COVID-19 Impacts on Regulatory Requirements and Inspections
On-Site Inspections Temporarily Suspended
Dear X-ray Facility Responsible Party Contact,
We hope this letter finds you well. Please share this information with your on-site X-ray facility contact person. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Radiation Protection Section, with regulations required under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 157, is charged with registering and inspecting all X-ray facilities. Inspections are typically performed according to a county rotation—on-site by appointment, by unannounced visits (which could lead to a later appointment), or upon request by any facility. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have temporarily discontinued all on-site inspections. We’re uncertain of when we’ll be able to resume on-site inspections.
Until we can safely resume on-site inspections, we will be conducting routine inspections remotely, when possible, according to the current county rotation.
Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 157.74 requires every X-ray facility in the state of Wisconsin to have a written radiation protection program which will be reviewed at the time of inspection. Your written radiation protection program must include operations and safety procedures; operator licensure and training; documentation of annual radiation safety training; posted technique charts; the declared pregnancy rule; etc. These requirements can be reviewed on our website under the heading “Informational Links: Radiation Safety Program.”
Inspection staff are primarily working from home for the foreseeable future but will have access to communication by phone, email, fax, and (slightly more limited) postal mail during this time. If you have any questions, please send email to the Radiation Protection Section or call us at 608-267-4782.
If your facility has a specific need for an on-site inspection, please contact us, and we will determine, on a case by case basis, how to safely perform the inspection. We will respond to any complaints or medical events as we are notified.
Facilities in counties with upcoming inspections will receive additional communication regarding remote inspections from their assigned inspector. Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) inspections will resume when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the inspection hold.
Sincerely,
William Balke
Radiation Safety Specialist Supervisor
Radiation Protection Section
Visit our X-ray Unit website
|
