New York Public Health Law Section 3501 - Definitions.

3501. Definitions. When used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the following definitions:

1. "Radiologic technology" means the practice of radiography, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine technology.

2. "Radiologic technologist" means a person who is licensed under this article to practice radiography or radiation therapy or nuclear medicine.

3. "Radiography" means the use of x-rays or x-ray producing equipment on human beings for diagnostic purposes under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. The practice includes, but is not limited to: measuring and positioning patients; selecting and setting up exposure factors on x-ray equipment, and the making of the x-ray exposure; the performance of quality control tests; and, under the direct supervision of a licensed physician, the intravascular administration of contrast media when such administration is an integral part of the x-ray or imaging procedure.

4. "Radiographer" means a person, other than a licensed practitioner, who is licensed under this article to practice radiography.

5. "Radiation therapy" means the use of external beam and remote afterloading brachytherapy equipment for the application of ionizing radiation to human beings for therapeutic purposes under the supervision of a radiation oncologist. The practice includes but is not limited to: setting up treatment position; selecting required filter and treatment distance; positioning the beam directional shells and molds; using x-ray equipment for tumor localization; delivering the radiation treatment as prescribed by the physician; certifying the record of the technical details of the treatments; assisting the professional medical physicist in calibration procedures; assisting in treatment planning procedures; and the performance of quality control tests.

6. "Radiation therapist" means a person, other than a licensed physician, who is licensed under this article to practice radiation therapy.

7. "Nuclear medicine technology" means the use of radiopharmaceuticals administered to human beings for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes under the supervision of a physician authorized by a radioactive materials license. The practice includes but is not limited to: elution of a radiopharmaceutical generator; dosage preparation; assay of radiopharmaceutical dosages administered to patients; use of nuclear medicine equipment on patients; performance of quality control tests; administration of radiopharmaceuticals to patients for diagnostic purposes; and administration of radioactive materials to patients for therapeutic purposes under the personal supervision of a physician authorized by a radiopharmaceuticals license for such use.

8. "Nuclear medicine technologist" means a person who is licensed under this article to practice nuclear medicine technology.

9. "Radiologist" means a physician duly licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York and who is certified by the American Board of Radiology or by the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology in diagnostic radiology or radiation oncology.

10. "Radiation oncologist" means a physician duly licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York and who is certified by the American Board of Radiology or by the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology in radiation oncology.

11. "Licensed practitioner" means a person licensed or otherwise authorized under the education law to practice medicine, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic.

12. "Professional medical physicist" means a person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medical physics in accordance with article one hundred sixty-six of the education law.

14. "License" means a license granted and issued by the department under this article to practice radiography, radiation therapy technology or nuclear medicine technology.

15. "X-ray or imaging procedure" means and includes conventional diagnostic x-ray or radiology, computer tomography, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound.

16. "Intravenous contrast administration certificate" means a certificate granted and issued by the department under this article to administer and inject contrast media.

17. "Supervision" means the oversight of a licensed radiologic technologist by a licensed practitioner acting within the limits specified in the law under which the practitioner is licensed.

18. "Direct supervision" means a physician must be present in the section of the facility where the procedure is being performed and is not concurrently encumbered by responsibilities that would preclude the physician from responding to a request for assistance within a timeframe that poses no risk to the patient. The physician shall be immediately available to furnish assistance and direction throughout the performance of the procedure, and is professionally responsible for the performance of the procedure. It does not mean that the physician must be present in the room when the procedure is performed.

19. "Personal supervision" means the physician must be in attendance in the room during the performance of the procedure.


Last modified: February 3, 2019