Services Provided
Following are the clinically relevant services provided by the Medical Physicists in the Radiology Department.
Equipment Procurement
- Evaluate clinical requirements and define specifications
- Write detailed bid specification documents
- Review vendor bid responses-assess/rank clinical value of options
- Assist in negotiations with vendors
- Evaluate new technologies
Equipment Testing
- Quarterly for Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS). (e.g. Computed Radiolography (CR), clinician's and physicians workstations)
- Annually for imaging equipment (including radiographic, portable radiographic, fluoroscopic, mobile C-arm, angiographic, tomographic, CT, mammographic, digital mammographic, MRI and ultrasound).
- As needed for new/upgrade/replacement equipment acceptance.
- Prepare for and assist with State and Federal inspections.
- Communicate with State/Federal regulatory agencies on medical physics issues.
Problem Solving
- Equipment functions
- Image quality
- Safety concerns
Education
- Develop protocols
- Provide staff In-Service training
- Teach radiology resident physics course
- Provide physics training to fellows
- Teach medical imaging physics to medical students
- Make presentations at major medical physics society meetings
- Participate in the work of national Medical Physics Standards bodies
- Work with physicians and vendors to set up clinical trials/protocols
Radiation Safety
- Measure doses for typical procedures in each room (annual)
- Compute radiation-shielding requirements and submit requirements to State for their approval.
- Test shielding, lead aprons, etc.
- Develop policies and procedures
- Provide information to physicians for IRB applications
- Estimate doses to fetuses of pregnant patients
- Discuss radiation safety issues with patients, family members, staff and physicians
The following regulatory agencies require that a Medical Physicist perform these duties:
- FDA
- MQSA
- MDCH
- MDCH for MRI CON
The following regulatory agencies mandate that procedures be established for equipment acceptance and testing to meet Federal, such as the FDA, requirements:
- JCAHO
- OSHA
The American College of Radiology recommends voluntary compliance with these guidelines