ML21054A242
| ML21054A242 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/03/2021 |
| From: | Christian Einberg NRC/NMSS/DMSST |
| To: | Brian Wagner American Board of Radiology |
| Ayoade M/NMSS/MSST | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML21021A134 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML21054A242 (3) | |
Text
March 3, 2021 The American Board of Radiology ATTN: Brent Wagner, M.D.
Executive Director 5441 E. Williams Circle Tucson, AZ 85711-7412
SUBJECT:
AMERICAN BOARD OF RADIOLOGY, RECOGNITION OF INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY/DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY SPECIALTY BOARD CERTIFICATE
Dear Dr. Wagner,
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff reviewed your letter dated February 11, 2021 (Agencywide Documents Access Management System [ADAMS] Accession No. ML21054A219), requesting the NRC recognize the American Board of Radiology (ABR)
Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR) board certification process. This letter further clarified that you became the new Executive Director for the ABR as of July 1, 2020 and have assumed responsibility as the ABR designee for all official correspondence with the NRC.
In your letter you also requested that the ABRs request for recognition of the Nuclear Radiology certification process be withdrawn. Previous correspondence dated September 26, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17089A330) and signed by Dr. Jackson, the ABR Executive Director at the time, sought NRC recognition of two new ABR certification processes in Nuclear Radiology and IR/DR and requested modification of the already recognized ABR certification in Diagnostic Radiology to remove the 4-year limitation of NRC specialty board certificate recognition. The NRC letter dated May 8, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17089A329),
explained that the 4-year limitation cannot be removed. Our understanding of ABRs Maintenance of Certification requirement is that the ABR only guarantees the certification status of its diplomates for 4-years, after which, the NRC and Agreement States need to verify an individuals certification status on the ABRs Web site. The NRC letter further stated that the NRC Web site would be clarified to show that after the 4-year period, the ABR Web site would need to be checked to ensure that an individual is still certified. The ABR withdrew the request for removal of the 4-year limitation in its response letter dated August 22, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18044B066).
The ABR validation process was described in ABR letters dated August 22, 2017 and February 11, 2021. The ABR stated that it requires submission of Form A, IR/DR Program Director Attestation and Form B, IR/DR Candidate Sodium Iodide I-131 Case Log, by each candidate. These forms include attestation by the residency program director and authorized user preceptor, in order to verify that each candidate had the requisite training and experience required by the NRC. Furthermore, the program directors are instructed to submit an attestation form for each candidate, and not a blanket approval for a residency class. Further, the format of Form A requires the residency program director to attest by checking YES/NO to whether each NRC training and experience requirement was completed. The program directors were also reminded that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements may not meet the minimum NRC requirements. While the ABR stated that it would perform random
B. Wagner 2 audits on programs in the August 22, 2017 letter, the ABR stated in the February 11, 2021 letter that they reserve the right to audit the manner in which candidates have completed the submitted curricular requirements. Note that 10 CFR 35 requires that for specialty board certification recognition, a specialty board shall require all candidates for certification to meet the training and experience requirements. The NRC expects that the ABR should have a self-assessment program that focuses on verifying that all candidates have met their training and experience requirements.
The NRC staff reviewed the ABRs IR/DR certification process and determined, based on the information provided in the ABR letters with attachments dated September 26, 2016; August 22, 2017; and February 11, 2021, the ABR IR/DR Web site, and the sample IR/DR certificate submitted in the ABR e-mail dated October 1, 2020 (ML21054A239), that the ABR certification process meets the applicable requirements in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 35.290 and 35.394 for NRC recognition effective March 2021. Further, it is our understanding that all your diplomates with the Authorized User Eligible designation above the ABR seal will meet the requirements in 10 CFR 35.290 and 35.394 for authorization for the appropriate medical uses under 10 CFR 35.200 and 35.300. Accordingly, the NRC recognizes the ABR board certification process for IR/DR certification by the ABR. An example of the certificate will be posted on the NRCs Web site for Part 35 matters at:
http://www.nrc.gov/materials/miau/med-use-toolkit.html.
Please notify the NRC, via letter, 6 months in advance of ABR plans to inactivate or disband the IR/DR certification program, as well as of changes to the boards name, certification processes, certification documents, or certificate that would affect the recognition of ABRs IR/DR certification process under the requirements of 10 CFR 35.290(a) and 35.394.
For further information or for questions, please contact Maryann Ayoade at (301) 415-0862 or via e-mail at Maryann.Ayoade@nrc.gov, or Dr. Donna-Beth Howe of my staff at (301) 415-5441 or via e-mail at Donna-Beth.Howe@nrc.gov.
Signed by Einberg, Christian on 03/03/21 Christian E. Einberg, Chief Medical Safety and Events Assessment Branch Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
B. Wagner
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