REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PHYSICS AND RADIATION SAFETY
George W. Callendine, Jr., PhD
Jerome G. Dare, PhD, MS
I. The Ohio Department of Health has two rules outstanding which will affect the practice of Radiology: the hospital quality assurance program for X-Ray use and the comprehensive licensure of all medical radioactive materials use.
Although a QA program is required at free-standing imaging centers, a similar program for hospital is still in draft.
The use of NARM [Naturally-occurring and accelerator produced radioactive materials] which had previously required registration for medical use in the state is now subjected to licensure at an added cost. In addition the medical use of byproduct materials, radioactive material produced by nuclear reactor or recovered from fission byproducts, is currently under the jurisdiction of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In the near future, the ODH will be assuming this authority.
The first directive was issued by Division of Quality Assurance, Bureau of Diagnostic Safety & Personnel Certification, Radiologic Technology Section within the Ohio Department of Health.
II. Regarding the first item, Ms. Margaret Cipkala Wanchik, chief of the Radiologic Technology Section, has graciously responded to expound on above and spend additional time to dwell on other threats to Ohio radiologists and medical physicists.
From ODH, a DRAFT Regulatory Guide Entitled: "Establishing a Hospital Quality Assurance Program for Radiation-Generating Equipment":
Questions and Answers:
This same section has been accepting applications for "Certified Radiation Expert (CRE)."
A person can apply in any one, two or three subspecialties of Therapeutic, Diagnostic Other than Mammography, and/or Mammography. Individuals certified by American Board of Radiology or American Board of Medical Physics will be required to submit a copy of his/her certificate with the application to obtain CRE status. Individuals possessing a Master's degree in physics, radiological physics or medical physics must, in applying, included transcripts and records along with training and experience. The section continues to accept applications from persons without a degree who had conducted a practice as a "Qualified Radiation Expert" before 10/14/94 for at two [2] years period without any above mentioned credentials to grand fathered into the CRE classification.
Questions and Answers:
- Question: When will the grand fathering of unqualified individuals cease?
Answer: That period terminated 12/31/98.
- Question: Must the survey be performed by a CRE or in the presence of a CRE or under the direction of a CRE? Must the CRE be on site?
Answer: Individuals under a CRE can be on site alone
- Question: Will the state inspectors be certified by
Answer: a. ABR b. ABMP c. ABHP d OTHERS: At least FDA training.
III. Mr. Roger Suppes is the chief, Bureau of Radiation Protection. Within ODH, the bureau is situated in the Division of Prevention. He has consented to an opportunity to brief us on radioactive materials management in the state of Ohio.
Questions and Answers:
|
