What is the MSRT?
The Massachusetts Society of Radiologic Technologists is a not-for-profit organization originally founded in 1931. The primary goals of the MSRT are to:
- Facilitate the professional growth, development and recognition of those licensed to practice as Radiologic Technologists within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Represent and serve as the “Official Voice” of Radiologic Technologists, to all public and professional groups within the Commonwealth, on matters concerning the profession in general and in particular, the practice of Radiologic Technology.
- Provide information to the citizens of the Commonwealth concerning issues relating to Radiation Safety/Protection and the practice of Medical Radiography, Radiation Therapy, Computerized Tomography and/or Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
The MSRT is a recognized state chapter of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and is governed by a 13 member Executive Board. The Board is comprised of seven State Elected Officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Educational Coordinator, President-Elect and a Member-At-Large); the Chairman of the Board (immediate Past-President), and the 5 Regional Delegates. The Executive Board meets various times throughout the year. Elections are held annually, with installation of each new slate of officers occurring at the MSRT’s Annual Conference.
The MSRT is managed through the services of an Operations Administrator who maintains the organization’s office, computer services and oversees the distribution of its newsletter, The EXPOSURE.
Since the early 1990’s the MSRT has maintained a relatively consistent membership numbering over 1400 technologists, students and Quarter Century Club members. The MSRT enjoys one of the highest membership percentages of any of the ASRT state chapters.
- In May of 1931, twenty-two “X-ray Technicians” (as they were called at the time) formed The Boston Society of Radiographers. The group formed in response to perceived socio-economic concerns facing “technicians” of the time, the need to keep up-to-date with radiographic techniques, equipment and procedures and to promote the study and application of radiologic techniques.
- On June 6th of that year, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approved the new Society’s charter. The By-laws of the Society, were drawn to coincide with those of the American Society of Technicians. Included in the By-laws were: a well-defined purpose; a clearly defined requirement for course of training prior to practicing in the profession; a code of ethics and conduct; and the requirement for passing a supervised examination. The five districts (Boston, Merrimack, Cape Cod, Central and Western) of this society were also formulated at this time. The American College of Radiology approved the By-laws.
- A formal course of training in Roentgenography was presented at Massachusetts General Hospital. The first faculty included Oliver E. Merrill, Mr. Sherlock and Dr. George Holmes, a renowned Roentgenologist of the day. A close collaboration between “technicians” and physicians was considered essential. Radiologists fully realized that the quality of their interpretations relied heavily on the capabilities of those producing the image.
- The name of the Society was changed to The Massachusetts Society of X-Ray Technicians (MSXT).
- The first annual conference was held in Boston. Annual conferences have been held every year since. The first meetings were structured to allow “technicians” to present essays and radiographs in competition, to discuss mutual technical problems and enrich their education.
- Standardization of the Educational Requirements for Schools of X-Ray Technology was finalized. Programs were 12 months in length: (100 hours in “class work”; two weeks in the darkroom and nine months of “practical training” in an X-Ray Department). The content of the curriculum was regulated by a committee. Four members of the committee were radiologists from the Roentgen Ray (one of these being Oliver E. Merrill). The Chairman of the “joint commission” was to serve as administrator of the school.
- The American Society of Radiologic Technologists “officially” presented its certificate of affiliation to the MSXT during the International Convention in Toronto, Canada.
- The “Mayflower”, the first journal of the MSXT was introduced. Net R. Sander, R.N., R.T. was its first editor. Scientific papers, reports and other articles of interest to the technical community were included.
- The National Committee on Radiation Protection (NRCP) established safety regulations which were incorporated into the required educational curriculum.
- The MSXT began to offer formal “refresher” courses for students, technologists, and supervisors.
- The MSXT celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- Dr. Lawrence Robbins of Massachusetts General Hospital was the first recipient of the Oliver E. Merrill Award. The Award was instituted in honor of Mr. Merrill’s contribution to the profession. In Dr. Robbins’ address, he stated, “The Technologist of the future can expect a wide diversification in the field of Radiology. Technologists will need to become familiar with Thermography and Ultrasound as well as other modalities not even thought of today.”
- The Society’s name was officially changed to The Massachusetts Society of Radiologic Technologists.
- “Graduate study” courses in Radioisotopes, Radiation Therapy, and Administrative Techniques were presented by the MSRT in cooperation with Northeastern University.
- The Oliver E. Merrill Scholarship was instituted.
- The Achievements in Continuing Education (A.C.E.) Program was instituted.
- The MSRT Executive Board was enlarged to include the Presidents from each of the Districts as full voting members of the State Board.
- The Massachusetts House & Senate ratify the bill authorizing the establishment of Radiologic Technology Licensure in Massachusetts. This passage culminates over twenty years of Licensure efforts, spearheaded by Judith Burnett, MEd., RT(R), Beverly Buck, RT(R)(T), James Lampka, MS, RT(R) and David Sack, RT(R) who were all MSRT members serving on the initial Licensure Commission.
- The MSRT initiates the Florence Wakefield Award at its Annual Conference. This award was created to honor “Flo”, in recognition of her tireless efforts and years of guidance, support and contribution to the MSRT and our Profession.
- The decades which have passed since 1931 reveal a long, uphill struggle for the recognition of all Radiologic Technologists as true Professionals. The hard work and sacrifice of countless Radiologic Technology professionals through the years continue to bring us closer to our goal. The MSRT will continue on into the 21st century in its effort toward enhancing the professional life of its members. Pride in our accomplishments, dedication to assisting our members succeed in carrying out their responsibilities as Radiologic Health Care Professionals and support, for all efforts aimed at improving the level of care we can provide to our patients, will continue to be the main goals of the MSRT.
- The MSRT recognizes the need for individuals to engage in continuing education activities in order to maintain or enhance their skills as technologists, so that they may continue to provide quality health care in an ever changing environment of technological advancement.
- The primary purpose of the MSRT’s Achievements in Continuing Education program is to credit educational activities for MSRT members in accordance with the state of Massachusetts licensing requirements and in accordance with the educational requirements of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
MSRT ACE Approval Process
For each activity (i.e. lecture, presentation, etc.), the following must be submitted:
- Completed Request for Approval of Educational Activities Form.
- Outline or brief description of lecture/activity, including the educational objectives Faculty/speaker’s credentials (CV/resume), relative to the subject matter being presented.
- Approval Fee is $25.00
The request for approval is then mailed or emailed if you have pre-paid coupons, 30 days prior to the date of the activity to the MSRT office.
Any request for approval which does not contain the necessary documentation will be returned unprocessed with the approval denied. The request may be resubmitted with the appropriate documentation.
Continuing education points are awarded on the basis of contact hours. For a program/activity to earn 1 point it must be at least 50 minutes in length. Presentations that last 30 to 49 minutes will receive .5 points.
The approved ACE form and a Sign In Record are emailed to the person responsible for the activity. These sheets contain the MSRT ACE approval number and the category assignment for the State’s CE requirements such as:
Diagnostic Radiography (DR), Diagnostic Radiography / Mammography (DR/M), Diagnostic Radiography / Computed Tomography (DR/CT), Diagnostic Radiography/Cardio-Vascular Interventional Technology (DR/CVIT), Nuclear Medicine Technology (NM), Radiation Therapy (RT), General Healthcare (GH), Radiation Protection (RP)
MSRT ACE approvals also indicate that the activity has been approved for the ARRT CE requirement of a Category “A” credit. Educational activities approved by the MSRT under the ARRT agreement, are Category “A” for those technologists licensed by the State of Massachusetts.
Participants at the activity should legibly print their name and last 4 digits of their social security number on the sign in sheet and indicate if they belong to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Evidence of Continuing Education (ECE) program.
After an Activity is Completed
For Non-MSRT-Hosted Activities: the sponsor of the activity must keep the original approved ACE form and completed Sign In Record on file for four years. If participants indicate that they belong to the ASRT ECE program, the person responsible for the educational activity must inform those individuals to mail a copy of their certificate of attendance and a copy of their Massachusetts Radiation Control Program license to:
American Society of Radiologic Technologists
5000 Central Avenue, SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123-3917
This can be easily accomplished by indicating on the certificate of attendance that ASRT members must submit this required documentation to the ASRT, within 30 days of the activity date, in order to receive credit documentation with the ASRT.
Participants of an activity approved by the MSRT must be issued some form of attendance verification which must include the following information:
- Participant’s name and last 4 digits of social security number
- Topic Title and Faculty/Speaker’s name
- Date of program
- MSRT approval number
- Number of continuing education credits and category
- Signature of verifier
Modality Assignment for Educational Activities
If an MSRT member attends a lecture approved by an agency recognized by the State of Massachusetts’ Radiation Control Program but the certificate of attendance does not contain the categorizations designated by the State the MSRT will categorize this lecture according to the State’s requirements. The MSRT member should submit “Request for Modality Assignment for Educational Activities” form to the MSRT office, along with a copy of the approval or certificate of attendance, from an agency recognized by the State (e.g. AMA , ANA, ACR, ARRS, ASRT, MNA, RSNA, SDMS, SNM-TS), and a brief outline or description of the lecture. The councilor will then categorize this lecture according to the State’s requirements. REMEMBER a modality assignment is not an approval by the MSRT.