Definitions


Responsible User (RU):
All new or existing radiation-producing machines used in clinical areas for the healing arts must be under the control of an identified Responsible User. The responsible department shall designate an RU for each radiation-producing machine under their control. The Responsible User shall be a physician who has a State of California issued radiology supervisor and operator certificate or a supervisor and operator permit for the appropriate modality of the radiation-producing machine. In the event that a radiology supervisor and operator cannot be identified for a specific radiation-producing machine, the Department or Division Chair will be appointed as the RU.

Radiology Supervisor and Operator Certificate:
A radiology supervisor and operator certificate authorizes the holder, within the limitation of the holder's California healing arts license, to:

  1. Actuate or energize registered X-ray equipment; and
  2. Supervise the use of registered X-ray equipment by a CRT, an XT, or any student in an approved school when the student is operating X-ray equipment.

Supervisor and Operator Permit:
The permit categories for licentiates of the healing arts are:

  1. Fluoroscopy supervisor and operator;
  2. Radiography supervisor and operator;
  3. Dermatology supervisor and operator; and
  4. X-ray bone densitometry supervisor and operator.

A supervisor and operator permit authorizes the holder, within the limitations of the holder’s California healing arts license, to:

  1. Actuate or energize registered X-ray equipment specific to the limitations of the holder’s permit; and
  2. Supervise the use of registered X-ray equipment specific to the limitations of the holder’s permit by appropriately certified radiologic technologists or any student in an approved school when the student is operating X-ray equipment.

Responsibilities


The Responsible User for all purchased, loaned or donated radiation-producing machines, used in clinical or human-use research purposes, is responsible for ensuring and attesting to the following:

A. Registration, inventory, calibration, maintenance, and transfer or disposal:

  1. All radiation-producing machines are appropriately registered with the State of California via coordination with the UCLA Radiation Safety Office (RSO).
  2. All machines are traceable and updated on the Office of the Radiation Safety Committees (ORSC) inventory database.
  3. All machines are evaluated annually by a Qualified Medical Physicist (QMP) or California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Approved Physicist to assure proper installation and calibration.
  4. All machines undergo documentable preventive maintenance in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
  5. The UCLA Radiation Safety Office is notified prior to transfer or disposal of a registered machine.

B. Licensure and training of the physicians and staff:

  1. The physician directing the procedure holds a radiology supervisor and operator certificate or appropriate permit for the machine modality in use.
  2. Staff operating the equipment hold radiologic technologist certificates or appropriate permits for the machine modality in use.
  3. Physician and staff have received appropriate and machine specific operational training in correct and safe use of the machine and its functions.

C. Monitoring radiation dose received by physicians and staff:

  1. Physicians and staff who may receive radiation exposure from radiation-producing machine use that could exceed 10% of the annual occupational limit are monitored/badged according to established UCLA guidelines.

D. Safe and appropriate use of machine on patients:

  1. Ensuring exams are clinically indicated and appropriate.
  2. Ensuring that research protocols are approved by the IRB and the radiologic procedure(s) performed are conducted within the constraints of the protocol.
  3. Using established and reviewed equipment specific protocols and technique charts.

References


  1. California Code of Regulations Title 17, Subchapter 4.5, Group 5: Certification of Licentiates
  2. Office of Radiation Safety Committees (ORSC)
  3. UCLA Radiation Safety