Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
I.
DEFINITIONS
A.
Licensed
Practitioner means a person licensed to practice medicine,
dentistry, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathic, or optometry in the State of
Arkansas;
B.
Radiation
Practitioner means a licensed practitioner who has completed a
residency in radiology, nuclear medicine, or radiation oncology, AND is
certified by the American Board of Radiology, the American Osteopathic Board of
Radiology, or the American Board of Nuclear Medicine or its
equivalent;
C.
Radiologist Assistant (RA) or Radiology Practitioner Assistant
(RPA) a person other than a licensed practitioner, who has
specific qualifications, education, certification and responsibilities as
recognized by the Arkansas State Medical Board and who has been issued a
license to perform certain functions under the supervision of Licensed
Radiation Practitioner;
D.
Supervising Radiation Practitioner means a radiation
practitioner using the services of RA or RPA and is responsible for the
professional activities and services of the RA or RPA under these Rules and
Regulations;
E.
Alternate Supervising Radiologist means a radiation
practitioner other than the supervising radiologist who is responsible for the
supervision of RA or RPA for specific procedures in accordance with all Rules
and Regulations applicable to the supervising radiation practitioner;
F.
Personal
Supervision means the supervising and/or alternate supervising
radiation practitioner must be in attendance in the room with the RA or RPA
during the performance of the procedure or task;
G.
Direct
Supervision means the supervising and/or alternate supervising
radiation practitioner and/or radiologist must be present in the facility and
immediately available to furnish assistance and direction to the RA or RPA
during the performance of the procedure or task. The radiation practitioner is
not required to be present in the room during the performance of the procedure
or task;
H.
General
Supervision means the procedure is furnished under the supervising
and/or alternate supervising radiation practitioner's overall direction and
control, but the practitioner is not required to be in the same room or
facility with the RA or RPA during the performance of the procedure or
task.
II. REQUIREMENTS
The Radiologist Assistant (RA) and the Radiology Practitioner
Assistant (RPA) must obtain a permit from the Arkansas State Medical Board to
practice in the State of Arkansas, in order to obtain said permit of the RA or
RPA must comply with the following:
A.
Complete and submit an application and provide such information as the Board
requires.
B. Provide proof of
successfully passing the Registered Radiologist Assistant examination by the
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, or provide proof of licensure in
Arkansas by 2007 as a RA or RPA through the Division of Ionizing Radiation at
the Arkansas State Department of Health.
C. Be at least 18 years of age.
D. Provide the names and signatures of the
supervising and alternate supervising radiation practitioners licensed to
practice in the State of Arkansas who agree to supervision of the RA or RPA
under the terms of these Rules and Regulations.
E. Provide a practice-specific document
delineating the specific procedures and tasks to be performed by the RA or RPA
in each facility utilized, including the level of supervision to be provided by
the supervising licensed radiation practitioners.
F. Pay a licensure fee of $75.00 to the Board
with the application for the initial permit. The supervising and alternate
supervising radiation practitioners must sign the application form that they
have read the Rules and Regulations and will abide by same, including
disciplinary actions pertaining to the RA or RPA and themselves.
G. Pay a renewal fee of $50.00 with the
annual renewal form for a permit and a copy of the practice privileges for each
facility where the procedures are performed. The supervising and alternate
supervising radiation practitioners must sign the renewal form that they have
read the Rules and Regulations and will abide by same, including disciplinary
actions pertaining to the RA or RPA and themselves.
H. A request must be submitted for Board
approval of any changes in supervising or alternate supervising radiation
practitioners, and for any changes to the practice-specific document
delineating the specific procedures and tasks to be performed by the RA or RPA
in each facility utilized, including the level of supervision to be provided by
the supervising licensed radiation practitioner(s).
III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The RA or RPA may perform the tasks and functions as approved by
the Board AND for which practice privileges have been secured at each facility
where the procedure is performed.
Prescriptive authority for medications and images interpretation
are expressly prohibited. Initial observation of the images by the RA and RPA
may be communicated only to the supervising radiation practitioner. The RA and
RPA may communicate the radiologist's interpretation to other care
providers.
IV. THE
PRACTICE-SPECIFIC DOCUMENT
The practice-specific document is to be completed and signed by
the RA or RPA and the supervising licensed radiation practitioner supervisor.
The practice-specific document must be accepted and approved by the Arkansas
State Medical Board prior to the licensure of the RA or RPA. Any change in the
practice-specific document shall include the following:
A. Procedures or tasks to be performed by the
RA or RPA with the level of supervision to be provided by the licensed
practitioner(s). All invasive procedures listed require a minimum level of
direct supervision. Conscious sedation requires personal supervision.
B. Name and address of facility where the
procedure(s) will be performed.
C.
The name of the alternate supervising licensed radiation
practitioner(s).
V.
SUPERVISION
The radiation practitioners assume full responsibility for the
actions of the RA and RPA. If there is any uncertainty regarding supervision of
the RA and RPA, the designated supervising radiation practitioner has ultimate
responsibility.
Supervising and alternate supervising radiation practitioners
must have the privileges to perform the procedures for which he/she is
supervising for the RA and RPA. If it is an invasive procedure, the radiation
practitioners must satisfy, at a minimum, the same educational and experience
requirements as the RA or RPA.
All invasive procedures require a minimum level of direct
supervision, and conscious sedation requires personal supervision by the
radiation practitioner.
VI.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
An RA and RPA must comply with the Medical Practices Act and the
Rules and Regulations of the Board. Should the Board find that there is
probable cause that an RA or RPA has not complied with the Medical Practices
Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Board, the Board will bring charges
alleging the wrongful conduct and said disciplinary proceeding will comply with
the Administrative Procedure Act of the State of Arkansas. At the conclusion of
the disciplinary hearing, if the Board finds that the RA or RPA has violated
the Medical Practices Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Board, the Board
may impose one or more of the following sanctions:
A. Revoke the permit to practice in Arkansas
as a RA or RPA.
B. Suspend the
permit for a period of time as determined by the Board.
C. Issue a reprimand.
D. Supervising radiation practitioners may be
subject to disciplinary action by the Board if the RA or RPA violates the
Medical Practices Act or the Rules and Regulations.
VII. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
A. An RA or RPA with an active permit to
practice in the State of Arkansas shall complete 6 credit hours per year of
continuing medical education acceptable to the American Registry of Radiologic
Technologists and/or the American Medical Association.
B. If a person holding an active permit is an
RA or RPA in this State fails to meet the foregoing requirement because of
illness, military service, medical or religious missionary activity, residence
in a foreign country, or other extenuating circumstances, the Board upon
appropriate written application may grant an extension of time to complete the
same on an individual basis.
C.
Each year with the application for renewal of an active permit as an RA or RPA
in this state, the Board will include a form which requires the person holding
the permit to certify by signature under penalty of perjury, and discipline by
the Board, that he or she has met the stipulating continuing medical education
requirements. In addition, the Board may randomly require the RA or RPA
submitting such certification to demonstrate, prior to renewal of the permit,
satisfaction of continuing medical education requirements stated in his or her
certification.
D. Continuing
medical education records must be kept by the permit holder in an orderly
manner. All records relative to continuing medical education must be maintained
by the licensee for at least 3 years from the end of the reporting period. The
records or copies of the forms must be provided or made available to the
Arkansas State Medical Board upon request.
E. Failure to complete continuing education
hours as required, or failure to be able to produce records reflecting that one
has completed the required minimal medical education hours shall be a violation
and may result in the permit holder having his permit suspended and/or
revoked.
