House Bill 1811, was introduced Sept. 6 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Health and Safety Act would establish regulations and licensure for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals and a board of examiners to institute requirements and develop standards. Rep. Ted Nesbit, of Grove City, is the bill’s sponsor.

Current technical personnel standards in the state of Pennsylvania can vary widely based on the type of medical examination or even the type of facility in which the exam or treatment is performed, often leading to inconsistent quality of care and potential lapses in patient safety.

The American Society Radiologic Technologists, the Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists, the Philadelphia Society of Radiologic Technologists, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists support the proposal and urge all radiologic technologists in the state to contact their legislators and ask for their support.

The ASRT supports the measure, as it would establish consistent education and certification standards for the state’s medical imaging and radiation therapy personnel.