N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43A-30.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 8:43A-30.4 - Radiation oncology services staff time and availability

(a) During regular hours, a radiation oncologist shall be physically on site, including the radiation oncology facility or radiation oncology facility campus, when patients are receiving radiation treatments, except for routine absences of a short duration or for brief unexpected absences. Such absences shall not constitute more than 10 percent of the time that patients are under treatment.

(b) After the radiation oncology facility is closed, a radiation oncologist shall be on call until the facility opens again. The on-call radiation oncologist shall provide telephone consultation within one hour of being summoned and be physically present and available to evaluate and treat the patient within four hours of being summoned for radiation oncologic emergencies.

(c) There shall be at least one licensed radiation therapist or radiation oncologist present to operate each megavoltage unit when it is in use.

(d) There shall be at least two radiation therapists present to operate each linear accelerator when it is in use except under emergency conditions. A radiation oncologist may act as a substitute for one of the two therapists.

(e) A radiation physicist shall be available to the radiation oncology service on a full-or part-time basis. Multiple unit programs shall have a minimum of one full-time equivalent physicist on site. A radiation physicist must supervise all treatment calculations other than emergencies.

(f) A registered professional nurse shall be available on-site on a full-or part-time basis to the radiation oncology facility. In the case of multiple megavoltage radiation oncology unit programs, a minimum of one full-time equivalent registered professional nurse is required.

(g) The facility shall have in place a referral agreement with a social service agency to meet the psychosocial needs of the patient.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43A-30.4