Professional Matters: Importance of Professional Unions for Medical Physicists

Professional matters 6 9/03/2021; Jan Vandecasteele, Barbara Vanderstraeten, Tom Depuydt, Claire Bernard, Liesbeth Eloot, Alex Reynders, Nadine Linthout, Kristof Baete, Piet Stevens

What is a PU according to Belgium legislation: Een beroepsvereniging is een vereniging die instaat voor de studie, de bescherming en de ontwikkeling van de beroepsbelangen van haar leden Une union professionnelle est une association destin e l tude, la protection et le d veloppement des int r ts professionnels de ses membres.

Why do we want a professional union? Common Beroepsbelangen / int r ts professionnels Studie/l tude: create scientific board composed out of Medical Physicists and affiliated members such as nurses/technologists, engineers, within the professional union. Improve the quality of the training and internship of future Medical Physics Experts, organize continuing education for active Medical physicist and Medical Physics Assistants, Bescherming/protection: We NEED official representation of Medical Physicists, Medical Physics Assistants and affiliated members within authorities such as FANC, FOD Health care or IFIC to have say about legislation and salary. A professional union is the official way to do this. Ontwikkeling/d veloppement : We NEED a professional union to create our own future: Do we want to become a health care professional? Do we need Medical Physics Assistants active in medical imaging or nuclear medicine, Do we need an Medical Physics Expert (recognized by a competent authority) in MRI?,

Way forward? General assembly 29thof March Define our own definition of Medical Physicist based on international definitions = effective member?

International inspiration MP definition European Commision report A medical physicist is a professional who applies the principles and methods of both physics and medicine. They focus on the areas of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as ensuring quality services and prevention of risks to the patients, and members of the public in general. A medical physicist plays a fundamental role in applying physics to medicine, but particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The scientific and technological progress in medical physics has led to a variety of skills that must be integrated into the role of a medical physicist in order for them to perform their job. The "medical services" provided to patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic treatments must, therefore, be the result of different but complementary skills.

International inspiration MP definition EFOMP: Medical Physicists will contribute to maintaining and improving the quality, safety and costeffectiveness of healthcare services through patient-oriented activities requiring expert action, involvement or advice regarding the specification, selection, acceptance testing, commissioning, quality assurance/control and optimised clinical use of medical devices and regarding patient risks and protection from associated physical agents (e.g., x-rays, electromagnetic fields, laser light, radionuclides) including the prevention of unintended or accidental exposures; all activities will be based on current best evidence or own scientific research when the available evidence is not sufficient. The scope includes risks to volunteers in biomedical research, carers and comforters. The scope often includes risks to workers and public particularly when these impact patient risk

International inspiration MP definition AAPM: AAPM is a scientific and professional organization, founded in 1958, composed of more than 8000 scientists whose clinical practice is dedicated to ensuring accuracy, safety and quality in the use of radiation in medical procedures such as medical imaging and radiation therapy. We are generally known as medical physicists and are uniquely positioned across medical specialties due to our responsibility to connect the physician to the patient through the use of radiation producing technology in both diagnosing and treating people. The responsibility of the medical physicist is to assure that the radiation prescribed in imaging and radiation therapy is delivered accurately and safely.

International inspiration MP definition IAEA: The medical physicist is an expert in physics and instrumentation with a good knowledge of the relevant biology, and provides technical support for therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures and treatments as a member of a team of health care professionals. The roles and responsibilities for clinical medical physicists vary depending upon the sub-specialty in which they are employed. However, the tasks are mainly related to the safety and performance of related equipment and computer systems. Sub- specialties include Radiotherapy, Diagnostic Imaging, and Nuclear Medicine. Medical physicist's roles often also include radiation protection responsibilities.

International inspiration MP definition ACR: A Qualified Medical Physicist is an individual who is competent to practice independently one or more of the subfields in medical physics. The American College of Radiology considers certification and continuing education in the appropriate subfield(s) as evidence that an individual is competent to practice one or more of the subfields in medical physics, and to be a Qualified Medical Physicist. The ACR recommends that the individual be certifed in teh appropriate subfield(s) by the American Board of Radiology (ABR). A Qualified Medical Physicist should meet the ACR Standard for Coninuing Medical Education."

PROFESSIONAL UNION represents EFFECTIVE AND AFFILIATED members Affiliated member (no voting rights but have voice at GA) Effective member (voting rights) Connected members Nurses, technologists, MPA, dosimetrist, engineers, Minimum Diploma as bachelor 2 MPE as referee Medical physicists and Medical Physics Experts Fulfill definition for MP or MPE (see next slide) 2 MPE as referee MPE, per domain of competence , should/can have representative in the board Honorary members Retired former members Nominated by board Joint Scientific board with members from MP, MPE members to address scientific part: Associated members Can be natural or legal person Company member and affiliated BHPA symposium MP(E) education MPE internship and accreditation MPE and MPA CTE education Corresponding members foreign (recognized) physicists Belgian medical physics scientists not fulfilling the definition of MP/MPE such as research physicists etc. Student members master and phd students

MP : A medical physicist (MP) is a professional working in Belgium with a minimum level of M.Sc. who applies the principles and methods of both physics and medicine to provide patient-oriented technical support for preventive,therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures. This support consist of expertaction, involvement or advice: regarding the specification, selection, acceptance testing, commissioning, quality assurance/control and optimised clinical use of medical devices and regarding patient risks and protection from associated physical agents (e.g. x-rays, electromagnetic fields, laser light, radionuclides). As member of a team of health care professionals, the medical physicists are uniquely qualified to link the medical doctor to the patient through the responsible, accurate and safe use of technology in both diagnosing and treating people. MPE : A Medical Physics Expert (MPE) is a medical physicist who is certified by a Belgian competent authority (e.g. FANC) to practice independently one or more of the subfields in medical physics in Belgium.

BMPA, the professional union Effective Joint Science Affiliated