NO GAMBLING WITH HEALTH

Las Vegas, NV - Pima Medical Institute Lobbies For Educational and Credentialing Standards

Las Vegas is a destination point for gamblers world wide, but many Nevada residents may be unaware their safety may be at risk due to a lack of educational and credentialing standards for personnel who plan and deliver radiation therapy and medical imaging.

Pima Medical Institute, with a local campus at 3333 E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas recently supported the efforts of Susan Cazaux, a PMI radiography instructor in Arizona who traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for the passage of the Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence bill in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1214) and RadCARE bill (S. 1197) in the Senate.
The bills will establish educational and credentialing standards for personnel who plan and deliver radiation therapy and perform all types of medical imaging exams except medical ultrasound or echocardiography. Currently, Nevada; Alabama; Alaska; Georgia; Idaho; Michigan; Missouri; New Hampshire; North Carolina; Oklahoma; South Dakota and the District of Columbia do not have licensure requirements for radiographers.
“Poor quality images can lead to additional testing, delays in treatment, anxiety for the patient, increased costs, as well as unnecessary exposure to radiation due to medical imaging exams that must be repeated due to improper positioning or poor technique,” said Babbette Burcaw, Campus Director for the PMI campus in Las Vegas. “We support state standards to ensure patients will not be put at unnecessary risk.”

According to ASRT, the bills would establish minimum educational and credentialing standards. States would be required to meet or exceed minimum standards established by the federal government for the education and credentialing of individuals who perform medical imaging examinations and deliver radiation therapy treatments. States that do not comply would risk losing federal reimbursement for radiologic procedures.
PMI’s 96-week Radiography program includes 2800 hours of training. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists examination for certification. Classes for the next RAD program begins in November, 2004. However, prospective students must apply prior to the first semester. Additional programs include: Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Veterinary Assistant; Phlebotomy Technician and Respiratory Therapist.

PMI is one of the premiere medical vocational institutes in the western United States. The privately owned, accredited school provides students with a well-rounded education embracing theoretical classroom studies, as well as on-site training at medical facilities that mirror the working environment they will pursue after graduation.

PMI has been serving students since 1972, with campuses in: Albuquerque, NM; Chula Vista, CA; Seattle, WA; Colorado Springs and Denver, CO; Tucson and Mesa, AZ, as well as Las Vegas. Additional information is available by calling 1-888-442-5998 or at http://www.pmi.edu.