Circular No. 23/2009/TT-BYT Issuing the Professional Standards for Medical Technical Staff Ranks

CIRCULAR

Issuing the professional standards for medical technical staff grades

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Pursuant to Decree No. 178/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 3, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 188/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 27, 2007 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to Decree No. 116/2003/NĐ-CP dated October 10, 2003 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of cadres and civil servants in state-owned public institutions; Decree No. 121/2006/NĐ-CP dated October 23, 2006 of the Government amending certain Articles of Decree No. 116/2003/NĐ-CP dated October 10, 2003 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of cadres and civil servants in state-owned public institutions;

Pursuant to Circular No. 09/2009/TT-BNV dated October 15, 2009 of the Ministry of Home Affairs issuing job titles and code numbers for medical technical staff grades;

After receiving the review opinion on the professional standards for medical technical staff grades from the Ministry of Health at Official Document No. 3363/BNV-CCVC dated October 15, 2009, the Ministry of Health issues the professional standards for medical technical staff grades as follows:

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular stipulates the professional standards for medical technical staff grades including: Senior Medical Technologist, Medical Technologist, College Medical Technologist, Intermediate Medical Technologist, and Junior Medical Technologist.

2. The professional standards for medical technical staff grades serve as the basis for implementing recruitment, utilization, and management of the medical technical staff working in medical technical positions at state-owned public health institutions.

Article 2. Professional Standards for the Senior Medical Technologist Grade

1. Responsibilities

A Senior Medical Technologist is a high-level technical professional in the field of medical technology, responsible for leading, guiding, supervising, inspecting, and organizing the implementation of specialized medical technologies at healthcare facilities.

2. Tasks

a) Leading, organizing, supervising, and inspecting the professional activities of medical technologists in departments and wards according to assigned tasks;

b) Performing complex and specialized techniques within their specialty, applying new techniques in professional activities;

c) Planning the management, use, preservation, replenishment of equipment, and budgeting for materials, chemicals, reagents, and medicines of the unit;

d) Inspecting and supervising the implementation of statistical reports and the proper storage and archiving of documents;

đ) Inspecting and supervising the implementation of hygiene, sterilization, and safety regulations in professional work;

e) Organizing the implementation of guidance and supervision in the field of specialty;

g) Leading and participating in scientific research. Continuously updating knowledge and new techniques in the specialty field;

h) Participating in training and guiding professional techniques for students, trainees, and lower-grade medical technologists;

i) Implementing ethical regulations, conduct rules, and other relevant laws related to the healthcare sector;

k) Participating in disease prevention, health education, and community health care.

3. Competence Standards

a) Mastering theoretical knowledge, having a high level of practical skills, capable of independent and creative work, identifying and solving problems within the specialty;

b) Having a scientific approach to work, continuously updating knowledge and techniques. Proposing solutions to ensure the quality of specialized technical work;

c) Understanding principles, rules, operational procedures, maintenance, and preservation of equipment in the specialty, sterilization regulations, usage rules for materials, chemicals, reagents. Accessing modern techniques, equipment, and directions for development in the specialty field;

d) Having the ability to train and conduct scientific research;

đ) Possessing professional ethics and communication skills.

4. Qualification Standards

a) Holding a postgraduate degree in the specialty;

b) Having at least nine years of experience in the Medical Technologist grade;

c) Knowing a commonly used foreign language at level C for professional activities;

d) Proficiently using computers and information technology equipment and software applications serving professional work;

đ) Leading or participating in a scientific research project recognized and effectively applied by a scientific council at the institutional level or higher.

Article 3. Professional standards for the rank of medical technician

1. Responsibilities

A medical technician is a specialized technical staff member in the healthcare sector who is proficient in performing specific medical techniques at healthcare facilities.

2. Tasks

a) Organize reception, guide, prepare, and assist patients when conducting techniques.

b) Check the preparation of equipment, tools, medicines, and chemicals according to the requirements of specialized techniques.

c) Proficiently perform specialized techniques, apply new techniques in professional activities, assist higher-ranked technicians in complex techniques based on doctors' orders and assignments from supervisors. Propose appropriate measures to ensure the quality of specialized techniques.

d) Implement, urge, supervise, and inspect the professional activities of lower-ranked medical technicians within departments and wards according to assigned tasks.

đ) Manage, use, store, periodically inventory, detect, and handle common technical errors of equipment and tools within the assigned scope.

e) Plan the forecast of materials, equipment, chemicals, biological products, and medicines for departments.

g) Manage, monitor, archive documents, and implement statistical reporting systems as prescribed in the assigned field.

h) Organize the implementation, inspect, and supervise hygiene, sterilization, and safety regulations in professional work within departments and wards.

i) Participate in scientific research and provide practical guidance to students, lower-ranked medical technicians. Continuously update knowledge and techniques in the specialized field.

k) Adhere to medical ethics, conduct rules, and other relevant legal provisions.

l) Direct hierarchical levels, participate in disease prevention, health education, and community health care.

3. Competence Standards

a) Possess basic scientific knowledge, relatively complete specialized knowledge, and proficient practical skills, capable of independent and creative problem-solving in the specialized field.

b) Employ scientific working methods, capable of applying theories to professional work and proposing solutions to ensure the quality of professional activities.

c) Understand principles, procedures, operation, maintenance, and storage of certain types of machines in the specialized field, sterile practices, and regulations on material, chemical, and biological product usage.

d) Possess research capabilities, participate in training, and strive for improvement.

đ) Possessing professional ethics and communication skills.

4. Qualification Standards

a) Graduated from a university in medical technology, if graduated from another field, must have a specialized certificate as prescribed.

b) Know a commonly used foreign language at level B for professional purposes.

c) Proficiently use computers and information technology equipment and software applications for professional work.

Article 4. Professional standards for the rank of college-level medical technician

1. Responsibilities

A college-level medical technician is a specialized technical staff member in the healthcare sector who performs basic techniques in their specialized field at healthcare facilities.

2. Tasks

a) Organize reception, guide, prepare, and assist patients when conducting techniques.

b) Prepare equipment, tools, medicines, and chemicals according to the requirements of specialized techniques.

c) Perform basic techniques in the specialized field, assist higher-ranked technicians in complex techniques based on doctors' orders and assignments from supervisors.

d) Use and maintain equipment within the assigned scope, detect and handle simple technical errors.

đ) Forecast and procure materials, medicines, and chemicals when assigned. Periodically inventory and reconcile equipment and tools within the assigned scope.

e) Record, monitor, and statistically report professional activities according to prescribed models. Archive and store documents within the assigned field.

g) Implement hygiene, cleaning, disinfection of tools and specimens. Ensure sterility and safety in professional work within departments and wards.

h) Participate in scientific research and provide practical guidance to students and lower-ranked medical technicians when required. Continuously update knowledge and techniques in the specialized field.

i) Participate in inspecting and evaluating departmental professional work when assigned.

k) Adhere to medical ethics, conduct rules, and other relevant legal provisions.

l) Participate in health education and community health care.

3. Competence Standards

a) Possess basic scientific knowledge, necessary specialized knowledge, and basic practical skills to solve common problems in the specialized field.

b) Capable of independently performing some basic techniques in the specialized field and primary health care programs.

c) Capable of using some specialized technical equipment.

d) Capable of participating in scientific research and striving for improvement.

đ) Possessing professional ethics and communication skills.

4. Qualification Standards

a) Graduated from a college in medical technology, if graduated from another field, must have a specialized certificate as prescribed.

b) Know a commonly used foreign language at level B for professional purposes.

c) Proficiently use computers and information technology equipment and software applications for professional work.

Article 5. Professional standards for mid-level medical technicians

1. Responsibilities

Mid-level medical technicians are technical professionals in the healthcare sector who perform routine techniques within their specialty at healthcare facilities.

2. Tasks

a) Receive, guide, prepare, and assist patients when performing techniques.

b) Prepare equipment, tools, medicines, and chemicals according to the requirements of specialized techniques.

c) Carry out routine techniques in their specialty field, assist higher-level medical technicians in complex techniques according to doctors' orders and supervisors' instructions.

d) Use and maintain equipment within the assigned scope, promptly identify and report technical equipment malfunctions. Be personally responsible for the means and assets under their management.

đ) Take inventory of materials, chemicals, and medicines according to department plans, periodically reconcile equipment and tools within the assigned area.

e) Record and statistically analyze professional activities according to prescribed models. Store and maintain documents within the assigned area.

g) Implement hygiene, disinfection, and sterilization procedures for tools and specimens. Ensure sterile operating room protocols and safety regulations in the professional field.

h) Participate in scientific research and provide practical guidance to students and lower-level medical technicians upon request.

i) Adhere to medical ethics, conduct rules, and other relevant legal provisions.

k) Engage in health education and community health care.

3. Competence Standards

a) Possess basic knowledge and skills in practice according to the specialty.

b) Have the ability to independently and proactively implement some routine technical procedures and initial health care programs related to the specialty.

c) Be able to use some technical equipment in the specialty.

d) Have the ability to advance in learning.

đ) Possessing professional ethics and communication skills.

4. Qualification Standards

a) Graduated from a mid-level medical technology program.

b) Know a commonly used foreign language at level A in professional activities.

c) Proficiently use computers and information technology equipment and software applications for professional work.

Article 6. Professional standards for junior medical technicians

1. Responsibilities

Junior medical technicians are technical professionals in the healthcare sector who perform simple techniques within their specialty at healthcare facilities.

2. Tasks

a) Receive and assist patients when assigned.

b) Participate in preparing tools according to professional requirements.

c) Assist in performing some simple techniques within the specialty when assigned.

d) Carry out hygiene, disinfection, sterilization of tools and specimens, and ensure safety in professional work.

đ) Maintain tools, equipment, and supplies when assigned.

e) Adhere to medical ethics, conduct rules, and other relevant legal provisions concerning the healthcare field.

3. Competence Standards

a) Have basic knowledge about the technical specialty.

b) Be capable of performing some simple techniques within the specialty.

c) Implement sterile and safe practices in professional work.

d) Demonstrate professional ethics and communication skills.

4. Qualification Standards

a) Graduated from a junior medical program.

b) Proficiently use computers and information technology applications serving professional work.

Article 7. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from January 15, 2010.

2. The Minister, heads of ministries equivalent to ministries, heads of government agencies; People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

During implementation, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, please report to the Ministry of Health for consideration and resolution./.