R 333.5627 Interpreting physician initial qualifications.

Rule 627. Before beginning to interpret mammograms independently, an interpreting physician shall meet all of the following requirements: (a) Be licensed as a physician or osteopathic physician under article 15 of the act to practice medicine. (b) Meet either of the following requirements: (i) Be certified in radiology or diagnostic radiology by the American board of radiology, the American osteopathic board of radiology, or the royal college of physicians and surgeons of Canada; have been eligible for certification in radiology or diagnostic radiology for not more than 2 years; or, be certified or determined to be qualified in radiology or diagnostic radiology by another professional organization determined by the department to have procedures and requirements adequate to ensure that physicians certified by the body are competent to interpret radiological procedures, including mammography. (ii) If the physician has been eligible for certification in radiology or diagnostic radiology for less than 2 years, he or she shall have had at least 3 months of documented formal training in the interpretation of mammograms and in topics related to mammography. The training shall include instruction in radiation physics, including radiation physics specific to mammography, radiation effects, and radiation protection. The mammographic interpretation component of the training shall be under the direct supervision of a physician who meets the requirements of this rule. (c) Have a minimum of 60 hours of documented medical education in mammography, including instruction in the interpretation of mammograms and education in basic breast anatomy, pathology, physiology, technical aspects of mammography, and quality assurance and quality control in mammography. All 60 of these hours shall be category 1 and at least 15 of the category 1 hours shall have been acquired within the 3 years immediately before the date that the physician qualifies as an interpreting physician. Hours spent in residency specifically devoted to mammography are considered as equivalent to category 1 credits and shall be accepted if documented in writing by the appropriate representative of the training institution. A physician who meets the board certification requirements of subdivision (b)(i) of this rule is deemed to have met this requirement. (d) Have interpreted or multi-read at least 240 mammographic examinations within the 6-month period immediately before the date that the physician qualified as an interpreting physician. The interpretation or multi-reading shall be under the direct supervision of an interpreting physician. A physician who becomes appropriately board certified at the first allowable time, as defined by an eligible certifying body, shall have interpreted or multi-read at least 240 mammographic examinations under the direct supervision of an interpreting physician in any 6-month period during the last 2 years of a diagnostic radiology residency. A physician who was qualified to interpret mammograms before the effective date of this rule is considered to have met the requirements of this subdivision.