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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Radiation recommendations: quality assurance programs for diagnostic radiology facilities. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6603646

The consistent production of radiographs of a desired image quality with minimum exposure to patients is a basic goal of the Bureau of Radiological Health. With respect to the use of radiation producing equipment such as diagnostic radiology units, the BRH believes recommendations are a more effective means than regulations in reducing unnecessary radiation exposure while retaining the flexibility necessary for the provision of effective medical care. The BRH's Division of Training and Medical Applications plans to issue a series of recommendations to encourage practices that the division believes will be valuable in reducing unnecessary radiation exposure in situations where regulations would not be effective or desirable. The first recommendation in the series encourages diagnostic radiology facilities to voluntarily establish quality assurance programs. Effective quality assurance programs can ensure that the equipment components of a facility's x-ray system will consistently produce diagnostic quality images with minimum patient exposure. In this publication, the development of the recommendation is reviewed, the evidence of the need for and benefit from quality assurance programs is described, and the recommendation is discussed. Other activities of the Bureau and private groups to aid facility quality assurance programs are also discussed and their relationship to the recommendation described.

Research Organization:
Bureau of Radiological Health, Rockville, MD (USA)
OSTI ID:
6603646
Report Number(s):
PB-80-183338
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English