The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 26 : Professions and Occupations

Chapter 052 : Radiologist Assistants

• § 2857. Supervision and scope of practice

  (a)(1) The number of radiologist assistants permitted to practice under the direction and supervision of a radiologist shall be determined by the Board after review of the system of care delivery in which the supervising radiologist and radiologist assistants propose to practice. Scope of practice and levels of supervision shall be consistent with guidelines adopted by the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, and the ARRT.

  (2) The authority of a radiologist assistant to practice shall terminate immediately upon termination of the radiologist assistant’s employment, and the primary supervising radiologist shall immediately notify the Board and the Commissioner of the Department of Health of the termination. The radiologist assistant’s authority to practice shall not resume until the radiologist assistant provides proof of other employment and a protocol as required under this chapter.

  (3) The primary supervising radiologist and radiologist assistant shall be employed by and have as their primary work site the same health care facility or an affiliate of the facility, provided that:

  (A) the radiologist assistant’s primary work site shall be located in Vermont; and

  (B) the primary supervising radiologist does not need to be physically present at the same location where the radiologist assistant is practicing as long as a supervising radiologist is readily available for consultation and intervention.

  (4) If a supervising radiologist is not physically present at the location at which a radiologist assistant is practicing, the radiologist assistant shall provide services only when a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 23 or 33 of this title, who need not be a radiologist, is physically present at the location and would be responsible for providing intervention or assistance in the event of a medical emergency.

  (b)(1) Subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the radiologist assistant’s scope of practice shall be limited to that delegated to the radiologist assistant by the primary supervising radiologist and for which the radiologist assistant is qualified by education, training, and experience. At no time shall the practice of the radiologist assistant exceed the normal scope of the supervising radiologist’s practice.

  (2) A radiologist assistant shall not interpret images, make diagnoses, or prescribe medications or therapies but may communicate with patients regarding the radiologist assistant’s preliminary observations regarding the technical performance of a procedure or examination and regarding the findings from a radiologist’s report. Preliminary observations shall not include any communication about the presence or absence of features or characteristics that would be considered in making a diagnosis. (Added 2009, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 19a, eff. May 12, 2010; amended 2023, No. 38, § 2, eff. July 1, 2023.)