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Radiation Therapy (RTT): Difference between revisions
→Program-Specific Policies & Procedures
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=== Student Grievance === | === Student Grievance === | ||
'''Purpose:''' The | '''Purpose:''' The MITS Department strives to promote an educational environment that values fair and equitable treatment among students, faculty, and staff. Despite this goal, differences among individuals may occasionally lead to conflicting circumstances that require a process for resolution to take place. The purpose of the Student Grievance Policy is to provide a framework to effectively resolve any justified complaint or grievance without retaliation. | ||
'''Examples or Types of Grievances (but not limited to):''' | '''Examples or Types of Grievances (but not limited to):''' | ||
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# '''Informal Process''' - Ideally, grievances can be resolved informally among the parties involved. Therefore, before a formal grievance process takes place, the student is encouraged to meet with the individual whose behavior warranted the grievance. If this action is not feasible, the student should contact the program director for possible resolution. A final option for informal resolution is to utilize an Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson identified for students on the UNMC campus is located in the Student Counseling Department. The informal meeting must take place within two weeks of the occurrence that caused the grievance. | # '''Informal Process''' - Ideally, grievances can be resolved informally among the parties involved. Therefore, before a formal grievance process takes place, the student is encouraged to meet with the individual whose behavior warranted the grievance. If this action is not feasible, the student should contact the program director for possible resolution. A final option for informal resolution is to utilize an Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson identified for students on the UNMC campus is located in the Student Counseling Department. The informal meeting must take place within two weeks of the occurrence that caused the grievance. | ||
# '''Formal Process''' - If the student is not satisfied with the results of the informal process, or an informal resolution is not possible then he/she should initiate the formal process within 30 days of the occurrence. | # '''Formal Process''' - If the student is not satisfied with the results of the informal process, or an informal resolution is not possible then he/she should initiate the formal process within 30 days of the occurrence. | ||
## A formal statement of the grievance must be presented in writing to the | ## A formal statement of the grievance must be presented in writing to the MITS Department Associate Director within the timeframe specified. (If the Associate Director is the individual involved, then the formal statement should be submitted to the Associate Dean of the College of Allied Health Professions). The formal statement must include the following items: A) Full name, address, and telephone number of the person(s) making the charge; B) Full name of each person being charged, location of employment, and work telephone number; C) A concise and factual description of the specific incident(s) surrounding the grievance violation (the description should include a timeline of events); D) A proposed resolution. | ||
## The Associate Director (or Associate Dean, if applicable) will review the facts surrounding the grievance. If there is justified evidence that a grievance exists, then the grievance will be forwarded to the CAHP Student Grievance Committee. | ## The Associate Director (or Associate Dean, if applicable) will review the facts surrounding the grievance. If there is justified evidence that a grievance exists, then the grievance will be forwarded to the CAHP Student Grievance Committee. | ||
## Within two weeks after receiving the alleged grievance, the committee members will review the statement, convene to discuss the issues at hand, hear testimony, and consider all other facts pertaining to the grievance. | ## Within two weeks after receiving the alleged grievance, the committee members will review the statement, convene to discuss the issues at hand, hear testimony, and consider all other facts pertaining to the grievance. | ||
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=== Clinical Compliance === | === Clinical Compliance === | ||
''' | ''' | ||
Accidents/Incidents:''' As general policy, | Accidents/Incidents:''' As general policy, MITS students will comply with the policies and procedures with the clinical site at which they are assigned. It is the policy that there be written reports of all unusual incidents/accidents. | ||
An incident is an unusual occurrence which is not consistent with the routine operation of the institution or clinical rotation which may or did cause harm, involves possible negligence, requires some immediate consideration or action by a supervisor. | An incident is an unusual occurrence which is not consistent with the routine operation of the institution or clinical rotation which may or did cause harm, involves possible negligence, requires some immediate consideration or action by a supervisor. | ||
A student enrolled in a program in the | A student enrolled in a program in the Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences is expected to provide prompt, complete and accurate written documentation of the details related to any accidents/incidents, thus enabling corrective actions and/or programs for prevention. The program adheres to the Infection Control Policy for University Hospitals and Clinics. Students with signs and symptoms of an infectious process should report immediately to the program director for appropriate referral. | ||
All accidents/incidents must immediately be reported to the technical supervisor or immediate person in charge. Proper report forms must be completed. | All accidents/incidents must immediately be reported to the technical supervisor or immediate person in charge. Proper report forms must be completed. | ||
'''Equipment Use and Operation:''' The professions in | '''Equipment Use and Operation:''' The professions in Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences employ the use of highly specialized equipment. Any equipment failure or equipment that is not in proper working order must be reported immediately to the technical supervisor. Do not place any calls to equipment representatives. Do not attempt to repair. | ||
''' | ''' | ||
Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Plan for Students''' | Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Plan for Students''' | ||
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# If your personnel monitoring device or finger TLD ring is lost or left where it can be exposed unknowingly, contact the respective program director immediately. | # If your personnel monitoring device or finger TLD ring is lost or left where it can be exposed unknowingly, contact the respective program director immediately. | ||
# In accordance with the philosophy of keeping exposures ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), the Radiation Safety Office has established levels at which the dosimetry company will provide immediate notification of a higher than normal reading. These notification levels are presently as follows: | # In accordance with the philosophy of keeping exposures ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), the Radiation Safety Office has established levels at which the dosimetry company will provide immediate notification of a higher than normal reading. These notification levels are presently as follows: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Dose Type !! Evaluation Level !! Investigation Level | |||
|- | |||
| DDE (whole body) || 300 mrem || 600 mrem | |||
|- | |||
| LDE (lens of eye) || 900 mrem || 1500 mrem | |||
|- | |||
| SDE (skin or extremity) || 900 mrem || 2000 mrem | |||
|- | |||
| Declared Pregnant Woman || 40 mrem || 50 mrem | |||
|} | |||
'''ALARA DOSE LIMITS (PER MONITORING PERIOD)''' | |||
Any doses above the ALARA Evaluation Level require that the Radiation Safety Officer review the circumstances pertaining to this dose and determine if additional actions need to be taken or if further investigation is required. An investigation requires that the Radiation Safety Officer investigate the cause of the dose and steps that may be required to prevent this dose level in the future with consideration of cost and scientific impact. All doses above the ALARA action levels will be reported to the Radiation Safety Committee. | |||
The Radiation Safety Committee may alter these values based on regulatory or departmental concerns. When an individual exceeds any one of these levels, a follow-up survey may be conducted to determine if a reduction in dose can be reasonably achieved. | |||
For further information regarding personnel monitoring of ionizing radiation, refer to the UNMC Radiation Safety Manual or contact the Radiation Safety Office. | |||
Students are responsible for bioassays for the presence of I-125 or I-131 in the thyroid at appropriate times during their clinical experiences (Nuclear Medicine Technology). | |||
If a student becomes pregnant, she is encouraged to voluntarily consult with the program director concerning the most appropriate procedure to assure that exposure to the fetus is less than 0.5 rem (refer to Pregnancy Policy below). | |||
=== Pregnancy === | |||
The pregnancy policy is a voluntary program intended to provide safety for pregnant students and their fetus who are considered occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. In the event of a suspected or confirmed pregnancy, it is the responsibility of the student to advise her program director in writing of her condition. Pregnancy will not affect the student’s enrollment in the academic courses in the program. However, due to the physical requirements placed upon the student in the clinical courses and assignments, and in order to comply with 180 NAC 004.13 (10 CFR Part 20.1208) to keep the radiation exposure to the fetus as low as reasonably achievable (no more than 500 mrem during the entire gestation period), the following procedures will apply: | |||
# The student may voluntarily report suspected or confirmed pregnancy to the program director. At that time the UNMC/The Nebraska Medical Center policies and procedures and the MITS Student Policies and Procedures Manual pregnancy policy will be reviewed with the student. Once the student has elected to declare suspected or confirmed pregnancy, the student should: | |||
# Complete the form “UNIVERSITY of NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER DECLARATION OF PREGNANCY” and forward it to the Radiation Safety Office. (See form on next page.) | |||
# The Radiation Safety Office will determine the estimated radiation dose from time of conception to the date of declaration based on dosimetry records and calculate the permissible remaining dose to the embryo/fetus for the remainder of the pregnancy. (See the next page). | |||
# Upon review of the findings and recommendations of the Radiation Safety Officer or Medical Radiation Physicist, clinical assignments will be reviewed. Clinical assignments will only be altered if the fetus received the maximum permissible dose as stated by 180 NAC 004.13 (10 CFR Part 20.1208). Any clinical competencies not completed for reasons related to pregnancy must be successfully completed prior to graduation. | |||
# Provide the program director with written indication of intent to: | |||
## continue in the program, or | |||
## take a medical leave of absence with intent to complete the program (form available from CAHP Academic & Student Affairs), or | |||
## withdraw from the program (form available from CAHP Academic and Student Affairs). | |||
# The student should provide the program director with written consent from her physician providing medical advice for: | |||
## continuing in the program as a full-time student, and/or | |||
## any limitations placed upon the student while enrolled in the program. | |||
# A student may also voluntarily withdraw their declaration of pregnancy at any time. (See form on following pages.) | |||
== [http://unmc.edu/alliedhealth/faculty/mits.html Program Faculty] == | == [http://unmc.edu/alliedhealth/faculty/mits.html Program Faculty] == | ||