Ohio Admin. Code 3701-72-04 - Licensee authorizations and requirements

(A) Each radiologic licensee shall operate ionizing radiation-generating equipment or use radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with the documented quality assurance and radiation protection programs required under the rules adopted pursuant to Chapter 3748. of the Revised Code. The director may at any time during business hours evaluate operator competency in regard to the safe operation of ionizing radiationgenerating equipment or use of radioactive sources to determine compliance with Chapter 4773. of the Revised Code or any rules adopted pursuant to Chapter 3748. of the Revised Code.

(B) Radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, radiation therapists, and general x-ray machine operators who are registered nurses providing occupational health nursing services in an industrial workplace shall work under general supervision.

(C) General x-ray machine operators, other than those registered nurses who provide occupational health nursing services in an industrial workplace, shall work under the direct supervision of a licensed practitioner.

(D) The following radiologic procedure tasks shall be performed only by an Ohio licensed practitioner, radiographer, nuclear medicine technologist, radiation therapist or general x-ray machine operator within his/her scope of practice:

(1) Adjust or set technique factors;

(2) Move or position equipment;

(3) Move or position the patient;

(4) Expose the patient to radiation;

(5) Reset the audible signal on the cumulative radiation exposure timer;

(6) Assure adequate radiation protection to the patient and individuals in the procedure room from unnecessary radiation; and

(7) Process and post process digital image at the time of the procedure.

(E) Provided that all radiation safety training required by rules adopted pursuant to Chapter 3748. of the Revised Code have been completed, registered nurses, registered cardiovascular invasive specialists, and general x-ray machine operators licensed prior to September 30, 1995, who have been continuously licensed in accordance with this chapter to practice in the area of fluoroscopy pursuant to the conditional license requirements of section 4773.05 of the Revised Code, may perform, under the personal supervision of a licensed practitioner present in the room, the following tasks of a cardiac catheterization fluoroscopic procedure:

(1) Move or position the patient;

(2) Move or position the fluoroscopic unit; and

(3) Reset the audible signal on the cumulative radiation exposure timer.

(F) General x-ray machine operators licensed after August 1, 2008, shall complete one or as many of the following competency-based clinical training modules from an accredited competency-based clinical training program needed to meet the requirements to work within the scope of practice of their supervising practitioner:

(1) Chest and abdomen,

(2) Extremities,

(3) Skull and sinus,

(4) Spine,

(5) Podiatric radiography, or

(6) Bone densitometry.

(G) Effective August 1, 2008, general x-ray machine operators changing employment to a different licensed practitioner within a new area of clinical practice, shall, prior to practicing in the new area, complete the appropriate competency-based clinical training module as required by paragraph (F) of this rule and submit evidence of completion of the clinical training to the department.

(H) General x-ray machine operators initially licensed prior to August 1, 2008, who want to perform standard, diagnostic radiologic procedures using digital equipment, shall complete the corresponding competency-based clinical training module as listed in paragraph (F) of this rule and submit evidence of completion of the clinical training to the department.

(I) A licensee shall make his or her license available immediately upon the request of any person.

(J) Each licensee shall notify the department in writing within thirty days if there is a change in the licensee's name, email or mailing street address or email address.

(K) Positron emission tomography-computed tomography and single photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography fusion procedures shall be performed by a licensed nuclear medicine technologist or a licensed radiographer, who has obtained training and demonstrated competency with the equipment and procedures. Radiopharmaceuticals shall be injected only by a licensed nuclear medicine technologist or other competent licensed individuals acting within their scope of practice as authorized by the Revised Code. If the computed tomography scanner is operated for any other diagnostic radiographic procedures, the computed tomography scanner shall be operated by a licensed radiographer.

(L) Radiographers Licensed radiographers or licensed radiation therapists, who have obtained training and demonstrated competency with the computerized tomography (CT) equipment and CT protocols, may operate CT units for radiation therapy simulation procedures. CT simulation procedures shall be overseen by a radiation therapist. If the CT equipment is operated for any other diagnostic radiographic procedures, the CT equipment shall be operated by a radiographer.

(M) A licensed nuclear medicine technologist or radiation therapist who is certified in computed tomography by a national certifying agency approved by the director may perform computed tomography procedures if the licensed nuclear medicine technologist or radiation therapist has received the training described in paragraphs (C)(1) and (C)(2) of rule 3701-72-03 of the Administrative Code.

A licensed nuclear medicine technologist or radiation therapist may perform computed tomography procedures as part of a documented prerequisite clinical experience program leading to certification in computed tomography by a national certifying agency approved by the director provided:

(1) The computed tomography procedures and program are conducted under personal supervision of, and documented by an individual fully qualified to perform computed tomography procedures; and

(2) The computed tomography clinical experience program is completed within twenty four months from the initial start date of the documented prerequisite clinical experience program.

(N) A licensee shall perform computed tomography procedures in accordance with acceptable professional standards.

(O) A radiologic licensee shall not expose an individual to the useful beam unless ordered by a licensed practitioner, as defined in Chapter 4773. or 3748. of the Revised Code, acting within his or her scope-of-practice for dental, medical or radiation therapy purposes. Exposing an individual for training, demonstration or other purposes is prohibited unless otherwise specified in rules promulgated under Chapter 4773. or 3748. of the Revised Code.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 3701-72-04

Effective: 11/1/2021
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 6/1/2023
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4773.08
Rule Amplifies: 4773.06, 4773.061, 4773.08
Prior Effective Dates: 10/16/1995, 10/13/1997, 09/04/2000, 05/17/2004, 08/01/2007, 04/01/2012, 06/01/2018