A measure to petition the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to classify radiologic technologists (RTs) as professionals has generated more than 42,000 comments submitted via the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Advocacy Action Center.
The ASRT and other societies rallied this summer in response to a call for comments and notice of review of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual. Currently, RTs are classified as technical personnel.
"We receive orders from physicians every day that require us to use our advanced knowledge of radiation protection, radiation physics, equipment protocols, and much more,” ASRT President Heather Moore, PhD, said in a statement. “We’re responsible for creating quality medical images that could save lives, and this in-depth process includes critical thinking, discernment, and judgement, key responsibilities that are part of the OMB’s professionalism definition.”
The role of RTs in modern healthcare continues to evolve as the demand for improved imaging technology accelerates, stated the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in relation to the effort.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) also contributed, proposing to change the nuclear medicine technologist role to nuclear medicine technologist and therapist under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations group.
Changes to the SOC would be released to begin use in reference year 2028.
