Nuclear Medicine Physicians

Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.

Check and approve the quality of diagnostic images before patients are discharged.

Establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff.

Interpret imaging data and confer with other medical specialists to formulate diagnoses.

Prescribe radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients.

Review procedure requests and patients' medical histories to determine applicability of procedures and radioisotopes to be used.

Direct nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, and projections.

Determine appropriate tests or protocols based on patients' needs or conditions.

Compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures such as computed tomography, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.

Monitor handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed.

Monitor quality control of radionuclide preparation, administration, or disposition ensuring that activities comply with applicable regulations and standards.

Advise other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials.

Perform cardiovascular nuclear medicine procedures such as exercise testing and pharmacologic stress testing.

Administer radioisotopes to clinical patients or research subjects.

Interview and physically examine patients prior to testing.

Calculate, measure, or prepare radioisotope dosages.

Teach nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or other specialties at graduate educational level.

Consult with patients following radiation treatments to provide information and assess outcomes or to recommend further consultation or treatments as appropriate.

Test dosage evaluation instruments and survey meters to ensure they are operating properly.

Monitor cleanup of radioactive spills to ensure that proper procedures are followed and that decontamination activities are conducted.

Formulate plans and procedures for nuclear medicine departments.

Direct the safe management and disposal of radioactive substances.

Provide advice on the selection of nuclear medicine supplies or equipment.

Schedule examinations and staff activities.

Consult with anesthesiologists regarding recommended dosages or combinations of sedative drugs.

Conduct laboratory procedures, such as radioimmunoassay studies of blood or urine, using radionuclides.