Answer to Question #810 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

Who is the governing body for outpatient surgery centers in regards to the x-ray procedures done there? I need to see if we are in compliance with this organization.

A

The external governing bodies (for example, regulators) for organizations using x-ray devices on humans would be the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), and the State Department of Health within your state (the actual oversight group might be called the section of radiation control or something similar). OSHA oversees the safety of employees. CDRH oversees regulation of the equipment and how the equipment should operate. The State Department of Health would determine regulations for equipment operation and employee safety. If I were to suggest a starting point for you relative to these three groups, I would first check with your state to see what its regulations are regarding x rays. The internal governing bodies for organizations using x-ray devices might include the organization's administrative group (for example, Board of Governors or Executive Committee), the Radiation Safety Committee (if the organization has one; some organizations are not required to have one), Radiation Safety or Safety Office, the Department of Radiology and, in the case of your question, the Department of Outpatient Surgery. In general, regulators hold senior management accountable for compliance with applicable regulations. Senior management typically delegates this responsibility to some radiation group B whether it is radiology, radiation safety, or a radiation safety committee. Most of this structure is dependent upon the size of the organization. If you have x-ray equipment, however, someone must be making sure the organization is in compliance with regulations. Some smaller institutions do this by hiring an outside consultant. If I were to suggest a starting point for you relative to these groups, I would check to see if there is a medical physics group in radiology or a radiation safety group at the organization and check with it on compliance issues.

Kelly Classic
Certified Medical Health Physicist