Brief Background on Radiologist Assistant
In 2003, the ACR Council voted in support of the Joint ACR/ASRT Statement on the Roles and Responsibilities of the Radiologist Assistant (RA). The radiologist assistant is identified as an "advanced-level radiologic technologist who works under the supervision of a radiologist to enhance patient care by assisting the radiologist in the diagnostic imaging environment."
As conceived, the RA does not interpret radiological examinations nor transmit observations other than to the supervising radiologist (please see Joint Policy Statement and ARRT Role Delineation Document for a listing of RA related procedures).
The Radiologist Assistant is not a radiologist nor a physician assistant but rather a valuable addition to the radiology team who can enhance quality patient care by performing advanced level radiological services under the supervision of a radiologist.
The advent of the Radiologist Assistant has already proven to be a positive development for radiology practices which are employing these trained, credentialed and certified professionals. There are currently ten RA training programs that are either in existence or planned for the near future.
The ACR is working with the ASRT to assure proper supervision levels for those RAs performing selected radiology procedures. The states too are beginning to establish laws and regulations determining the proper role delineation for the RA in the practice environment. Information concerning state laws may be found in the Legislative Section below. In May 2006, the ACR Council will also consider language to include in appropriate ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards.