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(October 1998)
For Florida Radiation
Machine Registrants
Department of Health,
Bureau of Radiation Control
USE OF BONE DENSITOMETERS
With the increased awareness of osteoporosis as a significant health
problem in the elderly there has been a proliferation in the number of
radiation machines used to determine bone density as an aid to diagnosis.
The following are some key requirements in the State of Florida to keep
in mind when using this type of machine.
_ All radiation machines must be registered with the radiation machine
program office within thirty days of installation and will be inspected
annually.
_ Examinations must be authorized by a State of Florida licensed practitioner
of the healing arts.
_ Only examinations for healing arts purposes are allowed. Exposures
for training, demonstration, or other purposes are prohibited.
_ Advertising free x-rays is prohibited unless the advertisement states
there will be a determination of need.
_ The radiation machines can only be operated by a State of Florida licensed
physician or State of Florida licensed radiologic technologist. Basic
x-ray machine operators, nuclear medicine technologists and general radiographers
are the only categories of licensed radiologic technologists who can
operate bone densitometers that use machine produced radiation.
_ Radiologic technologist operators must have machine specific training.
_ Basic x-ray machine operators must be directly supervised by a physician
(the physician must be in the building). Nuclear medicine technologists
and general radiographers must be able to speak with a physician.
_ Federal manufacturing requirements, regulations from other states,
and statements by manufacturers can not exempt users of radiation machines
from the registration, performance, and safety requirements mandated
by 64E-5, Florida Administrative Code.
If you have questions or need guidance, please contact this office at:
Department of Health
Bureau of Radiation Control, Radiation Machine Program
P. O. Box 210, Jacksonville, Florida 32231
Phone: (904)359-6363
Fax: (904)359-6362
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