TABLE 2

Summary of Clinical Competencies That Need to Be Learned in 3-y, 2-y, and 1-y Programs

Program
3 y2 y
Clinical competencyTaskYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 1Year 21 y
Patient care1. Become familiar with NM clinic✓✓✓
2. Assume responsibility in NM clinic✓✓✓✓
3. Understand NRC regulations✓✓✓✓
4. Understand how to perform NM radiotherapy✓✓✓✓
5. Learn basic radiation safety✓✓✓
6. Learn how to interview patients✓✓✓
7. Supervise myocardial perfusion studies✓✓✓✓✓✓
8. Maintain procedure logs✓✓✓✓✓✓
Medical knowledge1. Learn basic physics✓✓✓✓
2. Learn basic radiopharmacy✓✓✓✓
3. Learn PET radiopharmacy✓✓✓
4. Learn basic NM instrumentation✓✓✓
5. Learn to interpret studies✓✓✓
6. Learn to interpret PET/CT and SPECT/CT✓✓✓
7. Attend CT and MRI conferences✓✓✓
8. Participate in journal clubs✓✓✓✓✓✓
9. Take ABNM in-service examination✓✓✓✓✓✓
Interpersonal and communication skills1. Learn to dictate✓✓
2. Learn to use Word and Power Point✓✓
3. Understand need for accurate communication✓✓✓
4. Participate in NM consultations✓✓✓✓
5. Participate in intra- and interdepartmental conferences✓✓✓✓✓✓
Professionalism1. Understand how to be committed, ethical, and professionally responsible physician✓✓✓✓✓✓
2. Understand patient privacy issues✓✓✓✓✓✓
3. Submit NRC forms to become authorized user✓✓✓
4. Apply for ABNM certification examination✓✓✓
5. Pursue membership and involvement in NM societies✓✓✓✓✓✓
Practice-based learning and improvement1. Use computer technology and Internet✓✓✓✓✓✓
2. Review patient follow-up✓✓✓✓✓✓
3. Begin quality assurance project: identify problem, reflect on it, form plan, execute it, and assess result✓✓✓✓✓
4. Participate in NM peer review process✓✓✓✓
5. Participate in graduate medical education internal RRC✓✓✓
6. Become familiar with practice performance guidelines✓✓✓✓✓
7. Become familiar with ABNM MOC process✓✓✓
Systems-based practice1. Learn to use all relevant computer systems✓✓✓
2. Begin research project✓✓✓✓✓
3. Present research project at regional or national meeting✓✓✓✓
4. Present didactic departmental NM lectures✓✓✓✓✓
5. Understand basic billing and coding✓✓✓✓✓
6. Understand cost-effectiveness✓✓✓✓

  • NM = nuclear medicine.