The Department of Nuclear Medicine relies on the close collaboration of a multi-disciplinary team. Its daily operations depend on advanced medical equipment and the coordinated efforts of elite professionals from diverse backgrounds to achieve precise diagnosis and effective treatment.
Roles and Certifications in the Department of Nuclear Medicine
The staff includes physicians, technologists, chemists, physicists, and nurses, each with distinct responsibilities. All must undergo specialized training and obtain relevant certifications before starting their roles. For specific duties and qualifications, refer to the chart below:
In addition to the above certifications, nuclear medicine staff must also obtain the "Radiation Worker Certificate" and "Radiation Safety and Protection Training Certificate" as required by health and environmental departments. Furthermore, they must undergo regular pre-job and on-the-job training, which must be documented.
Nuclear Medicine Department Staffing Standards
In 2022, the China Isotope and Radiation Industry Association released the "Nuclear Medicine Department Construction Standards," providing relevant suggestions for staffing various nuclear medicine departments：
If the department engages in the production of positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals, the following additional personnel are required:
Radiopharmaceutical Synthesis Personnel
At least 1 person, certified chemist, with experience in radiopharmaceutical synthesis, independently completing at least 50 batches of 18F-FDG synthesis.
Quality Control Personnel
At least 1 person (can be doubled as synthesis personnel, with a total staff of no fewer than 2), certified chemist, with experience in radiopharmaceutical synthesis, independently completing at least 50 batches of 18F-FDG synthesis and 50 batches of quality control.
At least 1 person (can be doubled as synthesis personnel, with a total staff of no fewer than 2), certified physicist, familiar with accelerator performance and radionuclide production processes, experienced in operating a cyclotron for radionuclide production, capable of handling equipment failures, independently completing at least 50 batches of 18F production.
The total number of the above-mentioned personnel should be no fewer than 2 people.
The smooth operation of the department relies on the coordinated efforts of various staff members. In addition to the previously mentioned personnel, appropriate staffing should be planned according to the department's needs. For example, registration clerks are needed for the registration room, and specialized researchers are required for preclinical molecular imaging projects.
In this issue, "Novel Medical" introduced the qualifications and construction recommendations for nuclear medicine department personnel. In the next issue, we will discuss the evaluation of related certificates for the nuclear medicine department. If you want to learn more about establishing a new nuclear medicine department, stay tuned to "Novel Medical"!
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