New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 28 - RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAMS › Subchapter 22 - QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMS FOR MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY INSTALLATIONS › Section 7:28-22.8 - Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) The registrant of any medical diagnostic radiographic equipment used in the healing arts shall develop and continuously implement a quality assurance program. Such a program shall include an initial and thereafter an annual (not to exceed 14 months) Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey performed by a qualified medical physicist for the supervision of quality assurance programs for diagnostic x-ray imaging. The Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey shall include the elements identified in the Table 4, Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey, below.
TABLE 4
Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey
Item
Test
Standard
1.
Radiographic Unit Assembly
As required at 7:28-15.3
Evaluation
2.
Collimation Assessment
As required at 7:28-15.3
3.
Collimator Illumination
As required at 7:28-15.3
4.
Half Value Layer
As required at 7:28-15.3
5.
mA Exposure Linearity
As required at 7:28-15.3
6.
kVp Accuracy/Reproducibility
As required at 7:28-15.3
7.
Timer Accuracy/Reproducibility
As required at 7:28-15.3
8.
Automatic Exposure Control,
As required at 7:28-15.3
Reproducibility, Tracking,
Density Control
9.
Entrance Skin Exposure (ESE)
Determine ESE for common exam and compare
Measurement
with National Evaluation of X-ray Trends
(NEXT) data available in the Compliance
Guidance Documents referenced at N.J.A.C.
7:28-22.3(c)2
10.
Image Quality Evaluation
Established standard for phantom test tool
(Recommendation)
used
11.
Review Facility/Technologist
Review QC tests for proper procedure and
QC Test Records
corrective action
12.
Physicist Report and
Communicate results and recommendations to
Recommendations
registrant
(b) A qualified medical physicist for the supervision of quality assurance programs for diagnostic x-ray imaging may delegate the performance testing required for the Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey in (a) above to a qualified medical physicist assistant in radiography who holds a valid certificate issued by the Department, except that the qualified medical physicist for the supervision of a quality assurance programs for diagnostic x-ray imaging may not delegate items 10 through 12 in Table 4, Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey, below.
(c) The qualified medical physicist for the supervision of quality assurance programs for diagnostic x-ray imaging shall be fully responsible for the Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey and all of its measurements, conclusions and recommendations.
(d) Prior to delegating any performance testing permitted in (b) above, the qualified medical physicist shall provide adequate training and instruction to the qualified medical physicist assistant in the specific test procedures to be delegated. This training and instruction shall be in addition to the minimum level of training and instruction required for the qualified medical physicist assistant in radiography to obtain the certificate from the Department in accordance with 7:28-22.13(c).
(e) All Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey reports shall be signed by the qualified medical physicist for the supervision of quality assurance programs for medical diagnostic imaging, and also by the qualified medical physicist assistant in radiography. The Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey report shall identify which tests, if any, were performed by the qualified medical physicist assistant in radiography.
(f) For the Radiographic QC Survey:
1. If any of the Radiographic QC Survey test results from items 1 through 8 in Table 4, Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey, above indicate that the x-ray equipment does not meet the standards in Table 4, the registrant shall immediately initiate corrective actions to meet the standards. All corrective actions shall be completed within 30 days.
2. For item 9 in Table 4, Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey, above the medical physicist shall determine the entrance skin exposure (ESE) for the common examination performed using the equipment and compare the test results for the ESE with the most recent relevant National Evaluation of X-ray Trends (NEXT) data available in the compliance guidance documents referenced in 7:28-22.3(d)2.
3. For item 10 in Table 4, Medical Physicist's Radiographic QC Survey, above the medical physicist should compare the phantom test tool image with the manufacturer's specifications.
4. For item 11 in Table 4, Medical Physicists Radiographic QC Survey, above, the medical physicist shall review the completed QC test records that have been performed by the registrant for the previous year to ensure the tests were performed properly and corrective actions taken.
5. For item 12 in Table 4, Medical Physicists Radiographic QC Survey, above, the medical physicist shall prepare a report that reviews the overall quality assurance program being carried out by the registrant and contains:
i. Raw data and results of the medical physicists equipment tests performed in accordance with items 1 through 10 in Table 4, Medical Physicists Radiographic QC Survey, above and recommendations based on these tests; and
ii. Results and recommendations based on the medical physicists review performed in accordance with item 11 in Table 4, Medical Physicists Radiographic QC Survey, above.