The Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists will be in Austin June 24-25 to urge the Sunset Advisory Commission of the Texas Legislature to maintain licensing standards for radiologic technologists in the state.

The legislature’s Sunset Advisory Commission recently released its 2014 Sunset Staff Report, which recommends eliminating licensure requirements for 19 occupations, including radiologic technologists. Radiologic technologists administer ionizing radiation during medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures. Ionizing radiation is a known carcinogen and can be dangerous when administered incorrectly.

Texas currently licenses 28,275 radiologic technologists. Texas’s licensed radiologic technologists are responsible for following radiation safety measures and making sure patients receive proper radiation safety shielding and the lowest radiation dose possible during procedures.

If Texas rescinds licensure requirements, individuals in the state will be allowed to administer medical radiation without completing any coursework in radiation protection, radiation safety and medical imaging physics.

The commission claims that the state’s deregulation of radiologic technologists would “have little impact on public health or safety” because technologists work in “healthcare facilities subject to numerous federal and state requirements” and “have private accreditation programs.” However, these statements are inaccurate. Under the state’s new plan, anyone will able to administer ionizing radiation, raising the possibility of radiation dose mismanagement. In addition, national voluntary certification programs will not replace state licensure requirements in Texas because it’s up to the discretion of the individual, or employer, to require voluntary certification.

In addition to opening the door to increased medical radiation exposure and repeat medical imaging exams due to poor-quality and inefficient procedures, the state will lose its right to penalize individuals who administer radiation incorrectly or do not treat patients according to professional standards outlined in licensure requirements.

“With what we know about the dangers of medical radiation, it’s very surprising that the Texas legislature would consider removing licensure standards so anyone could administer medical radiation within the patient population,” said Kameka Rideaux, M.B.A., R.T.(R)(T), president of the TSRT. “Texans should know that their elected officials are considering removing a program that was designed to protect patients from excessive medical radiation dose and has been very successful for more than 25 years.”

In addition to removing radiologic technology licensing standards, the commission also proposes removing licensure standards for medical physicists. Texas’s licensed medical physicists develop treatment plans for radiation therapy patients, calculate medical radiation dose, prepare radiation hazard emergency programs and monitor the performance of medical imaging and radiation therapy equipment.

Representatives from TSRT, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, North Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists and Midwestern State University will attend the commission’s public meeting June 24-25. The organizations will highlight the importance of licensure standards and ask lawmakers to remove radiologic technology and medical physicists from its list of programs to discontinue.

ABOUT THE TEXAS SOCIETY OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS
The Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists Inc. was founded in 1932. Its mission is to advance the radiologic sciences, assist in establishing and maintaining high standards of education and training, elevate the quality of patient care, and improve the welfare and socioeconomic status of radiologic science professionals.