ICANL

A pool of individuals are trained by the ICANL to perform site visits. They are a credentialed pool of technologists and/or physicians. Cost of the site visit in included in the application fee. Typically the following will be closely reviewed and/or observed:

• administrative policies and procedures manuals

  • clinical procedure protocols

  • equipment quality control

  • radiation safety

  • administrative

• radiation safety documents

• dosage records

• results of prior NRC/State inspections (if any) with any corrective actions

• training/inservice for technologist

• technical procedure manual

• gamma camera and other equipment qc records and any phantom studies available

• quality assurance policies and documentation

• any other pertinent documents related to the operation of the facility

Administrative policies and procedures:

• Are the policies/procedures followed?

• Is policy and procedure manual reviewed annually?

• Dated and signed or initialed by the director or qualified agent?

Are there policies for:

• Infection control?

• Patient identification?

• Patient assessment (including pregnancy/breast feeding)?

• Medical emergencies?  

Manuals and Protocols

• Radiation safety

• Administrative Policies and Procedures  

• Diagnostic and therapeutic protocols  

• Equipment QC  

• Six to 12 months of records and documentation of routine assessment of basic parameters and calibration of imaging equipment

• Last but NOT least - observation of patient imaging, patient dosing, and dose preparation  

Review of a random sample of five to ten case studies

Turnaround time for final reports:

Signed and completed within two working days?

Does the physician affix the signature (manually or with password protected electronic signature)?

Are prior nuclear medicine studies available for comparison?

Is the quality of the images acceptable?

Is the quality of the report acceptable (contain report components)?  

Radiation safety practices/records

Area surveys

Wipe tests

Sealed source inventory and leak testing

Are emergency procedures for spills posted in the department?

Is the phone number for the radiation safety officer posted?

Have there been any radioactive spills in the last twelve months?

Are decontamination records maintained?   

Outcome and Quality Assessment

• A technical quality assessment program is in place including indicators, predefined thresholds for corrective action, and a method for reporting activities?

• A program is in place to evaluate the ongoing quality of interpretation

• Documentation of QA