The American Association of Nuclear Cardiology was established to provide a forum for disseminating and exchanging information of specific interest to professionals involved in nuclear cardiology. The American Association of Nuclear Cardiology encourages its members to participate in committee and task force activities, and to contribute ideas and articles for the organization's publication.

If you are a practitioner of nuclear cardiology, or actively involved in this field, you should become a member today.

Membership Services

The American Association of Nuclear Cardiology (AANC) strives to offer its members professional resources, a forum for communication, and help for issues of mutual concern. The AANC provides its members with many services, including the AANC NEWS informational newsletter. The NEWS offers members a summary of current issues and developments. Member-submitted articles are encouraged.

AANC SPECIAL BULLETINS or ALERTS: These updates are produced as needed to address developments of major concern to the membership. Bulletins are single topic publications, designed as valuable references for AANC members.

REGULATORY ASSISTANCE: The AANC helps its members address regulatory concerns. AANC publishes position papers, and directly interacts with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Agreement States, Health and Human Services, FDA and others on behalf of its members.

LICENSING SUPPORT: Members may use the expertise of AANC staff and consultants to explore general or specific training or licensing issues. Individual support and referral is available through the AANC staff.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: Continuing education of AANC members and others in nuclear cardiology is central to AANC. Programs and materials, as well as technologist and patient-targeted information, are available to members.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL: AANC quantitative and qualitative static imaging phantoms are available to members to evaluate and compare imaging devices. Staff expertise and other QC devices and protocol are available for evaluation assistance.

SAFETY: The AANC offers its members research and resource support for equipment, radiopharmaceuticals, and radiation safety.

ECONOMICS: The AANC is dedicated to providing its members with a forum to address cost control, efficiency and reimbursement. The staff may help directly or provide referrals for members with specific economic concerns. 

Membership Classifications

FULL MEMBERS: Full membership is available to qualified candidates who meet all of the following minimum requirements:

Licensed to practice medicine in the US or its territories 

Engaged in the practice of medical specialty of cardiology 

Qualified for licensure, as an authorized user for nuclear cardiology procedures as determined by the NRC or Agreement States 

Exhibiting a constructive, positive interest in the specialty of nuclear cardiology 

Meeting additional requirements that the AANC may establish. 


ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Associate membership is available to qualified candidates who meet the following requirements:

Licensed to practice medicine or holding a graduate recognized level degree in science 

Actively engaged in the field of nuclear cardiology on a professional or technological level for two (2) years or a Fellow in a Cardiology program with a specific rotation or interest in nuclear cardiology 

Documenting activities that exhibit a constructive, positive interest in the field of nuclear cardiology 

Meeting additional requirements that the AANC may establish 


AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP: Affiliate membership is available to individuals who meet the following requirements.

Successfully completing the American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABM), American Board of Radiology (ABR), American Osteopathic Board of Radiology (AOBR), American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine (ABSNM), or successfully completing the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Boards (NMTCB), and holding a state license to practice nuclear medicine technology 

Demonstrating three (3) years of nuclear cardiology experience that represents at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the candidate's full-time occupational vocation 

Exhibiting a constructive, positive interest in the specialty of nuclear cardiology 

Meeting additional requirements that the AANC may establish. 


If you are unsure of your membership qualifications, feel free to attach a resume for review by the membership review committee.

Please mail this application to:

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NUCLEAR CARDIOLOGY
5660 Airport Blvd., Suite 101 Boulder, Colorado 80301

 

RADIONUCLIDE SECURITY REVIEW

 

The following operational review will be conducted to prevent the misuse of radionuclides or data associated with those materials.  Following this documented review, continued efforts will be made to maintain a high level of security awareness and to maintain licensure as well as AANC facility accreditation responsibilities.

 

Review:

1.  ORDERING - The minimum number of individuals will be authorized to order radionuclides.  Their names will be provided* the customary supplier(s) and listed* in the record book for radionuclide orders.

2.  RECEIPT - The established protocol for the receipt of radionuclides will be reviewed and any radionuclides not received when scheduled will be assumed to be lost/stolen.  These events will be reported, immediately, to the regulatory agency even if the level of anticipated hazard does not require such reporting.

3.  STORAGE - The area(s) of storage will be reviewed for the level of security to prevent unauthorized removal.  The area doors will be keyed to non-master locks, a list* of all persons with keys maintained and thosee individuals be the minimum number for the operation of the facility.  All "keyed" individuals will affirm that they will not duplicate, without written authorization, the security key.  Cleaning personnel will not be issued a key to the secure area.  Delivery persons, i.e.; the radiopharmacy, will be evaluated to determine if any security key is appropriate and that evaluation documented.*

4.  USE - The areas of use will be reviewed, consistent with the license and license conditions, to assure that the personnel present are monitored, authorized, and document.*  Continued efforts will be maintained to have such persons be minimum in number.  No radionuclides will be left, unsecured, in any area of use.

5.  DISPOSAL - DIS - The waster containment area(s) will be reviewed for security (see 3. STORAGE).  The review will be documented.*

Transfer - Radionuclides for transfer to licensees authorized for their receipt will be subject to a security review (se 3. STORAGE).  The organization (licensee) authorized for receipt of such transfer will provide:  PICK UP PERSONNEL - who are known to the licensee and have clear identification provided by the organization.

Shipping (Common Carrier) - Documentation from the receiving organization as to the route of transfer, the required release forms, labels, packaging, etc., and clear identification of the carrier authorized for the transfer.

6.  INVENTORY - The radionuclide inventory of the facility will be reviewed to establish and document* mechanisms to reduce the radionuclide content to the minimum necessary to provide for the needs of the facility.  Sources not needed will be disposed as permitted under the statutes, license and license conditions (see 5. DISPOSAL).

7.  RECORDS - All records for the licensed operations will be reviewed * to assure that the records will not be available to unauthorized persons nor the records cannot be removed, disposed or deleted.  Records will be available to personnel on a need-to-know basis.  Records will be secured and the requirements of Federal/State agencies, non-nuclear regulatory, will be maintained.

Paper Record - Will be secured, locked, when not required for current operations.  Only authorized personnel will have access to these records and the identification of such personnel will be documented.*

Computer Records - Will be secured, by security access code, from unauthorized access.  Personnel with access to these records will be documented.*  Nuclear computers and patient record computers will not be accessed from the "outside" and modems will only be connected during periods of supervised access for the routine activities of the facilities operation.  Radionuclide records maintained on a computer will be printed no less than weekly and such printed records will be secured (see Paper Records).

8.  OBSERVATIONS - The facility staff will be instructed* to observe, on a continuing basis, the behavior of all individuals associated with the operation of the facility.  The observations should include an increased sensitivity to patients, delivery and service personnel as well as staff who show behavior changes, stress, unusual interests or comments.  This awareness should include the responsibility to report concerns to the RSO and/or management.

9.  NON-NUCLEAR EVENTS - The facility will review all aspects of the facility operation not involving radionuclides.  This includes the security of materials to prevent unauthorized removal or possible contamination/alteration of those materials.  Medical Supplies and medical records are of specific concern.

10.  INCIDENT REPORTING - The facility will report, immediately, any incident that may have potential security concerns even if the incident does not have to be reported by statute/license criteria.  Events that will be reported to the regulatory agency include, but are not limited to:

 

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS - All releases, loss, theft, contamination, exposure, etc., that is required under the statutes.

ACCESS BY UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL, known or unknown, to any area, material, records or supplies.

MISSING material, records or supplies that may constitute potential risk.

MISSING, LOST, STOLEN radionuclides, in quantities not required by the statutes to be reported.

SIGNIFICANT ABNORMAL OCCURANCES including, but not limited to; ordering, receiving, storage, use or disposal of radionuclides.

All activities associated with this review will be documented* and reviewed at a frequency derived by the RSO/Licensee to be sufficient to assure the security of the facilities operation.

*In writing.