Section 124.18. Radiological services.

 

(1)   Diagnostic x-ray services.

(a) Requirement. The hospital shall make diagnostic x-ray services available. These services shall meet professionally approved standards for safety and the qualifications of personnel in addition to the requirements set out in this subsection.

(b) Location. The hospital shall have diagnostic x-ray facilities available in the hospital building proper or in an adjacent clinic or medical facility that is readily accessible to the hospital's patients, physicians and staff.

(c) Safety.

1. The radiological service shall be free of hazards for patients and personnel.

2. Proper safety precautions shall be maintained against fire and explosion hazards, electrical hazards and radiation hazards.

3. Hospital x-ray facilities shall be inspected by a qualified radiation physicist or by a department radiation consultant at least once every 2 years for compliance with ch. DHS 157 . Hazards identified by inspections shall be properly and promptly corrected.

4. Radiation workers shall be monitored in accordance with ch. DHS 157 .

5. Attention shall be paid to modern safety design and proper operating procedures under ss. DHS 157.75 to 157.76 for the use of fluoroscopes. Records shall be maintained of the output of all fluoroscopes.

6. Policies based on medical staff recommendations shall be established for administration of the application and removal of radium element, its disintegration products and other radioactive isotopes.

(d) Personnel.

1. A sufficient number of personnel capable of supervising and carrying out the radiological services shall be provided.

2. The interpretation of radiological examinations shall be made by physicians qualified in the field.

3. The hospital shall have a board-certified radiologist, full-time, part-time or on a consulting basis, who is qualified to direct the service and to interpret films that require specialized knowledge for accurate reading.

4. A technologist shall be on duty or on call at all times.

5. Only personnel designated as qualified by the radiologist or by an appropriately constituted committee of the medical staff may use the x-ray apparatus, and only similarly designated personnel may apply and remove the radium element, its disintegration products and radioactive isotopes. Fluoroscopic equipment may be operated only by properly trained persons authorized by the medical director of the radiological service.

(e) Records.

1. Authenticated radiological reports shall be filed in the patient's medical record.

2. A written order for an x-ray examination by the attending physician or another individual authorized by the medical staff to order an x-ray examination shall contain a concise statement of the reason for the examination.

3. Interpretations of x-rays shall be written or dictated and shall be signed by a qualified physician or another individual authorized by the medical staff to interpret x-rays.

4. Copies of reports, printouts, films, scans and other image records shall be retained for at least 5 years.

(2)   Therapeutic x-ray services. If therapeutic x-ray services are provided, they shall meet professionally approved standards for safety and for qualifications of personnel. The physician in charge shall be appropriately qualified. Only a physician qualified by training and experience may prescribe radiotherapy treatments.

Cr. Register, January, 1988, No. 365 , eff. 2-1-88; corrections in (1) (c) 3. to 5. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register September 2003 No. 573 ; corrections in (1) (c) 3. to 5. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637 .