medical definition

Definition of a Qualified Medical Dosimetrist

Dear AAMD Members,

In response to the 2007 AAMD Membership Survey and the AAMD's continued participation in the Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (AQMIRT) the AAMD Board of Directors charged the AAMD Education Committee to draft a definition of a "qualified medical dosimetrist". The definition drafted by the AAMD Education Committee was approved by the AAMD Board of Directors in August 2007.

The process of crafting the definition of a "qualified medical dosimetrist" began by a review of the definitions that are used for describing other "qualified" members of the radiation oncology team. The members of the Education Committee then refined those collective definitions to reflect the educational directives of the AAMD. The definition was further honed by including the educational/certification goals of the Medical Dosimetry Certification Board. The definition of a "qualified medical dosimetrist" as approved by the AAMD Board of Directors is as follows:

Definition of a Qualified Medical Dosimetrist

A Qualified Medical Dosimetrist is an individual who is competent to practice under the supervision of a qualified physician and qualified medical physicist. This individual uses critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as exercises discretion and judgment in the performance of medical dosimetry procedures.

It is expected that an individual will not hold him/herself to be qualified to practice where competency has not been established. An individual will be considered competent to practice if he/she is certified by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) and has earned the minimum of a baccalaureate degree.

The American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD) regards that personnel practicing in Medical Dosimetry meet, at a minimum, certification provided by the Medical Dosimetry Certification Board (MDCB). Accordingly, the CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist) is recognized as the appropriate credential for the Medical Dosimetrist.

In addition to the above qualifications, a Qualified Medical Dosimetrist shall meet and uphold the AAMD Code of Ethics and the Ethical Standards of the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board as published by the AAMD and MDCB, respectively, and satisfy any state mandated regulations where applicable.

What does this mean to the practicing medical dosimetrist?

1. This is only a definition. It is not a title.
2. When a profession sets minimum requirements they are usually implemented over a period of time. The degree requirement is usually set by the professional curriculum, not by certification boards. Usually, when standards are elevated, or in our case, defined for the first time, people who work in the profession are not required to meet new education standards, and are usually grandfathered in. If national certification becomes a requirement to work, non-certified dosimetrists may be required to sit for certification, but they would not be required to obtain the "minimum" degree.
3. This definition of a "qualified medical dosimetrist" will be included in the CARE Bill, where some form of certification will be required to practice medical dosimetry. It also establishes in the CARE Bill that the MDCB is the organization that certifies a medical dosimetrist.

It is the hope of the AAMD Board of Directors that the membership of the AAMD and those members of other professional organizations will find this definition to be appropriate and will support the definition.