Re: An Update on New Jersey Scope of Practice

Dear Editor, The State of New Jersey (Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Radiologic Health) is now discussing certain roles and scopes of practice in the cardiac cath lab. I have received a letter from The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Radiologic Health, and their position is that anyone who moves the tube and/or table in the field of radiation is ‘positioning.’ By law, that function must be done by a Licensed Physician or a Licensed Radiologic Professional. I am the President of The Techical Bargaining Unit (IUOE, JNESO, AFL/CIO) at our hospital and I have been participating in these discussions with the state. I recently attended the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Radiologic Health Meeting in Trenton, New Jersey. When I presented some information that non-RTs were panning and otherwise positioning patients in process of performing a cardiac catheterization, their jaws dropped. A heated discussion ensued and many there were under the same impression as those in our field that because the MD has a license, all is good. WRONG! If the MD has the license, then he/she must do their own panning/ positioning. Apparently, I opened the proverbial can of worms and there will be more spot checks on labs, with fines and misdemeanor charges levied, fines up to $1,500 per day per operator! There will need to be some open dialogue to help prevent well-qualified RCVT/RCISs from losing their jobs; however, the first order of business still needs to be the safe dispensing of ionizing radiation. Let’s face it, I can draw up ‘any’ medication and give it to a patient IV. But the fact that I ‘can’ do something, does not mean that I ˜should’ be doing it! Ever hear the phrase that medication is the safe application of a poison to achieve a desired result? Well, in the same sense, radiation in any of its forms is the safe application of a damaging wavelength to achieve a desired diagnosis. Nurses safely administer serious medications, and radiologic technologists safely administer serious and potentially harmful ionizing radiation! I encourage an urgent ad hoc committee of various professions who practice in the cardiac catheterization laboratory to begin some open and meaningful dialogue to create some standards of practice in the cardiac cath lab! I would be happy to participate. Email: bobstero@ptd.net

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