Initiative Released by FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine studies and fluoroscopy procedures. The FDA stated that the initiative will promote the safe use of medical imaging devices, support informed clinical decision-making and increase patient awareness of their own exposure. The agency intends to require manufacturers of CT and fluoroscopic devices to incorporate safeguards into the design of their machines and provide appropriate training to support safe use by practitioners, and has scheduled a public meeting on March 30-31 to solicit input on those requirements. It also is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to incorporate quality assurance practices into the mandatory accreditation and conditions of participation survey processes for imaging facilities and hospitals.
More information is available at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm200085.htm