As a vital part of the healthcare system, accurate and timely imaging services are crucial for the diagnosis and management of various medical conditions. It is essential that Non-Medical Referrers (NMR) who refer patients for imaging procedures possess the necessary knowledge and expertise to make informed and appropriate referrals.
To uphold the highest standards of patient care and safety, it is imperative that our Radiology Department maintains robust mechanisms to verify the credentials and scope of practice of NMRs who refer patients for imaging. This starts with NMRs completing the downloadable form. This may include regular reviews of NMR credentials, training and education on imaging referral guidelines, and clear communication of the expectations and requirements for referring practitioners.
Becoming a Non-Medical Referrer at Clifton Park Hospital
Non-medically qualified registered healthcare professionals such as chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, podiatrists, and chiropodists, may be entitled to refer patients for x-rays, MRI and Ultrasound as part of their role.
All non-medical referrers (NMR) wishing to refer their patients to a Ramsay Hospital must complete 2 easy steps:
· Ensure you have completed appropriate training to be entitled as a referrer. Training should be appropriate for the modality you are referring i.e. IR(ME)R Training for examinations involving X-rays and MRI safety Training for MRI Referrals
· Completion of our NMR registration request form – which outlines the agreed scope of practice
· Once we receive these documents and have them signed off by one of our Consultant Radiologists, we will send out our Imaging Request Form to be completed and emailed to our central inbox: clifton.radiology@ramsayhealth.co.uk
Criteria
We are able to accept the following referrals for self-pay and insured patients:
We are unable to accept the following referrals:
Contra-indications
For the following Contra-indicators we can assess if it is safe to perform an MRI scan on the patient;
For the following Contra-indicators we are unable to perform an MRI scan due to safety reasons.
Responsibilities of the Non-Medical Referrer
The NMR is responsible for ensuring that:
· They are currently registered with the NMC, HCPC, GPhC or other regulatory body
· They provide evidence of IR(ME)R training, MRI safety training (where applicable) or further study within their own professional field that allows them to refer for imaging.
· They understand their responsibilities under IR(ME)R as a duty holder and MHRA MRI safety recommendations.
· They complete IR(ME)R update training at appropriate intervals (five yearly basis) and provide evidence of this to the Radiology Manager
· They understand their professional accountability related to, and work within, the agreed scope of practice
· They only request imaging following a clinical assessment of the patient and check the patient’s radiological history to ensure no examination is duplicated
Training Requirements
Evidence of Completion of the following e-LFH modules (if you already hold copies of these certificates and they are in date we are able to accept these) - see links below;
IRMER
e-IRMER Module 00 - Guides and Tools
e-IRMER Module 01 - Fundamental Physics of Radiation
e-IRMER Module 02 - Management and Radiation Protection of the Patient
e-IRMER Module 03 - Legal Requirements – Regulations & Clinical Audit sections only
e-IRMER Module 04 - Diagnostic Radiology
MRI Safety
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/752609
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/734100
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/734299
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/752536
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/752225
NMRs can access e-LfH modules using either an nhs.net e-mail account or by registering with OpenAthens:
OpenAthens
OpenAthens | Registration (nice.org.uk)
All NMR registration documents should be emailed to our Radiology Manager - murray.schofield@ramsayhealth.co.uk and our Radiation Protection Supervisor - chris.dewire@ramsayhealth.co.uk.
We can arrange IR(ME)R training if you do not have your IR(ME)R certification. Please contact Chris to arrange this.
Alternative courses to e-LfH modules are:
Requesting imaging safely (for x-ray requests only)
Requesting imaging safely: For Nurses and Allied Health Professionals - British Institute of Radiology (bir.org.uk)
IRMER Radiation Protection Training for Referrers
https://www.imaginginnovated.co.uk/irmer-radiation-protection-training-for-referrers/
MRI Safety (BIR Publications)
Please email clifton.radiology@ramsayhealth.co.uk for further details.