Connecticut § 20-12i - Use of fluoroscopy by physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses. Qualifications and examination. Certain activities not prohibited.

§ 20-12i. Use of fluoroscopy by physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses. Qualifications and examination. Certain activities not prohibited.

Sec. 20-12i. Use of fluoroscopy by physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses. Qualifications and examination. Certain activities not prohibited. (a) Prior to engaging in the use of fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, a physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse shall: (1) Successfully complete a course that includes forty hours of didactic instruction relevant to fluoroscopy which includes, but is not limited to, radiation biology and physics, exposure reduction, equipment operation, image evaluation, quality control and patient considerations; (2) successfully complete a minimum of forty hours of supervised clinical experience that includes a demonstration of patient dose reduction, occupational dose reduction, image recording and quality control of fluoroscopy equipment; and (3) pass an examination prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Documentation that the physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse has met the requirements prescribed in this subsection shall be maintained at the employment site of the physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse and made available to the Department of Public Health upon request.

(b) An advanced practice registered nurse shall only engage in the use of fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in collaboration with a physician licensed pursuant to this chapter who is trained in radiation protection. An advanced practice registered nurse who engages in the use of fluoroscopy shall wear a radiation safety badge during the procedure. As used in this subsection, (1) “collaboration” means (A) a mutually agreed upon relationship between the advanced practice registered nurse and a physician who is educated, trained or has relevant experience that is related to the work of such advanced practice registered nurse, and (B) the continuous availability of in-person communication between the advanced practice registered nurse and the physician, and (2) “radiation safety badge” means a badge typically worn on the front of a person's body that monitors the person's exposure to radiation and displays the level of such exposure.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or sections 20-74bb and 20-74ee, nothing shall prohibit a physician assistant who is engaging in the use of fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or positioning and utilizing a mini C-arm in conjunction with fluoroscopic procedures prior to October 1, 2011, from continuing to engage in such procedures, or require the physician assistant to complete the course or supervised clinical experience described in subsection (a) of this section, provided such physician assistant shall pass the examination prescribed by the commissioner on or before September 1, 2012. If a physician assistant does not pass the required examination on or before September 1, 2012, such physician assistant shall not engage in the use of fluoroscopy for guidance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or position and utilize a mini C-arm in conjunction with fluoroscopic procedures until such time as such physician assistant meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

(P.A. 09-232, S. 51; P.A. 11-242, S. 45; P.A. 12-197, S. 47; P.A. 24-68, S. 42.)

History: P.A. 09-232 effective July 8, 2009; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting provision re didactic instruction relevant to fluoroscopy for provision re training and replacing former instructional topics with new instructional topics in Subdiv. (1), adding new Subdiv. (2) re completion of minimum of 40 hours of supervised clinical experience and redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and amended Subsec. (b) by adding “this section” re notwithstanding provision, permitting physician assistant to continue to engage in described activities provided required examination is passed before July 1, 2012, and making technical changes; P.A. 12-197 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “July 1, 2012” with “September 1, 2012” re passage of examination, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 24-68 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical change and adding references to advanced practice registered nurse, added new Subsec. (b) re requirements of advanced practice registered nurse's use of fluoroscopy and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c).

See Sec. 20-74ee re physician assistants engaged in the use of fluoroscopy.