FDA Clears the Giotto Image 3D-3DL Full-Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) Unit.

http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/MammographyQualityStandardsActandProgram/FacilityCertificationandInspection/ucm114148.htm

AAPM Releases Position Statement on Radiation Risks from Medical Imaging Procedures.

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) acknowledges that medical imaging procedures should be appropriate and conducted at the lowest radiation dose consistent with acquisition of the desired information. Discussion of risks related to radiation dose from medical imaging procedures should be accompanied by acknowledgement of the benefits of the procedures. Risks of medical imaging at effective doses below 50 mSv for single procedures or 100 mSv for multiple procedures over short time periods are too low to be detectable and may be nonexistent. Predictions of hypothetical cancer incidence and deaths in patient populations exposed to such low doses are highly speculative and should be discouraged. These predictions are harmful because they lead to sensationalistic articles in the public media that cause some patients and parents to refuse medical imaging procedures, placing them at substantial risk by not receiving the clinical benefits of the prescribed procedures.

AAPM members continually strive to improve medical imaging by lowering radiation levels and maximizing benefits of imaging procedures involving ionizing radiation.

ACR makes changes to the nuclear and CT accreditation program requirements.

Theresa Branham, PET/CT program manager, recently posted the following information on the Diagnostic Medical Physics List Server:

The ACR recently updated two of the Accreditation Program documents. They will both be updated on our website shortly.

Document: CT Program Requirements, Nuclear Medicine Program Requirements

Change: The following language was added to the CT Accreditation Program Requirements and the Nuclear Medicine Program Requirements for technologist qualifications:
Except where prohibited by state law or regulation, for initial accreditation and accreditation renewal, registered nuclear medicine technologists who have had appropriate training in CT with documentation as defined by the supervising physician at the site will be considered to be qualified to perform PET/CT exams. However, they are not considered qualified to perform stand-alone diagnostic CT. Registered CT technologists who have appropriate training (see http://www.nmtcb.org/specialty/petExam.php ) in nuclear medicine are also considered qualified to do PET/CT. However, they are not considered qualified to perform stand-alone PET or other nuclear medicine studies. At the time of any site survey by the ACR, the site must provide documentation of training and experience. At the time of accreditation renewal, all CT technologists must have certification from NMTCB.
Link to all Accreditation documents: http://www.acr.org/accreditation.aspx

The purpose of these postings is to better provide important information directly to the public. Although we have included major changes to the documents listed, this list should not be considered a substitute for reading the entire accreditation document.

The ACR does not monitor this list serve and therefore it is not the intent of the ACR to engage in a discussion of the postings. Any questions for the ACR about the postings must be addressed through our normal communication channels (i.e., the ACR modality-specific mailbox address or phone number). In this way we can better address specific inquiries, develop FAQs for the accreditation community and deal directly with specific facility issues.

If you have any questions, please contact the ACR Accreditation Program at 800-770-0145 or email the specific accreditation program at:
ctaccred@acr.org
mri@acr.org
nmap@acr.org
ultrasound-accred@acr.org
rad-onc-accred@acr.org

For Breast Imaging Accreditation Programs, call 800-227-6440, or email the specific program at:
breastmri-accred@acr.org
buap@acr.org
mamm-accred@acr.org
sbbap@acr.org

We will be happy to help.

Theresa Branham BSRS

CT/MR Accreditation Program Manager
American College of Radiology
1891 Preston White Dr.
Reston, VA 20191
Office 703-648-8938
Toll free 800-770-0145 4938
tbranham@acr.org

NRC Issues Draft Regulatory Guide

The NRC has issued a draft regulatory guide for the bioassay requirements of those licensee's who use Iodine -125 and Iodine -131. Although this is only a draft guide it would be prudent for facilities to review the information.

Title 10, Section 20.1204(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations states that each licensee must, "when required…take suitable and timely measurements of concentrations of radioactive materials in air in work areas.

The regulatory guide provides criteria and methods acceptable to the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the development and implementation of personnel monitoring and bioassay programs for any licensee handling or processing unsealed materials containing iodine-125 (125I), iodine-131 (131I), or a combination of the two. It also provides guidance on the selection of workers who should participate in such a bioassay program to detect and measure possible exposure.

NPC consultants are now qualified to survey digital breast tomosynthesis units.

Since Hologic has gotten FDA approval for its Selenia Dimension 3D breast tomosynthesis unit, NPC has gotten involved with performing surveys on these units.  As DBT is considered a new modality, as was FFDM, the FDA requires physicists, technologists, and radiologists to receive 8 hours of training in the new modality.  Two NPC consultants have received the necessary training and are actively assisting a client with DBT QC.  For more information, visit our contact page.

Joint Commission issues Sentinel Event Alert on radiation risks of diagnostic Imaging.

Click here to download the Alert.

Ohio Department of Health is citing hospitals for non-attendance of CRE's at committee meetings.

The Ohio Department of Health has begun citing hospitals whose Certified Radiation Experts never or rarely attend Quality Assurance Committee meetings.  When pressed for more specific expectations, Mr. Jim Castle of the ODH stated in an Email message that the CRE is expected to attend at least one meeting per year, either in person or by teleconference, or the hospital will receive a noncompliance against rule 3701:1-66-04.

It should be noted that NPC Certified Radiation Experts have always, and will continue to, attend all quarterly meetings with minimal exceptions.   We only miss meetings when other circumstances make attendance impossible, which is rare.

One can reasonably assume that the ODH will extend this enforcement to other committee members who never or rarely attend meetings as well.

The ACR and SBI Release a Joint Statement on the Risk of Thyroid Cancer from Mammography

Following the recent television episode of the Dr. Oz Show, in which Dr. Mehmet Oz directed his viewers to request thyroid shields when undergoing mammographic exams, the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging issued a joint statement in response.  The statement may be read by clicking this link.

Another Hospital Overdoses Brain Perfusion Patients

Cabell Huntington Hospital, in Huntington, WV recently discovered they delivered high radiation doses to patients undergoing brain perfusion CT scans, resulting in skin burns and hair loss.  Click here for more information.

CMS Deadline for Accreditation is Less than a Year Away!

I'm sure we all know by now that CMS will require all freestanding imaging centers who bill under Medicare Part B and who provide imaging services in MRI, nuclear, PET, and CT to be accredited by January 1, 2012.  Accreditation must be by one or more of three approved accrediting bodies:  The American College of Radiology, The Inetersocietal Accreditation Commission, or The Joint Commission.  If you are not currently accredited, it is highly recommended you submit your applications as soon as possible to avoid a last minute rush.  NPC's experienced consultants are ready to assist you through the accreditation process.  Click here for more information.

Thank you for visiting our website.   Last update:  11/06/2011