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Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.

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CRCPD Resolution
Adopted May 22, 2004

Relating to:    Prevention of Unnecessary Radiation Exposure to Patients from Fluoroscopy

WHEREAS:   There have been numerous reports of serious radiation-induced skin injuries to patients that have resulted from the x-ray radiation associated with fluoroscopic procedures;

WHEREAS:   The potential for radiation-induced skin injuries has increased because of the number and variety of interventional procedures that are being conducted under fluoroscopic guidance and the increased exposure times required for many of these therapeutic procedures;

WHEREAS:   The total number of such skin injuries or the rate at which they occur is not known because no comprehensive monitoring or reporting mechanism exists to gather such information;

WHEREAS:   Fluoroscopy is being used by a variety of personnel, including individuals whose medical specialty does not include comprehensive training in radiation safety fundamentals or the biological effects of radiation;

WHEREAS:   Reviews of circumstances of many of the reported injuries indicate that in the majority of the injuries that have been reported, the physician conducting the procedure has not been aware of, or sensitive to, the radiation exposure time, the exposure rate, or the radiation dose that produces specific types of radiation-induced injury;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  That the CRCPD encourage healthcare facilities to require appropriate education and training of all personnel, to include physicians, before they are permitted to operate fluoroscopic machines, and that this training include radiation safety and the biological effects of radiation exposure;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  That the facilities communicate to patients, through personnel cognizant of radiation exposure effects, the risks from radiation exposure, from procedures in which the radiation exposure may be significant or approach a threshold for injury, and institute follow-up actions in high exposure situations;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  That healthcare facilities performing fluoroscopic procedures monitor patient dose arising from procedures with a potential for producing radiation-induced injury;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  That the facilities compare their radiation doses for fluoroscopic procedures to published values and if they exceed accepted values for specific procedures that the facility take corrective action;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  That the CRCPD, in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, strive to implement these recommendations, and invite all other interested professional groups and government agencies to participate as partners in the prevention of unnecessary radiation exposure to patients from fluoroscopy.

Approved by the CRCPD Membership May 22, 2004.

  

                                                                                                                          

 

             Richard A. Ratliff

 CRCPD Chairperson

 

                   

Note:  The text of the above resolution was adopted as a Board of Directors resolution 10/23/03. 

 

The resolution was approved by the CRCPD membership as a CRCPD Resolution on May 22, 2004.