Medical Physicists - transforming scientific advances in the research lab to improve the quality of life for patients

Medical physicists are scientists. It is through science that they are able to identify problems and unveil deficiencies. It is also through science that they solve the problems and correct the deficiencies.

From the time when Wilhelm Roentgen and other physicists made the discoveries which led to the development of diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy, brachytheraphy and nuclear medicine, medical physicists have played a pivotal role in the development of new technologies that have revolutionized the way medicine is practiced. In today's health care scene, the medical physicist is essential to the safe and cost effective operation of any creditable medical institutiom.

There will be exciting and difficult challenges in the field of health care during this century. Count on the science of medical physics to help you meet the challenge.

Count on your medical physicist to:

Meet the challenge of cost effective health care by:

• Dealing with the headaches and costs of regulations
• Reducing expense in equipment purchase and maintenance
• Preventing costly lawsuits

Perform radiation procedures:

• Preventing patient overexposure
• Limiting employee exposure
• Bringing the latests advances in technology into your department to be used in your most complex cases

Ensure excellence by:

• Maximizing effectiveness of new equipment
• Balancing faster and more detailed imaging for optimal image quality
• Continuous Quality Improvement

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/info.asp

Advancing radiation oncology

Medical physics is pioneering the radiation oncology of the future. Today, 50-65% of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy. Each year the treatments become more complex, more sophisticated, save more lives.

The advancements have been made possible in large part by the science of medical physics. Radiation oncology of the future will demand the continuing support and contribution of qualified medical physicists. How cost effective is the participation of a medical physicist in your radiation oncology program?

When your institution purchases a new machine for treatment of cancer patients, it must be calibrated by a qualified medical physicist. This essential service is the difference between providing safe and accurate care to each of the patients who will be treated over the ten year life of the machine or allowing incorrecnt and potentially harmful treatment.

With up to a 65% of all cancer patients receiving radiation (at an average patient charge of $6,000), the quality assurance provided by medical physicists is an economic as well as a performance issue. Medical physicists possess the knowledge and skill necessary to provide treatments that meet today's exacting standards. Their contributions are reflected in the physics reimbursement codes 77300-77370.

Be sure your program includes the skill, knowledge and dedication of qualified medical physicists. It's the science you can count on...now and into the future.

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/info.asp

The Extraordinary World of Medical Imaging

Medical Physics is helping make remarkable advances in the field of medical imaging.

Throughout the past century, medical physicists have been at the forefront of the development of the dynamic field of medical imaging. Early detection of breast cancer relies heavily on these efforts.

The image modalities used in diagnosing this disease, namely mammography, CT, MRI, ultrasound and PET, have been developed, tested and standardized by medical physicists, working closely with diagnostic radiologists. Medical physicists were the first to develop standards which have now become federal law, resulting in improved quality of mammograms and reduced radiation dose. These improvements allow earlier detection, an important advance in the fight against this deadly disease.

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/info.asp

Cost effective, 21st century health care

Medical Physics is a vital part of the cost effective health care of the future. Every day the pressures on health care professionals to make their industry more cost effective are increasing. Into the next century, as society and the government deal with the financial realities of an aging population, these pressures will intensify. Medical physics can play a key role in this area. Participation in your ogranization's program by qualified medical physicists can produce billable services, save money on equipment negotiation and prevent mistakes that can eventually cost thousands of dollars.

Avoiding litigation
Participation by a medical physicist can provide added protection against costly litigation. In the areas of both diagnosis and treatment a good quality control program maintained by a qualified medical physicist can prevent equipment miscalibration or dose miscalculation that could result in multi-million dollar lawsuits.

Avoiding regulatory headaches
In addition, your medical physics program can save headaches and cost when dealing with the ever increasing regulation of today's health care. A violation with the NRC, your state or the JCAHO is not only costly, the bad publicity can often lead to a loss of income. Wading through the reams of complicated, convoluted NRC regulations can be expedited by the involvement of your medical physics staff.

Evaluation and selecting high cost equipment
Medical physicists are involved in the negotiating the purchase of high tech, million dollar machines to ensure you get the best value for your money. They write specifications to guarantee that your hospital is getting the equipment it needs. Often the price of the machine and service contracts which are a costly part of a purchase (a CT scanner contract can be as much as $100,000 per year) can be reduced. Some of the options available for high priced equipment can also be added at no cost during negotiations.

Getting your money's worth
Once your equipment is purchased, medical physicists evaluate how well the equipment meets the specifications by performing rigorous acceptance testing and commissioning. Some institutions lose money by scheduling machine replacement on a regular basis even when the equipment is operating properly. Involvement of a medical physicist in continuous quality improvement and maintenance results in the reliable operation and extended life of your equipment.

Be sure the future of your insitution is secure in the hands of a qualified medical physicist. It's the science you can count on.

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/info.asp

How does someone become a Medical Physicist?

Several U.S. universities offer academic programs in medical physics leading to a master's or doctor's degree. A thorough preparation in general physics is highly desirable before entry into these programs. The most common programs emphasize the physical properties and medical applications of radiation of all types. Important skills that should be acquired during academic training include knowledge of electronics and computer techniques. A list of training programs is available here.

Academic training alone does not make a medical physicist. Practical experience with medical problems is essential. This experience may be acquired through a residency traineeship or postodoctoral program of one or two years in a hospital. These programs are becoming an increasingly important mode of entry into the profession. A list of institutions offering such residency programs is also available here.

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/education.asp

What are the Credentials of a Medical Physicist?

What are the Credentials of a Medical Physicist?

Medical physicists have an MS or Ph.D. in medical physics, physics, radiation biology, or a related discipline, and training in clinical medical physics. Clinical training may be obtained through a residency traineeship or a postdoctoral program of one or two years in a hospital. Clinical medical physicists are employed in medical schools, hospitals or clinics, or are in private practice. These physicists divide their time between clinical service and consultation, research and development, and teaching. Some medical physicists work in industrial or research positions, and have no clinical responsibilities.

The American Board of Radiology certifies medical physicists, as does the American Board of Medical Physics. Medical physicists contribute to the education and certification of radiologists and radiation oncologists.

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/credentials.asp

Definition of a Qualified Medical Physicist

A Qualified Medical Physicist is an individual who is competent to practice independently one or more of the subfields of medical physics.

1.
Therapeutic Radiological Physics
This particular field pertains to:
* the therapeutic applications of x-rays, gamma rays, electron and charged particle beams, neutrons and radiations from sealed radionuclide sources
* the equipment associated with their production, use, measurement and evaluation
* the quality of images resulting from their production and use
* medical health physics associated with this subfield
2.
Diagnostic Radiological Physics
This particular field pertains to:
* the diagnostic applications of x rays, gamma rays from sealed sources, ultrasonic radiation, radio frequency radiation and magnetic fields
* the equipment associated with their production, use, measurement and evaluation
* the quality of images resulting from their production and use
* medical health physics associated with this subfield
3.
Medical Nuclear Physics
This particular field pertains to:
* 1. the therapeutic and diagnostic applications of radionuclides (except those used in sealed sources for therapeutic purposes)
* the equipment associated with their production, use, measurement and evaluation
* the quality of images resulting form their production and use
* medical health physics associated with this subfield
4.
Medical Health Physics
This particular field pertains to:
* the safe use of x rays, gamma rays, electron and other charged particle beams of neutrons or radionuclides and of radiation from sealed radionuclide sources for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, except with regard to the application of radiation to patients for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
* the instrumentation required to perform appropriate radiation surveys

It is expected that an individual will not hold himself/herself out to be qualified in a subfield for which he/she has not established competency. An individual will be considered competent to practice one or more of the subfields of Medical Physics if that individual is certified in that subfield by any one of the following:

* The American Board of Radiology
* The American Board of Medical Physics
* The American Board of Health Physics
* The American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine
* The Canadian College of Physics in Medicine

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine regards board certification in the appropriate medical subfield as the appropriate qualification for the designation of Qualified Medical Physicist.

In addition to the above qualifications, a Qualified Medical Physicist shall meet and uphold the "Guidelines for Ethical Practice for Medical Physicists" as published by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, and satisfy state licensure where applicable.

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/fields.asp#therepeautic

What do Medical Physicists Do?

Medical physicists are concerned with three areas of activity: clinical service and consultation, research and development, and teaching. On the average their time is distributed equally among these three areas.
Clinical Service and Consultation

Many medical physicists are heavily involved with responsibilities in areas of diagnosis and treatment, often with specific patients. These activities take the form of consultations with physician colleagues. In radiation oncology departments, one important example is the planning of radiation treatments for cancer patients, using either external radiation beams or internal radioactive sources. An indispensable service is the accurate measurement of the radiation output from radiation sources employed in cancer therapy. In the specialty of nuclear medicine, physicists collaborate with physicians in procedures utilizing radionuclides for delineating internal organs and determining important physiological variables, such as metabolic rates and blood flow. Other important services are rendered through investigation of equipment perfor­mance, organization of quality control in imaging systems, design of radiation installations, and control of radiation hazards. The medical physicist is called upon to contribute clinical and scientific advice and resources to solve the numerous and diverse physical problems that arise continually in many specialized medical areas.
Research and Development

Medical physicists play a vital and often leading role on the medical research team. Their activities cover wide frontiers, including such key areas as cancer, heart disease, and mental illness. In cancer, they work primarily on issues involving radiation, such as the basic mechanisms of biological change after irradiation, the application of new high-energy machines to patient treatment, and the development of new techniques for precise measurement of radiation. Significant computer developments continue in the area of dose calculation for patient treatment and video display of this treatment information. Particle irradiation is an area of active research with promising biological advantages over traditional photon treatment. In heart disease, physicists work on the measurement of blood flow and oxygenation. In mental illness, they work on the recording, correlation, and interpretation of bioelectric potentials.

Medical physicists are also concerned with research of general medical significance, including the applications of digital computers in medicine and applications of information theory to diagnostic problems; processing, storing, and retrieving medical images; measuring the amount of radioactivity in the human body and foodstuffs; and studying the anatomical and temporal distribution of radioactive substances in the body.

Medical physicists are also involved in the development of new instrumentation and technology for use in diagnostic radiology. These include the use of magnetic and electro-optical storage devices for the manipulation of x-ray images, quantitative analysis of both static and dynamic images using digital computer techniques, radiation methods for the analysis of tissue characteristics and composition, and the exciting new areas of computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for displaying detailed cross-sectional images of the anatomy. Medical physicists are also engaged in research and development on imaging procedures utilizing infrared and ultrasound sources.

Typical examples of the various research areas presently under active investigation may be found in scientific journals dedicated to this field. The journal, Medical Physics, is published by the AAPM. In addition, the AAPM holds two national scientific meetings a year, one in the summer and one in the winter. During the winter meeting, the AAPM conducts scientific sessions in joint sponsorship with the Radiological Society of North America. Special summer courses, workshops, and frequent regional meetings are also held by the AAPM.
Teaching

Often medical physicists have faculty appointments at universities and colleges, where they help train future medical physicists, resident physicians, medical students, and technologists who operate the various types of equipment used to perform diagnosis and treatment. They also conduct courses in medical physics and aspects of biophysics and radiobiology for a variety of gradu­ate and undergraduate students. The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Inc. (CAMPEP), jointly sponsored by the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the American College of Medical Physics (ACMP), assures high educational standards in the field. A list of accredited programs is available here.

http://www.aapm.org/medical_physicist/types_work.asp#clinical

What Is a Medical Physicist?

Medical Physics

An applied branch of physics concerned with the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. It is allied with medical electronics, bioengineering, and health physics.
What Is a Medical Physicist?

Medical physicists contribute to the effectiveness of radiological imaging procedures by assuring radiation safety and helping to develop improved imaging techniques (e.g., mammography CT, MR, ultrasound). They contribute to development of therapeutic techniques (e.g., prostate implants, stereotactic radiosurgery), collaborate with radiation oncologists to design treatment plans, and monitor equipment and procedures to insure that cancer patients receive the prescribed dose of radiation to the correct location.
What do Medical Physicists Do?

Medical physicists are concerned with three areas of activity: clinical service and consultation, research and development, and teaching. On the average their time is distributed equally among these three areas.
Scope of Practice

The essential responsibility of the Qualified Medical Physicist’s clinical practice is to assure the safe and effective delivery of radiation to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic result as prescribed in patient care. The medical physicist performs or supervises the pertinent procedures necessary to achieve this objective. The responsibilities of the medical physicist include: protection of the patient and others from potentially harmful or excessive radiation; establishment of adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient dosimetry; the measurement and characterization of radiation; the determination of delivered dose; advancement of procedures necessary to ensure image quality; development and direction of quality assurance programs; and assistance to other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation. Read more...
Definition of a Qualified Medical Physicist

A Qualified Medical Physicist is an individual who is competent to practice independently one or more of the subfields of medical physics.