ACPSEM DIMP Workforce Model

Established in February 2022, the Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physics (DIMP) Workforce Model Working Group (DWG) consisting of Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physicists, either primarily in Nuclear Medicine or Radiology, and two external consultants, was formed for the purpose of identifying and further developing and contextualising an existing DIMP workforce model for the Australian and New Zealand healthcare environment. 

Under the guidance of the external consultants, the DWG contextualised and then harmonised appropriate time allocations for activities that an Australasian DIMP could be reasonably expected to perform within the current Australasian healthcare environment. 

The process used to achieve this was to:  

• Identify the most appropriate pre-existing models to review 
• Review of the individual activities listed within the preferred model 
• Identification of activities not specifically addressed within the preferred model 
• Assignment of FTE weightings to each activity 
• Harmonisation of assigned FTE 

This contextualisation process was not without its challenges. The activities being reviewed covered three broad specialisations (Nuclear Medicine, Radiology and Radiation Safety) and understanding the range of activities and the time demand in delivery of these activities across the specialties required significant guided discussion between the DWG members to ensure all relevant points were covered. As the DWG reached the end of the harmonisation process there were still some reservations that areas such as: 

• best practice versus minimum required to get a task done
• provision of services across multiple regional sites 
• processes for image optimisation 
• inclusion of new and emerging technologies   

may not be fully addressed and that future reviews of this model should specifically take these into account. 

The outcome of the DWG contextualisation and harmonisation process was a model that has five main areas that define the activities that could be provided by an Australasian Nuclear Medicine or Radiology medical physicist. The model proposed by the DWG describes the expected time requirements for a registered medical physics specialist to complete a nominated task by what was considered best practice. The use or inclusion of support staff has not been specifically addressed. At the time of review, very few members of the DWG worked in a physics service that utilised support staff. In future reviews the use of support staff may mature and as such may be a point for consideration and inclusion.  

A broad breakdown of the DWG model is as follows:  

• Equipment Dependent Factors
• Patient Dependent Factors 
• Practice Dependent Factors 
• Medical Physics Service Factors 
• Training, Academic Teaching and Research Factors 

In depth details on the key features of the model, and overview of the calculator, the calculator descriptions and guide, and worked examples is available in the comprehensive report produced by the external consultants, Venndelta. 

DIMP Workforce Calculator – Contextualised Australasian Model November 2022 – (Venndelta, 2022) 

Access to the DIMP Workforce Calculator is available here  

To assist the dissemination process and real application of the finalised model, a series of webinars were held in in February of 2023 where the model and several worked examples were presented by members of the working group to help clarify the use of the tool and answer any specific questions relating to attendees' department or practice in applying the calculator.