Can experience obtained using Investigational Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) units count towards the 8 hour mammographic modality training requirement?

Yes, Medical Physicists who began providing services for investigational FFDM units (units that were used for research purposes before being approved by FDA for commercial distribution), are considered to have met the requirement for 8 hours of training with that mammographic modality.  However, these medical physicists must either attest to or document that they were providing such services.  Attestation should be done using an FDA attestation form (or equivalent) indicating where and when the FFDM services were performed.  An example of acceptable documentation would be a letter from an appropriate official at the facility where the services were performed.  For more information, see acceptable documents for medical physicists in the PGHS.

Medical Physicists who begin working with non-investigational FFDM units after April 28, 1999 must document that they had 8 hours of training in hat mammographic modality before independently providing services for FFDM units.  Medical physicists must document this training using he same methods as those used to document other training (certificates, letters from the training provider, etc.)  For more information acceptable documents for medical physicists in the Policy Guidance Help System (PGHS).