AAPM MEDICAL PHYSICS PRACTICE GUIDELINE 10.b: Scope of practice for clinical medical physics

TL;DR

This paper updates the guidelines for the scope of practice for clinical medical physicists in the U.S., outlining necessary training and standards.

Contribution

It provides revised minimum guidelines for clinical medical physics practice to address emerging needs and changes in the field.

Findings

The AAPM defines updated standards for clinical medical physics practice.

The guidelines emphasize the need for specific training and skills in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology.

The document replaces MPPG10.a and includes terms like 'must' and 'should' to clarify adherence requirements.

Abstract

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) is a nonprofit professional society whose mission is “Advancing medicine through excellence in the science, education and professional practice of medical physics.” The AAPM has roughly 10,000 members and is the principal organization of medical physicists in the United States.

The AAPM will periodically define new practice guidelines for medical physics practice to help advance the science of medical physics and to improve the quality of service to patients throughout the United States. Existing medical physics practice guidelines will be reviewed for the purpose of revision or renewal, as appropriate, on their fifth anniversary or sooner.

Each medical physics practice guideline (MPPG) represents a policy statement by the AAPM, has undergone a thorough consensus process in which it has been subjected to extensive review, and requires the approval of the Professional Council. The medical physics practice guidelines recognize that the safe and effective use of diagnostic and therapeutic radiology requires specific training, skills, and techniques, as described in each document. Reproduction or modification of the published practice guidelines and technical standards by those entities not providing these services is not authorized. This report is an update of MPPG10.a, published in 2018, and provides the current minimum guidelines for the scope of practice for clinical medical physics as it has evolved to meet emerging needs and changes in practice.

The following terms are used in the AAPM practice guidelines:
Must and Must Not: Used to indicate that adherence to the recommendation is considered necessary to conform to this practice guideline. While must is the term to be used in the guidelines, if an entity that adopts the guideline has shall as the preferred term, the AAPM considers that must and shall have the same meaning.Should and Should Not: Used to indicate a prudent practice to which exceptions may occasionally be made in appropriate circumstances.

Must and Must Not: Used to indicate that adherence to the recommendation is considered necessary to conform to this practice guideline. While must is the term to be used in the guidelines, if an entity that adopts the guideline has shall as the preferred term, the AAPM considers that must and shall have the same meaning.

Should and Should Not: Used to indicate a prudent practice to which exceptions may occasionally be made in appropriate circumstances.