If you have an X-ray machine at your medical practice or facility, you can rest assured that the inspector will, at some point, be paying you a visit.
These inspections, conducted by the Department of State Health Services, are random and unannounced. If you’re not ready for them, you can expect to find yourself in a bind.
However, the inspection process does not have to be an unpleasant experience. Knowing the requirements and being prepared at all times for the inspector to pay your facility a visit is the key to a smooth and trouble-free inspection.
X-ray Inspection — What You Need to Prepare
According to the Texas Health and Human Services website, under Texas Department of State Health Services, the paperwork you will need to make available to inspectors includes the following:
- Current Certificate of Registration
- Personal Monitoring — records of radiation badge reports
- Dose to the public surveys
- Equipment Performance Evaluations (EPE) — the 3 most recent EPE results for each X-ray unit
- Credentials
- Status of Radiation Protocol Committee (for CT and fluoroscopy)
- Posted Notice to Employees
- Operating and Safety Procedures
- A copy of applicable 25 TAC 289 Regulations in accordance with your Certificate of Registration
- Notices of Violation and your response letters to each notice
- Receipt of Purchase
In addition, records related to the transfer or disposal of all units (if applicable) will need to be made available. Those records include the following:
- Annual Evaluation of Protective Devices
- Annual Inventory of X-ray units
- X-ray Image Processing — records of compliance QA/QC for digital acquisition systems or film
How Often Does an EPE Need to Be Performed?
When your practice/facility is being inspected, you will need to have the last 3 Equipment Performance Evaluations (EPE) on hand. That said, the more of these reports you have available for the inspector to review, the better.
In the State of Texas, EPEs must be performed on a routine basis, but how often depends on what kind of practice you have or what kind of facility you work for.
The following is a rough outline for different types of medical facilities:
- Hospitals (CT/Fluoroscopy) — every year
- Medical clinics (using CT/Fluoroscopy) — every year
- Medical clinics (not using Fluoroscopy) — every 2 years
- Chiropractic clinics — every 2 years
- Podiatry clinics — every 4 years
- Veterinarian clinics — every 5 years
Most other states require EPEs as well.
Why Is an EPE Required?
There are 2 primary reasons for conducting an EPE.
The 1st reason is to ensure that the X-ray machine is not emitting unnecessary radiation.
The 2nd reason is to ensure the safety of the technologist operating the X-ray machine.
In the state of Texas, the EPE must be performed by a licensed medical physicist.
Although each individual facility is different, an hour is usually sufficient to complete the inspection.
X-ray Inspection — Who’s Involved
When the inspector arrives, they will need the assistance of the Radiation Safety Officer or the person in the highest position of management who is present and available at the time of inspection.
They will also need the assistance of the technologist who normally operates the X-ray unit.
How do X-ray inspection machines work?
An x-ray inspection machine passes a product or package under one or more x-ray generators. These generators emit a beam of x-ray wavelength energy to a special detector. As the product or package passes between the generator and the detector, some of the x-rays get absorbed.
What is PCB X-ray inspection?
From the medical industry to aerospace manufacturing, x-ray inspection is a widely used method to identify manufacturing errors. It is especially prevalent in PCB inspection, as x-rays are an excellent way to test PCB quality and find hidden defects without risking damage to the board.
