Minnesota Administrative Rules

4731.4479 REMOTE AFTERLOADER UNITS, TELETHERAPY UNITS, AND GAMMA STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY UNITS; TRAINING.

Subpart 1.

Training and education requirements.

Except as provided under part 4731.4414, a licensee must require an authorized user of a sealed source for a use authorized under part 4731.4463 to be a physician who:

A.

is certified by a medical specialty board whose certification process has been recognized by the NRC or an agreement state, meets the requirements in item B, subitem (4), and has obtained written attestation that the individual has satisfactorily completed the requirements in this item and subpart 2 and has achieved a level of competency sufficient to function independently as an authorized user of each type of therapeutic medical unit for which the individual is requesting authorized user status. The written attestation must be signed by a preceptor authorized user who meets the requirements of this part, part 4731.4414, or equivalent requirements of the NRC or an agreement state for an authorized user for each type of therapeutic medical unit for which the individual is requesting authorized user status; or

B.

has:

(1)

completed a structured educational program in basic radionuclide techniques applicable to the use of a sealed source in a therapeutic medical unit that includes:

(a)

200 hours of classroom and laboratory training in the following areas:

i.

radiation physics and instrumentation;

ii.

radiation protection;

iii.

mathematics pertaining to the use and measurement of radioactivity; and

iv.

radiation biology; and

(b)

500 hours of work experience, under the supervision of an authorized user who meets the requirements of this part, part 4731.4414, or equivalent requirements of the NRC or an agreement state, at a medical institution involving:

i.

reviewing full calibration measurements and periodic spot check;

ii.

preparing treatment plans and calculating treatment doses and times;

iii.

using administrative controls to prevent a medical event involving the use of radioactive materials;

iv.

implementing emergency procedures to be followed in the event of an abnormal operation of the medical unit or console;

v.

checking and using survey meters; and

vi.

selecting the proper dose and how it is to be administered;

(2)

completed three years of supervised clinical experience in radiation therapy, under an authorized user who meets the requirements of this part, part 4731.4414, or equivalent requirements of the NRC or an agreement state, as part of a formal training program approved by the Residency Review Committee for Radiation Oncology of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Committee on Postdoctoral Training of the American Osteopathic Association. The experience may be obtained concurrently with the supervised work experience required under subitem (1), unit (b);

(3)

obtained written attestation that the individual has satisfactorily completed the requirements in this item and has achieved a level of competency sufficient to function independently as an authorized user of each type of therapeutic medical unit for which the individual is requesting authorized user status. The written attestation must be signed by a preceptor authorized user who meets the requirements of this part, part 4731.4414, or equivalent requirements of the NRC or an agreement state for an authorized user for each type of therapeutic medical unit for which the individual is requesting authorized user status; and

(4)

received training in device operation, safety procedures, and clinical use for the types of use for which authorization is sought. This training requirement may be satisfied by satisfactory completion of a training program provided by the vendor for new users or by receiving training supervised by an authorized user or authorized medical physicist, as appropriate, who is authorized for the types of use for which the individual is seeking authorization.

Subp. 2.

Certification requirements.

A specialty board under subpart 1, item A, shall require all candidates for certification to:

A.

successfully complete a minimum of three years of residency training in a radiation therapy program approved by the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Committee on Postgraduate Training of the American Osteopathic Association; and

B.

pass an examination, administered by diplomates of the specialty board, that tests knowledge and competence in radiation safety, radionuclide handling, treatment planning, quality assurance, and clinical use of stereotactic radiosurgery, remote afterloaders, and external beam therapy.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.1202; 144.1203

History:

29 SR 755; 32 SR 831; 36 SR 74

Published Electronically:

August 15, 2011