iRad Consulting | The Experts in State X-Ray Regulation Rules and Compliance | phone: 940-453-2876

 

laser Tag

30 Apr

Posted at 09:00h in Dental Compliance, Industrial Compliance, Laser, Medical Compliance, News by
0 Likes

Are you following your state’s mandated regulations for your laser equipment and safety protocols?

It is important that you are using your office’s laser equipment in compliance with your state’s health and safety office to avoid any interruptions in patient care. For example, if you are practicing in the state of Texas and own a Class 3b or Class 4 laser, then you must register that laser with the Texas Department of State Health Services and it must be inspected by a radiation inspector.

All states, have specific requirements in place that govern the use of these lasers. This may include:

 

  • Documentation: The state requires proper ownership documents and has other documentation protocols that will need to be signed and filed regularly.
  • Proper Signage: “Caution Laser” signs are required to be posted inside and outside of laser treatment rooms.
  • Laser Training: Proof of full staff training on the use of lasers is required and this includes hands-on training for any staff that will be in the room during laser treatment.
  • Safety Equipment: Laser-specific goggles must be worn at all times during laser use and must be inspected regularly for safety.
  • Safe Treatment Area(s): Proof of proper treatment areas will need to be provided. This means that the treatment areas are away from big open windows, mirrors and shiny objects.
  • Required Personnel Only: Adhering to the rule that only required personnel and the patient may be present in laser treatment rooms.
  • Laser Lock: Lasers must have a full locking feature that must be applied when the laser is not in use.

 

Basic Laser Safety Tips

As stated above, everyone in the office needs to have laser safety training. It is a requirement by the state. Here are just a few laser safety basics:

-Safe Treatment Rooms

Make sure all your staff members have an understanding that lasers are quite powerful and can reflect off windows, mirrors or shiny objects and can give off a glare or cause the beam to bounce off and can impact someone else in the room.

-Eyewear

Ensure that your staff understands eyewear protects their eyes from possible small scattering beams that pose a hazard to the eyes.

-Hands-On Laser Training

Take careful consideration that any staff that is required to be in a treatment room where a laser is being used requires hands-on training. Not only is this a state requirement, but it also helps keep yourself and patients safe during treatment.

-Annual Laser Review

Annual reviews can help make sure that your office is compliant with state requirements. Our annual reviews also ensure that your equipment is up and running properly to avoid any unnecessary potential risks and that you have created the right environment and proper training protocols for administering these treatments.

If you have questions about laser safety, contact the experts at iRad today for more information. We’ll be happy to schedule your hands-on, in-person laser review to make sure you are fully compliant with your state’s health board.

29 Mar

Posted at 09:00h in Dental Compliance, Medical Compliance, News, Veterinary Compliance by
0 Likes

When it comes to meeting compliance rules and regulations regarding x-ray use, most professionals don’t have the time to verify if they are keeping up with all necessary documentation. It can be challenging to keep up with the demands of your office as well as keeping up with all of the additional paperwork and making sure your equipment is working correctly. Staff changes, overloaded desks, and busy schedules can all cause a piece of paperwork to be lost, or a required protocol to be forgotten in the shuffle.

The good news is, with an annual review, we can verify that you are not only keeping up with all of your necessary documentation and that your practice or facility is operating safely, but also keep you up to date with any state changes to compliance.

Here are three of the top reasons why you need to schedule your annual review today.

  1. Rules Change

The state rules and regulations governing x-ray equipment are continually being changed and updated. Unfortunately, most offices aren’t made aware of when these changes occur. With an annual review, you can make sure that you are compliant with all of the changes that have occurred in your state and that you not at risk of violating any of the new policies. For example, in the state of Texas, the current dental rules are currently being reviewed. The state is proposing new changes that will go into effect shortly if/when they are approved.

  1. New Staff

When new staff members join your team, it is important to ensure they are properly trained and that they are operating at a level that will allow them to work directly with the state inspector during an inspection. Procedures and policies can be a lot for any new staff member to take on. An annual review of your training protocols will allow us to set up procedures that are duplicable for your staff to properly train existing employees as well as future employees that will pass a state inspection.

  1. Keeping Your Equipment Up-to-Date

The state offers guidelines on how to maintain your X-ray and Laser equipment. If you have equipment changes, your units must be tested through Equipment Performance Evaluations (EPE’s) and your documents along with your x-ray certificate of registration will need to be amended. An annual review is a great place to start evaluating the performance of your equipment. Many offices who want to keep their new, state-of-the-art equipment running at its best or who are bringing in new equipment will typically schedule these reviews even more frequently.

Don’t Delay!

Of course, in addition to making sure that your practice is following protocols and your equipment is running correctly, an annual review can also make sure that you are ready if a state board inspector comes in unannounced and conducts an inspection. Failing to be up-to-date with all of your x-ray or laser equipment and procedures is one of the primary ways that businesses end up with hefty fines and violations.

If you are looking for more information on scheduling your annual x-ray or laser equipment review, contact the experts at iRad to request a quote or schedule a date. Give us a call!