| Services
Acceptance
Testing
New York and many other states require
that new imaging equipment be tested before
first use on patients. This is also recommended
in the ACR Standard of Practice and in their
Accreditation programs. UMP has extensive
experience providing acceptance testing
for new imaging equipment, including radiographic
and fluoroscopic X-ray, C-arms, CT units,
Nuclear Medicine cameras, PET and PET/CT
units, MR units, mammography equipment,
CR readers and PACS workstations.
Through our thorough testing and measurements,
we have been able to help clients verify
that their equipment meets manufacturer
specifications and regulatory requirements,
as well as identify any problem areas that
will need to be addressed to ensure that
their substantial investment in new equipment
is maximized.
Most of our clients have felt that the
cost of acceptance testing by an independent,
experienced physics group is extremely worthwhile
when compared with the overall cost of the
new imaging equipment. They are especially
grateful on those occasions when we have
discovered significant problems that require
correction before patient imaging begins
(and before full payment is made).
We believe acceptance testing by an independent
physics group such as ours is akin to having
your car or house inspected by an independent
party prior to purchase. It’s a relatively
small investment for a fairly complex piece
of imaging equipment. In past acceptance
testing for other clients, we have identified
issues that had required corrective action
by the vendor. We have built excellent collaborative
relationships with local service engineers,
because we work together to ensure your
imaging equipment works at its optimum performance.
Q&A
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Are there any requirements for acceptance
testing?
Some states, like New York, require acceptance
testing of all medical diagnostic equipment
before first use on patients. “Diagnostic
equipment,” includes Nuclear Imaging
Systems (SPECT and PET), CR readers and
plates, and PACS workstation displays. This
clarifies the common misconception that
acceptance testing is only required for
x-ray producing equipment.
Click
Here for the link to the NYS regulation
for Acceptance Testing.
Can acceptance testing be done by the
manufacturer?
In New York State, the Medical Physics
Licensure Law (Article 166 of the Education
Law) specifies that acceptance testing is
one of the practices that may only be performed
by a licensed medical physicist. In section
8702, under the “definition of the
practice of medical physics” that
“Acceptance testing” is listed
within the scope of practice.
Note that the education law is not typically
enforced by NYSDOH inspectors. The Medical
Physics licensure law does not restrict
unlicensed persons from acquiring data,
but rather requires oversight from a licensed
medical physicist.
The bottom line is that, in New York State,
Part 16 (Health Law) says that all diagnostic
imaging equipment must be acceptance tested,
and Article 166 (Education Law) specifies
that acceptance testing must be performed
by a licensed medical physicist.
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ACR
and IAC Accreditation Assistance
Each year, more imaging departments at hospitals
and private centers are seeking to join
others who have achieved accreditation by
the American College of Radiology and/or
IAC (ICANL, ICACTL, etc.) in various imaging
modalities. UMP has developed substantial
expertise assisting clients through the
accreditation process by providing physics
support for mammography, CT, MR, and Nuclear
Medicine programs.
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Shielding
Design
Protection of employees, patients, and the
general public from primary, scattered,
and leakage radiation is the primary goal
of shielding design. UMP has provided shielding
recommendations for hundreds of diagnostic
installations, including radiographic, fluoroscopic,
CT, nuclear medicine, PET, and PET-CT imaging
equipment. We use the latest methodologies
described in NCRP 147, to provide you with
accurate, concise reports. We also have
substantial experience with providing the
paperwork required for Certificate of Need
(CON) projects.
We strive to balance our main objectives
of safety and regulatory compliance with
cost and prudent design on every job. UMP
can work directly with the architectural
or construction firm, as needed and can
provide expert advice on layout and other
design features. We also offer quick turn
around times for rush projects (3-day is
available for single room projects).
Shielding design has really changed in
the past 30 years. It has always been prudent
to perform a shielding design for a new
or renovated facility. With the latest changes
in CT technology, we find that most existing
CT scanner rooms need additional shielding
to safely accommodate the new multi-detector
CT scanners and their greatly increased
mAs workloads. Because many facilities cannot
verify the amount of existing lead in x-ray
rooms, we are able to make an on-site determination
of the existing lead, helping to maintain
safety and minimize unnecessary expense.
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Consulting
– Regulatory, Quality Control, Technology
Medical imaging is becoming anything but
simpler. Not only is the technology becoming
increasingly complex, there are a multitude
of regulatory requirements and quality control
tests that change continually. We pride
ourselves in providing prompt, professional
advice on regulatory, quality, and technology
issues for all our clients. Your answer
is just a short phone call or email away.
When necessary, UMP consults with a network
of colleagues in the regulatory, manufacturing,
and physics communities.
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Procedures
& Manuals
Most regulators and accreditation organizations
(such as JCAHO) require imaging departments
to have current written procedures that
document routine department activities.
Written procedures also help to ensure all
affected employees are aware of expected
practices. UMP has written concise, straight-forward
procedures and manuals for numerous clients,
and can tailor documents to fit most any
format.
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Fetal
Dose Estimates
When a pregnant patient is inadvertently
exposed to diagnostic medical radiation,
it is important to know the dose to the
fetus. Based on imaging parameters provided
by the client, UMP can provide an estimate
of the fetal dose from diagnostic X-ray,
CT, PET, or nuclear medicine procedures,
and compare the dose to acceptable guidelines.
Click
Here for an X-ray Fetal Dose Estimation
worksheet.
Click
Here for a CT Fetal Dose Estimation
worksheet.
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Radiation
Safety Training
Radiation safety training is integral for
technologists, physicians, nurses, and others
who may be exposed to radiation in the course
of their work. Most regulators require initial
radiation safety training for occupationally
exposed workers, and an annual or periodic
refresher.
UMP has provided hundreds of radiation
safety presentations to all levels of staff.
Our experienced instructors, who themselves
regularly attend professional meetings and
seminars, ensure that the most current information
is provided, and can tailor courses to fit
the needs of your facility. Contact us for
more information.
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Compliance
Assessments - Nuclear Medicine & PET
Nuclear medicine and PET departments are
required by their radioactive material license
to commit to a substantial list of activities,
including camera quality control, survey
meter calibrations, proper radioactive material
handling, and many more. UMP has performed
hundreds of on-site assessments to help
clients ensure all regulatory commitments
are being met. Our assessors have direct
experience as Nuclear Medicine Technologists
and state inspectors.
Besides assessments, specific Nuclear Medicine/PET
services provided by UMP include:
- Dose calibrator testing (accuracy, linearity,
constancy, geometry)
- Calculations for spilled gas clearance
times and worker dose from gases and aerosols
- Well counter Chi square, efficiency
and MDA calculations
- Radiation safety training
- Shielding
- Acceptance testing
- Physicists reports for ACR accreditation
- Radiation Safety Committee
- Personnel Dosimetry Analysis
- Procedures and Manuals
Q&A
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How often should Nuclear Medicine/PET
Compliance Assessments be done?
Some clients prefer annual or semi-annual
compliance assessments, but most are on
a quarterly schedule, which can provide
direct input for quarterly Radiation Safety
Committee meetings.
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Radiation
Safety Committee Meetings
Some states require radioactive material
licensees to conduct quarterly radiation
safety committee meetings to discuss and
resolve issues. UMP serves as the medical
physics consultant for numerous clients
at their RSC meetings. Because our staff
keeps current with the most current regulatory
and technical news, we provide valuable
insight to resolve issues that may arise.
We know what problems inspectors are citing
at other facilities and we are able to help
our clients avoid the same pitfalls.
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Radioactive
Material License Support
Users of radioactive materials must be licensed
by their state regulators or the NRC. If
the license application is too broad, or
commits the licensee to overly-ambitious
procedures, problems may be encountered
later in the form of violations. A well-written
license application will help to ensure
that commitments can be met. UMP personnel
have helped clients write clear, concise
license applications that provide the proper
level of commitment for their facility.
We can also assist with license amendment
requests and other regulatory matters.
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Personnel
Dosimetry Analysis and ALARA Program
Whether film badges, TLD or OSL badges are
used, management of personal monitoring
systems and records are very important from
a safety, regulatory and legal standpoint.
UMP has helped clients with their dosimetry
program in several ways:
- Review of dosimetry reports and generation
of ALARA reports (Investigational Levels
I and II)
- Investigations of high doses with follow-up
regulatory support, if warranted
- Determination of which employees require
a dosimeter by reviewing past histories
and potential for exposures
- Reviewing the latest available client
records online via the vendors website
(e.g., Landauer, Global Dosimetry)
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