Minnesota Administrative Rules

4732.0550 RADIOLOGICAL PRACTICE STANDARDS.

Subpart 1.

Required standards.

The following procedures and auxiliary equipment designed to minimize patient and personnel exposure must be used.

A.

The speed of screen-film combinations, or direct exposure x-ray film in intraoral dental radiography, must be the fastest speed consistent with the diagnostic objective of the examinations.

B.

Except for dental intraoral films and radiation therapy port films, intensifying screens must be used in combination with the compatible film.

C.

The radiation exposure to the patient must be the minimum exposure required to produce images of good diagnostic quality utilizing the ALARA concept.

D.

Portable x-ray equipment must be used only for examinations where it is impractical to transfer the patient to a stationary x-ray system.

E.

Other than fluoroscopic and dental intraoral systems, radiographic systems must not be used in procedures where the source-to-skin distance is less than 11.8 inches (30 centimeters), except as described in part 4732.0825.

F.

Personal protective garments must be monitored for integrity initially and at intervals not to exceed 24 months.

G.

The registrant must maintain the record of the monitoring and evaluation including films if applicable, according to part 4732.0330.

Subp. 2.

Radiographic technique chart.

A radiographic technique chart must be provided in the vicinity of the x-ray system's control panel.

A.

The technique chart must specify the following information for all examinations:

(1)

the technique factors to be used for anatomical parts and patient size;

(2)

the type of screen, type of film, and speed combination to be used;

(3)

the source-to-image distance to be used;

(4)

for automatic exposure control (AEC) or phototimed units, the percent differences between the AEC increments.

B.

For computed tomography systems, a current technique chart for each routine examination and the computed tomography conditions of operation must be provided.

C.

For filmless radiography, including computed radiography, digital radiography, computed tomography systems, and photostimulable storage phosphor imaging, the technique chart must reflect the adult and pediatric technique parameters for the individual system. This includes the manufacturer's requirements for technique parameters.

Subp. 3.

Exceptions.

Diagnostic radiation-producing equipment manufactured with anatomical programming and industrial facilities with radiation-producing equipment are exempt from subpart 2.

Subp. 4.

Records.

Records must be maintained according to part 4732.0330.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.12

History:

32 SR 777

Published Electronically:

December 10, 2007