Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Radiologic Technologists

R 333.5674 Radiologic technologists.
Rule 674. All stereotactic breast biopsy procedures shall be performed by a radiologic technologist who meets all of the following requirements:

(a) Initial qualifications. Before beginning to perform stereotactic breast biopsy procedures independently, a technologist shall do all of the following:

(i) Meet the requirements of R 333.5630.
(ii) Have 3 hours of category A continuing education units in stereotactic breast biopsy.
(iii) Have performed 5 stereotactic breast biopsy procedures under supervision of a stereotactic breast biopsy physician or a qualified stereotactic breast biopsy technologist.

(b) Continuing experience. Following the second anniversary date of the end of the calendar quarter in which the initial qualifications of subdivision (a) of this rule were completed, the stereotactic breast biopsy technologist shall have performed at least 24 stereotactic breast biopsy procedures during the 24 months immediately preceding the date of the facility's annual inspection or the last day of the calendar quarter preceding the inspection or any date in between the 2. The facility shall choose 1 of these dates to determine the 24-month period.

(c) Continuing education. A technologist shall comply with the American registry of radiologic technologist's requirements for continuing education for the imaging modality in which he or she performs services. The continuing education shall include credits pertinent to stereotactic breast biopsy.

Discussion
Stereotactic breast biopsy (SBB) radiologic technologists must meet the requirements for an MQSA technologist plus have 3 hours of continuing education units in SBB and have performed 5 SBB procedures under supervision to be initially qualified.

The SBB technologist will have to demonstrate continuing experience of 24 SBB procedures in 24 months. The continuing education requirement is to be in compliance with the ARRT requirements for continuing education with the added stipulation that more than 1 credit in SBB must be included in the total. 

MIOSHA-RSS-894S; Summary of Radiologic Technologist Qualifications for Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

Question 1: How can we document the requirements for 3 continuing education credits in SBB and 5 SBB procedures?

Question 2: Our techs take many courses that are not specifically labeled as "Stereotactic" but may be described as "needle localization", "needle biopsy", or "wire localization" instruction. Do these types of courses meet the stereotactic continuing education requirement in the new rules?

Question 3: I am no longer qualified in stereotactic breast biopsy since I have not maintained my continuing experience.  Is there a way I can requalify?

Question 1: How can we document the requirements for 3 continuing education credits in SBB and 5 SBB procedures?

The best way to document the continuing education units (CEU) is to provide SBB modality specific CEU certificate(s). The certificate(s) must document that at least 3 CEU category A credits were obtained in SBB. Applications training with the SBB equipment is a good source for the required credits.

Technologists who performed stereotactic breast biopsy prior to the last revision of the mammography rules (April 2013) were allowed to attest to having met the initial qualifications. These attestations are acceptable documentation of the initial qualification. 

Question 2: Our techs take many courses that are not specifically labeled as "Stereotactic" but may be described as "needle localization", "needle biopsy", or "wire localization" instruction. Do these types of courses meet the stereotactic continuing education requirement in the new rules?

The rule says the continuing education shall include credits "pertinent" to stereotactic breast biopsy. "Pertinent" means pertaining or relating directly and significantly to the matter at hand. We consider needle locs, needle biopsy, wire localization as topics which are pertinent to stereotactic breast biopsy and will accept credits in these topics.

Question 3: I am no longer qualified in stereotactic breast biopsy since I have not maintained my continuing experience.  Is there a way I can requalify?

Radiologic technologists who fail to meet the continuing experience requirement of 24 stereotactic breast biopsy (SBB) procedures during the last 24 months shall reestablish their qualifications before performing SBB procedures independently by one of the following:

• perform a sufficient number of (SBB) procedures under supervision of a qualified SBB technologist to bring their total up to 24 procedures for the last 24 months.

• perform 5 hands-on SBB procedures under the supervision of a qualified SBB technologist.  The technologist will have until the next inspection by the department to bring their total up to 24 procedures for the last 24 months.

May 18, 2017