Page 35 - Board Meeting Summaries

Director Jason Scott, M.B.A., R.T.(R)(MR), CRA, FAHRA, nominated by the Association for Medical Imaging
Management (AHRA), has elected to not seek a second term in 2017. The JRCERT will seek nominations from
AHRA this summer.

The Board voted to extend the term of Director Laura S. Aaron, Ph.D., R.T.(R)(M)(QM), FASRT, nominated by
the Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences (AEIRS), to an additional year; her term will
expire April 2018.

The new Accreditation Management System went live in March 2016; for the most part, feedback has been
positive.

The Board adopted the following Position Statement on Mammography Clinical Rotations:

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Standards for an
Accredited Educational Program in Radiography are designed to promote academic excellence,
patient safety, and quality healthcare. The JRCERT accreditation process offers a means of providing
assurance to the public that a program meets specific quality standards. The process helps to maintain
program quality and stimulates program improvement through program assessment.

Standard One - Objective 1.2 of the JRCERT Standards requires a program to document that it
“provides equitable learning opportunities for all students.”

The JRCERT does not provide legal advice to program officials. Nevertheless, the JRCERT has received
numerous inquiries regarding the placement of students in clinical mammography rotations. The
JRCERT understands that there have been significant concerns regarding the interpretation of the
JRCERT Standards regarding equitable learning opportunities for all students. As a point of clarification,
the JRCERT notes that equitable means dealing fairly with all concerned. It does not necessarily mean
equal.

The JRCERT has analyzed statistical data that indicates current imaging practices in mammography have
resulted in minimal employment opportunities for males. Certification demographic data indicates that
less than 1% of the approximately 50,000 technologists registered in mammography by the American
Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) are males. Overwhelmingly, clinical site policies prohibit
male students from participation in mammography rotations. Such participation is limited due to liability
concerns, as well as consideration for the interests of the patient. These policies are established not only
for mammography exams, but also for other gender-specific examinations performed by professionals
who are the opposite gender of the patient.

With regard to mammography, the JRCERT has determined programs must make every effort to place a
male student in a clinical mammography rotation if requested; however, programs will not be expected to
attempt to override clinical site policies that restrict mammography rotations to female students. Male
students should be advised that placement in a mammography rotation is not guaranteed and, in fact,
would be very unlikely. To deny mammography educational experience to female students, however,
would place those students at a disadvantage in the workforce where there is a demand for appropriately
educated professionals to address the needs of patients. It is noted that the same clinical site policies that
are in place during the mammography educational rotations are most likely applicable upon employment,
thus limiting access for males to pursue careers in mammography.

The JRCERT reiterates that it is the responsibility of each clinical site to address any legal challenges
related to a program’s inability to place male students in a mammography rotation. All students should
be informed and educated about the various employment opportunities and potential barriers that may
affect their ability to work in a particular clinical staff position.