Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 53 Pa.B. 8238 (December 30, 2023).

Pennsylvania Code



CHAPTER 127. RADIOLOGY SERVICES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec.


127.1.    Principle.
127.2.    Organization and staffing.
127.3.    Director.
127.4.    Radiotherapy procedures.
127.5.    Radiology service personnel.
127.6.    Education programs.

FACILITIES


127.11.    Principle.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS


127.21.    Equipment operation.
127.22.    Radiation safety inspection.
127.23.    Safety precautions.
127.24.    Personnel monitoring.
127.25.    Instruction in safety procedures.
127.26.    Patient safety.

POLICIES


127.31.    Policies and procedures.
127.32.    Written orders.
127.33.    Authority to use radium.
127.34.    Storage and handling of radioactive material.
127.35.    Patient care records.

Cross References

   This chapter cited in 55 Pa. Code §  6100.2 (relating to applicability).

GENERAL PROVISIONS


§ 127.1. Principle.

 Radiologic consultation and services shall be regularly and conveniently available to meet the needs of patients.

§ 127.2. Organization and staffing.

 The hospital shall provide radiographic and fluoroscopic diagnostic services adequate to meet the needs of patients.

§ 127.3. Director.

 The director of radiology services shall be a member of the medical staff and should be certified by the American Board of Radiology or an equivalent Board, be eligible for Board certification, or have successfully completed an approved residency training program in radiology.

§ 127.4. Radiotherapy services.

 (a)  Radiotherapy services provided in the hospital shall be operated safely and effectively. Provisions shall be made for safe storage and use of radium and other radioactive sources. The services of a radiation physicist or of a competently trained dosimetrist shall be available, as needed, for consultation, for supervision of radiation safety procedures, and for participation in educational programs. Radiologic technologists and other personnel shall be available to meet patient needs.

 (b)  When the facility does not provide certain service, such as radiotherapy or special diagnostic procedures, the director shall participate in recommending one or more sources to be approved by the medical staff.

§ 127.5. Radiology service personnel.

 There shall be at least one radiologic technician registered or eligible for registration by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists on duty or available when needed. Work assignments shall be in accordance with written job descriptions and employe qualifications.

§ 127.6. Education programs.

 Radiology service personnel should have the opportunity to further their knowledge and skills through hospital based educational opportunities, such as on-the-job training and in-service education programs, or through attendance at workshops and institutes held outside the hospital.

FACILITIES


§ 127.11. Principle.

 Radiology services shall have adequate space and facilities to safely meet the diagnostic and therapeutic needs of the patients, and shall be in compliance with 25 Pa. Code § §  221.1—235.15 (relating to radiological health).

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS


§ 127.21. Equipment operation.

 The hospital shall ensure that all radiographic equipment is operated at all times by competent personnel under physician supervision and trained in the use of radiographic equipment and in safety precautions. Nonportable equipment shall be operated only in properly shielded spaces. Caution shall be exercised in using portable equipment to protect employes, patients, and other persons from exposure to radiation.

§ 127.22. Radiation safety inspection.

 Radiation safety inspections are made by the Department of Environmental Protection on a scheduled basis.

§ 127.23. Safety precautions.

 Proper safety precautions shall be maintained against fire and explosion and electrical and mechanical hazards.

§ 127.24. Personnel monitoring.

 The exposure of radiology service personnel shall be periodically monitored by means of film badges or other similar personnel monitoring devices. A record of the annual accumulation shall be maintained as part of the personnel file of the employe, and a copy given to the employe upon termination. The employe shall have access to these records during time of employment.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  127.24 issued under section 2103 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §  532(g)); and section 803 of the Health Care Facilities Act (35 P. S. §  448.803).

Source

   The provisions of this §  127.24 amended through December 3, 1982, effective December 4, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 4129. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (52842).

§ 127.25. Instruction in safety procedures.

 All radiology service personnel shall be instructed in safety precautions and in procedures for dealing with emergency radiation hazards.

§ 127.26. Patient safety.

 To assure that patients are not subjected to unnecessary amounts of radiation, the director shall establish a procedure to review cases where a radiographic photograph has to be retaken due to the first such photograph not being of usable quality.

POLICIES


§ 127.31. Policies and procedures.

 (a)  Policies and procedures shall be developed by the director of radiology services in cooperation with the hospital administrative staff, medical staff, nursing service, and other departments or services as necessary. These shall be reviewed annually by the director of radiology services, revised as necessary, and dated to indicate the time of the last review.

 (b)  Procedures shall be developed to guide radiology personnel in performing their duties and also to guide persons involved in preparing patients for radiologic services. Procedures shall include radiology examinations in areas other than the radiology department, the administration of diagnostic agents by paramedical personnel, and the care of patients having special need, including those who are critically ill and those needing isolation precautions.

§ 127.32. Written orders.

 Diagnostic radiology services shall be performed only upon the written order of a member of the medical staff, or house staff, or a physician who has been granted clinical privileges. Orders for radiology services shall, in all other respects, conform to the regulations generally applicable to written orders or the exceptions thereto. Any request for radiology services should contain a concise statement as to the reason for the request.

§ 127.33. Authority to use radium.

 The therapeutic use of radium or other sealed radioactive sources in the hospital shall be limited to physicians who have been granted this privilege by the governing body at the recommendation of the medical staff after consultation with and consideration of the recommendations of the radiologist or of a radiation safety committee, or both. Only persons who have had suitable training and experience as determined by the director of radiology services or radiation safety committee shall be permitted to handle radioactive material. A license from the Department of Environmental Protection or the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorizing the use of radioactive materials shall be required.

§ 127.34. Storage and handling of radioactive material.

 Rules shall be established by the director of radiology services or the radiation safety committee, or both, as to the use, removal, handling and storage of the radium element, its disintegration products, and other radioactive elements.

§ 127.35. Patient care records.

 Authenticated reports of radiology interpretations and of consultation, therapy, and radiotherapy summaries shall be part of the patient’s medical record and shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 115 (relating to medical records).



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