In July, ARRT recommended changes to its governing documents. We sent the proposed changes to all R.T.s and asked for your comments.
Although most respondents agreed with the proposals, a few proposed changes caused some controversy. Here’s a recap of why we proposed those changes and how they will—and won’t—affect you.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
We proposed requiring ARRT registrants to review emails from ARRT and—if requested to do so—to check their private ARRT online accounts for important correspondence from us. It’s your responsibility to review all correspondence from us.
We’re gradually changing to electronic communications to better support the needs of most R.T.s. For example, electronic payments and correspondence are much easier to track. In addition, nearly all businesses today conduct transactions online. Banks, educational institutions, health care organizations, and even your favorite merchants offer online access. It’s quicker, more cost-effective, and more environmentally friendly.
Everyone who renews their certification and registration with ARRT has access to the internet, email, and an online ARRT account. We’re also developing a secure message system (like the ones your bank and health care providers use) to help you manage our communications.
This change will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018. We’ll introduce a message center later next year.
ETHICS REQUIREMENTS
The proposal that caused the most discussion was the one clarifying Rule 18 of our Rules of Ethics, which prohibits R.T.s from violating a state or federal narcotics or controlled substances law. We proposed wording saying that R.T.s or applicants would violate our Standards of Ethics by breaking state or federal laws concerning narcotics or controlled substances—even if they aren’t charged with or convicted of breaking a law.
Most comments opposing the change said a violation should occur only if you're convicted of breaking the law and cited concerns of sanctions if falsely accused.
In fact, explains Kellie Reynolds, ARRT Director of Ethics Requirements, often people who break narcotics or controlled substances laws are charged with and/or convicted of violating those laws. “This revision is for the few, yet significant, instances in which a health care organization might not report a violation to police so as to avoid negative publicity for their facility,” she says. “That hurts our ability to document ethics violations and, ultimately, promote patient safety.”
More than 60 percent of respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed with the revision. It went into effect Sept. 1, 2017.
CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) REQUIREMENTS
If you take a course at a college or university, it may count for CE credits. We proposed increasing the number of Category A CE credits awarded for academic courses that last for a semester. Instead of 16 credits for each semester credit hour, we will award 18 credits.
Some respondents appeared to think the change would require them to earn more credits rather than receive more credits. In fact, when this change goes into effect, if you take a semester-long academic course, you will earn 18 CE credits per semester credit hour—two more per semester hour than under the old policy.
We’ll eventually put this change into effect, but we haven’t set a date yet.