| CODE | MPH3004 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Professional Issues in Medical Physics and Radiation Protection | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Medical Physics | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Medical Physicists and Radiation Protection Experts need to be aware of the professional issues, developments and challenges to the two professions Internationally, at the European level and nationally. Professionals in these two areas would be working in a continuously and very rapidly evolving practice environment and need to know the resources available to them for updating themselves in order to prepare themselves for these new developments and challenges. During the study unit emphasis will be made on statutory and institutional requirements for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Services, educational issues, and the function of the main national, European and International organizations concerned with protection from ionizing and non-ionising radiations. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to: - Help future Medical Physicists and Radiation Protection Experts become aware of the professional issues, developments and challenges for the professions internationally, at the European level and nationally; - Reinforce knowledge of the statutory and institutional requirements for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Services; - Familiarise students with the mission statements and key activity areas of Medical Physics Services and Radiation Protection Services; - Help students to appreciate educational and training issues and their link to role development; - Introduce students to the main national, European and International organizations concerned with protection from ionizing and non-ionising radiations. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define and discuss the missions and key activity areas of Medical Physics Services and Radiation Protection Services; - Discuss statutory and institutional requirements for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Services; - Explain the scope and function of national, European and International medical device standard setting bodies; - Discuss educational, training and role development issues; - Explain the function of the main National, European and International organizations concerned with protection from ionizing and non-ionising radiations (e.g., ICRP, ICNIRP, IAEA, EC, WHO, UNSCEAR); - Explain the functions of the major International and European standard (e.g., IEC, CENELEC) setting bodies (and others such as NEMA) for medical devices and explain the various types of documentation issued by these bodies and their use in medical device management; - Explain relevant international, European, national and local legislation, recommendations and documentation regarding risk from ionizing and non-ionising radiations with regard to patient/occupational/public safety; - Discuss the challenges facing the Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Professions in the world today; - Explain how research exposures are managed including the processes of ethical review and including the use of dose constraints where appropriate; - Explain the technological infrastructure required for a quality service within the various specialty areas of medical physics and radiation protection services; - Discuss the principles of strategic planning as applied to Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Services. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Articulate the professional issues, developments and challenges for the Medical Physics and Radiation Protection professions; - Retrieve information from different sources; - Apply research skills and use published evidence and policy statements to help develop the profession. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Caruana, C. J., Tsapaki, V., Damilakis, J., et al. (2018). EFOMP policy statement 16: The role and competences of medical physicists and medical physics experts under 2013/59/EURATOM. Physics Medica 48:162-168. - EC. (2013). COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2013/59/EURATOM of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom. - EC. (2014) RP174 European Guidelines on the Medical Physics Expert. - Caruana, C. J., Christofides, S., & Hartmann, G. H. (2014). EFOMP Policy Statement 12.1: Recommendations on Medical Physics Education and Training in Europe 2014. Phys Med. 30(6):598-603. - European Parliament and Council. (2008). Recommendation 2008/C 111/01 on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning. - Hand, J., Bosmans, H., Caruana C.J., et al. (2013). EFOMP Policy Statement No 14: The role of the Medical Physicist in the management of safety within the magnetic resonance imaging environment: EFOMP recommendations. Phys. Med. 29(2):122-125. - Caruana, C. J., Wasilewska-Radwanska, M., Aurengo, A., et al. (2012). A strategic development model for the role of the biomedical physicist in the education of healthcare professionals in Europe. Phys. Med. 28(4):307-318. - Caruana, C. J., Wasilewska-Radwanska, M., Aurengo, A., et al. (2010). A comprehensive SWOT audit of the role of the biomedical physicist in the education of healthcare professionals in Europe. Phys. Med. 26(2):98-110. - Caruana, C. J., Cunha, J. A. M. & Orton, C. G. (2017), Subjects such as strategic planning, extra-disciplinary communication, and management have become crucial to medical physics clinical practice and should become an integral part of the medical physics curriculum. Med. Phys., 44: 3885-3887. - Delis, H., Christaki, K., Healy, B., et al. (2017). Moving beyond quality control in diagnostic radiology and the role of the clinically qualified medical physicist. Phys Med. Apr 12. pii: S1120-1797(17)30093-5. - Berris, T., Nüsslin, F., Meghzifene, A., et al. (2017). Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies: Building Capacity in Medical Physics to Support Response. Phys. Med. 42:93–98. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Carmel J. Caruana |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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