There are more than 21,000 certified nuclear medicine technologists in this country, and the field is expected to continue to grow. These technologists are highly specialized health care professionals and are employed in hospitals, universities, medical clinics and research centers across the United States and abroad. They are specially trained to operate the sophisticated systems and computers used for diagnosis in nuclear medicine and coordinate with other members of a health care team, including doctors, patients, physicists, nuclear pharmacists, computer specialists and nurses.

The SNMTS scope of practice, updated from a 2001 version, is not intended to modify or alter existing tort law; rather, it should serve as a concise outline of nuclear medicine technologist skills and responsibilities, said Gilmore All tasks within the scope are subject to federal, state and institutional regulations. The SNMTS scope of practice was completed and approved by SNM's board of directors and the SNMTS Executive Board this past June. The Technologist Section also has professional practice guidelines that include task-related items that are complementary to the scope. To view "Scope of Practice for the Nuclear Medicine Technologist 2007," please visit SNM's Web site at www.snm.org (in the red box, click on Technologists).


SNMTS members who developed the revised scope, besides Gilmore and Luckett-Gilbert, include Giuliana Arcovio of Boston, Mass.; Michelle Beauvais of Highland, Mich.; Scott Holbrook of Coeburn, Va.; Art Hall of Pearland, Texas; Kent Hutchings of Byron, Calf.; Lyn Mehlberg of Milwaukee, Wis.; Robert Pagnanelli of Hillsborough, N.C.; David Perry of St. Louis, Mo.; and George Segall of Palo Alto, Calif.

About SNM-Advancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy
SNM is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of molecular and nuclear imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed journal in the field (The Journal of Nuclear Medicine); host the premier annual meeting for medical imaging; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; and train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances. SNM members have introduced-and continue to explore-biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients.

SNM's Technologist Section is a scientific organization formed with-but operating autonomously from-SNM. SNMTS promotes the continued development and improvement of the art and science of nuclear medicine and technology. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org.

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