Board-approved training programme, diagnostic CT.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists' competencies include, but are not limited to, patient care, patient positioning, preparation and administration of radiopharmaceuticals, radionuclide and radiation safety, in-vitro diagnostic testing, radionuclide therapy, clinical and organisational responsibility for the examination, and quality assurance.
4. Scope of Practice - Sonographer
Sonographers are responsible for the outcome of the diagnostic ultrasound examination. The outcome of
the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.
Sonographers perform a wide range of real-time diagnostic examinations and may at their discretion
(and in accordance with clinical and workplace guidelines) extend the examination to include relevant regions and/or sequences not suggested in the referral.
Sonographers' competencies include, but are not
limited to, patient care, ultrasound physics and technology, anatomy and physiology identification
and assessment, diagnostic interpretation of the ultrasound findings, bioeffects and the use of ultrasound technology, clinical and organisational responsibility for the examination, and quality assurance.
5. Scope of Practice - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologists are responsible for the outcome of the MRI examination. The outcome of the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.
MRI Technologists produce high quality diagnostic images using a powerful magnetic field. MRI Technologists may at their discretion (and in the accordance with clinical and workplace guidelines) extend the examination to include relevant regions and/or sequences not suggested in the referral or protocol.
MRI Technologists' competencies include, but are not limited to, patient care, patient positioning, use of magnetic resonance imaging physics and technology, bioeffects and magnetic resonance safety, clinical
and organisational responsibility for the examination, and quality assurance.
6. Scope of Practice - Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Suitably qualified registered health practitioners can apply for registration as a Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist in an approved training programme in nuclear medicine. Upon completion of the nuclear medicine training programme, and meeting the requirements for demonstrating clinical competence,
the Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist is eligible
to apply for registration in the scope of practice of Nuclear Medicine Technologist.
7. Scope of Practice - Trainee Sonographer
Suitably qualified registered health practitioners can apply for registration as a Trainee Sonographer in
an approved training programme in ultrasound. Upon completion of the ultrasound training programme, and meeting the requirements for demonstrating clinical competence, the Trainee Sonographer is eligible to apply for registration in the scope of practice of Sonographer.
8. Scope of Practice - Trainee Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist
Suitably qualified registered health practitioners can apply for registration as a Trainee MRI Technologist
in an approved training programme in MRI. Upon completion of the MRI training programme, and
meeting the requirements for demonstrating clinical competence, the Trainee MRI Technologist is eligible
to apply for registration in the scope of practice of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist.
Qualifications Prescribed for Registration
Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualifications are prescribed for registration as a medical radiation technologist:
1. Medical Imaging Technologist
The practitioner must satisfy one of the following:
An undergraduate degree in diagnostic medical imaging from a New Zealand tertiary education institution that is accredited and monitored by the Board.
A qualification in diagnostic medical imaging approved by the Board combined with appropriate medical imaging experience.
A medical imaging qualification and/or course of study and/or successful completion of a Board registration examination assessment (REA) combined with appropriate medical imaging experience.
2. Radiation Therapist
The practitioner must satisfy one of the following:
An undergraduate degree in radiation therapy from a
New Zealand tertiary education institution that is accredited and monitored by the Board.
A qualification in radiation therapy approved by the Board combined with appropriate radiation therapy experience.
A radiation therapy qualification and/or course
of study and/or successful completion of a Board registration examination assessment (REA) combined with appropriate radiation therapy experience.
3. Nuclear Medicine Technologist
The practitioner must satisfy one of the following:
An undergraduate degree in medical imaging/radiation therapy and a qualification in nuclear medicine, combined with appropriate nuclear medicine experience.
A qualification in nuclear medicine approved by the Board combined with appropriate nuclear medicine experience.
A nuclear medicine qualification and/or course of study and/or successful completion of a Board registration examination assessment (REA) combined with appropriate nuclear medicine experience.
If the nuclear medicine qualification does not
contain an assessment of clinical competence, the applicant must have completed a minimum of
3360 hours clinical experience in nuclear medicine before undergoing a Board registration examination assessment (REA).
4. Sonographer
The practitioner must satisfy one of the following:
An undergraduate degree in medical imaging or a relevant health science qualification and a postgraduate diploma in ultrasound from a New Zealand tertiary education institution that is accredited and monitored by the Board, combined with appropriate ultrasound experience.
A qualification in ultrasound approved by the Board combined with appropriate sonography experience.
An ultrasound qualification and/or course of study and/or successful completion of a Board registration examination assessment (REA) combined with appropriate ultrasound experience.
If the ultrasound qualification does not contain an assessment of clinical competence, the applicant must have completed a minimum of 3360 hours clinical experience in ultrasound before undergoing a Board registration examination assessment (REA).
5. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist
The practitioner must satisfy one of the following:
An undergraduate degree in medical imaging and a postgraduate diploma in MRI from a New Zealand tertiary education institution that is accredited and monitored by the Board, combined with appropriate MRI experience.
A qualification in MRI approved by the Board combined with appropriate MRI experience.
A MRI qualification and/or course of study and/or successful completion of a Board registration examination assessment (REA) combined with appropriate MRI experience.
If the MRI qualification does not contain an assessment of clinical competence, the applicant must have completed a minimum of 3360 hours clinical experience in MRI before undergoing a Board registration examination assessment (REA).
6. Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist
The practitioner must satisfy the following:
A qualification in medical imaging approved by the Board and enrolment in a Board-approved course of training in nuclear medicine.
7. Trainee Sonographer
The practitioner must satisfy the following:
A qualification in medical imaging and/or relevant health science approved by the Board and enrolment in a Board-approved course of training in ultrasound.
8. Trainee Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist
The practitioner must satisfy the following:
A qualification in medical imaging approved by the Board and enrolment in a Board-approved course of training in MRI.
Dated at Wellington this 31st day of July 2013.
MARY DOYLE, Registrar, Medical Radiation Technologists Board.