(6) The x-ray system is an assemblage of components for controlled
production of diagnostic images with x-ray.
c. Elements of a Quality Assurance Program According to Title 21 Code Of
Federal Regulations.
(1) Responsibility. The facility owner or the practitioner in charge has the
primary responsibility for the program. He may, however, delegate some basic quality
assurance roles to staff technologists. These responsibilities should be specified in a
quality assurance manual that would include monitoring, evaluating, and providing
corrective measures for the overall program.
(2) Purchase specification procedures. The facility personnel must
determine their desired performance specifications for equipment and define these
specifications in writing before the final purchase of any equipment. Once the
equipment is installed, the designated person must conduct a testing program to ensure
that the specifications are met. If any adjustments or corrections are necessary, the
facility will not accept the equipment until the vendor has made the corrections.
(3) Monitoring and maintenance procedures. The goal is that the facility will
incorporate and establish state of the art procedures on a regular schedule. This can
be done by proper monitoring and by taking the initiative toward preventive and
corrective maintenance.
(a) The following items/facilities should be monitored:
1 Film processing.
2 Basic performance character.
3 Cassettes and grids.
4 View boxes (illuminators).
5 Darkroom.
(b) Initiative maintenance includes the following procedures.
1 "Preventive maintenance" means to inspect and test the
equipment carefully and in a timely manner.
2 "Corrective maintenance" means to call the service engineer or
the manufacturer's representative at the earliest signs of trouble or malfunction. After
going through the lower levels of repair personnel, go to the highest, if necessary.
MD0062
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