Section 401.20  Definitions

 

As used in this Part, the following definitions shall apply:

 

"Accreditation" – The process by which the Illinois Emergency Management Agency grants permission to persons meeting the requirements of the Act and the Agency's rules and regulations to engage in the practice of administering radiation to human beings. [420 ILCS 40/4]

 

"ACRRT" − American Chiropractic Registry of Radiologic Technologists, 52 W Colfax Street, Palatine, Illinois 60067-5048, Phone (847) 705-1178, web site: www.acrrt.com.

 

"Act" – The Radiation Protection Act of 1990 [420 ILCS 40].

 

"Administers Ionizing Radiation" – see "Applies Ionizing Radiation"

 

                        "Agency" − The Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

 

"Applies Ionizing Radiation" – The acts of using ionizing radiation for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.  Specifically included are those tasks that have a direct impact on the radiation burden of the patient, which if performed improperly would result in the re-administration of radiation.

 

"Approved Program" – A formal education program  in the respective discipline of radiography, nuclear medicine technology or radiation therapy that is accredited by one or more of the following:

 

                                    Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

 

Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Techology

 

                                    Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies

 

                                    Conjoint Secretariat on the Canadian Medical Association

 

                                    Australian Institute of Radiography.

 

"ARRT" − The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, 1255 Northland Drive, St. Paul MN 55120-1155, Phone (651) 687-0048, web site: www.arrt.org.

 

"Board" – The Radiologic Technologist Accreditation Advisory Board (RTAAB).

 

"Bone Densitometer" – An x-radiation producing device that is manufactured specifically for, and limited to, bone densitometry.

 

"Bone Densitometry" − The science and art of applying x-radiation to human beings for determination of site specific bone density.

 

"Category A Credit" − An activity that qualifies as a continuing education activity as defined in this Part.

 

"CBRPA" − Certification Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants, 1074 E 2750 N, Ogden UT 84414-2741, Phone (801) 782-8671, web site: www.cbrpa.org.

 

            "Chiropractic Radiographer" – A person other than a licensed practitioner who performs medical radiation procedures and applies x-radiation to the human body for diagnostic evaluation of skeletal anatomy, while under the general supervision of a licensed chiropractor.

 

            "Chiropractic Radiography" – The science and art of applying x-radiation to human beings for diagnostic purposes in Chiropractic.

 

"Continuing Education Activity" − A learning activity that is planned, organized and administered to enhance the professional knowledge and skills underlying professional performance that a technologist uses to provide services for patients, the public or the medical profession.  In order to qualify as continuing education, the activity must be planned, be organized and provide sufficient depth and scope of a subject area.

 

"Continuing Education Credit" or "CE Credit" − Unit of measurement for continuing education activities.  One continuing education credit is awarded for one contact hour (50 minutes).  Activities longer than one hour are assigned whole or partial credits based on the 50-minute hour.  Educational activities of 30-49 minutes of duration will be awarded one-half of one CE credit.  Activities that last less than 30 minutes will receive no credit.

 

            "Credentialing" – Any process whereby a State government or non-governmental agency or association grants recognition to an individual who meets certain predetermined qualifications.

 

"Director" – The Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

 

            "Ionizing Radiation" – Gamma rays, and x-rays, alpha and beta particles, high speed electrons, neutrons, protons, and other nuclear particles; but not sound or radio waves, or visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.

 

            "In vitro" – Isolated from the living organism.

 

            "In vivo" – Occurring within the living organism.

 

            "Licensed Practitioner" – A person licensed or otherwise authorized by law to practice medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, chiropractic or podiatry.

 

"Limited Diagnostic Radiographer" – A person, other than a licensed practitioner, who, while under the general supervision of a licensed practitioner, applies x-radiation for diagnostic purposes. Radiographic procedures are limited to one or more of the following anatomical regions: chest, extremities, skull/sinus or spine.

 

AGENCY NOTE:  Specific radiographic examinations appropriate to each type of limited radiography accreditation may be found in Appendix A of this Part.

 

            "Medical Radiation Technology" – The science and art of performing medical radiation procedures involving the application of ionizing radiation to human beings for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.  The five specialized disciplines of Medical Radiation Technology are Medical Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiation Therapy Technology, Chiropractic Radiography, and Radiologist Assistant.

 

            "Medical Radiographer" – A person, other than a licensed practitioner, who, while under general supervision of a licensed practitioner, applies x-radiation to any part of the human body and who, in conjunction with radiation studies, may administer contrast agents and related drugs for diagnostic purposes.

 

            "Medical Radiography" – The science and art of applying x-radiation to human beings for diagnostic purposes.

 

"NMTCB" − Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board, 2970 Clairmont Road, Suite 935, Atlanta GA 30329, Phone (404) 315-1739, web site: www.nmtcb.org.

 

            "Nuclear Medicine Technologist" – A person, other than a licensed practitioner, who administers radiopharmaceuticals and related drugs to human beings for diagnostic purposes, performs in vivo and in vitro detection and measurement of radioactivity and administers radiopharmaceuticals to human beings for therapeutic purposes. A nuclear medicine technologist may perform such procedures only while under the general supervision of a licensed practitioner who is licensed to possess and use radioactive materials.

 

            "Nuclear Medicine Technology" – The science and art of in vivo and in vitro detection and measurement of radioactivity and the administration of radiopharmaceuticals to human beings for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

 

            "Radiation Therapist" – A person, other than a licensed practitioner, who performs procedures and applies ionizing radiation emitted from x-ray machines, particle accelerators, or sealed radioactive sources to human beings for therapeutic purposes while under the general supervision of a licensed practitioner who is licensed, as required, to possess and use radioactive materials.

 

            "Radiation Therapy Technology" – The science and art of applying ionizing radiation emitted from x-ray machines, particle accelerators and sealed radioactive sources to human beings for therapeutic purposes.

 

"Radiologist Assistant" − A person, other than a licensed practitioner, who, as a medical radiographer with advanced-level training and certification, performs a variety of activities under the direct, general or personal supervision of a radiologist, certified by the American Board of Radiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, in the areas of patient care, patient management, clinical imaging and interventional procedures.  The Radiologist Assistant may not interpret images, make diagnoses or prescribe medications or therapies.

 

                        "Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism" or "RCEEM" − A mechanism for evaluating the content, quality and integrity of an educational activity.  The evaluation shall include a review of educational objectives, content selection, faculty qualifications, and educational methods and materials.  Among the requirements for qualification as an RCEEM, an organization shall be national in scope, non-profit, radiology based and willing to evaluate the CE activity developed by any technologist within a given discipline.  Organizations with current RCEEM status include:

 

                                    American College of Radiology

 

                                    American Healthcare Radiology Administrators

 

                                    American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

 

                                    American Society of Radiologic Technologists

 

                                    Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists

 

                                    Radiological Society of North America

 

                                    Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

 

Section for Magnetic Resonance Technologist of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

 

                                    Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section

 

                                    Society of Vascular Ultrasound.

 

"Supervision" – Responsibility for, and control of, quality, radiation safety and protection, and technical aspects of the application of ionizing radiation to human beings for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. For purposes of this Part, supervision shall consist of one of the following:

 

Personal − The required individual must be in attendance in the room during the performance of the procedure.

 

Direct − The required individual must be present in at least an adjacent area and immediately available to furnish assistance and direction throughout the performance of the procedure.

 

General − The procedure is furnished under the overall direction and control of a licensed practitioner whose presence is not required during the performance of the procedure.

 

(Source:  Amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 11622, effective July 26, 2007)