New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 370 - OVERSIGHT OF LICENSED HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY BASED WAIVER PROGRAMS
Part 12 - REQUIREMENTS FOR ACUTE CARE, LIMITED SERVICES AND SPECIAL HOSPITALS
Section 8.370.12.32 - RADIOLOGICAL SERVICES

(a) The radiological service shall be free of hazards for patients and personnel.

(b) Proper safety precautions shall be maintained against fire and explosion hazards, electrical hazards and radiation hazards.

(c) Hospital x-ray facilities shall be inspected by a qualified radiation physicist or by the New Mexico environment department radiation consultant at least once every two years. Hazards identified by inspections shall be properly and promptly corrected.

(d) Radiological equipment and radiation services shall conform with the requirements of the Radiation Protection Act, Sections 74-3-1 through 74-3-16, NMSA 1978.

(e) Attention shall be paid to current safety design and good operating procedures for use of fluoroscopes. Records shall be maintained of the output of all fluoroscopes.

(f) Policies based on medical staff recommendations shall be established for the administration of the application and removal of radium element, it's disintegration products and other radioactive isotopes.

(a) A physician shall have overall responsibility for the radiological service. This physician shall be certified or eligible for certification by the American board of radiology. If such a radiologist is not available on a full-time or regular part-time basis, a physician, with training and experience in radiology, may administer the service. In this circumstance, a radiologist, qualified as above, shall provide consultation services at suitable intervals to assure high quality service.

(b) A sufficient number of personnel capable of supervising and carrying out the radiological services shall be provided. Their training must conform to the requirements set out in the Medical Radiation Health and Safety Act, Sections 61-14E-1 through 61-15E-12, NMSA 1978 and regulations promulgated by the New Mexico environment department titled radiologic technology certification, 20.3.20 NMAC.

(c) The interpretation of radiological examinations shall be made by physicians qualified in the field.

(d) The hospital shall have a board-certified radiologist, full-time, part time or on a consulting basis, who is qualified to interpret films that require specialized knowledge for accurate reading.

(e) A technologist shall be on duty or on call at all times.

(f) Only personnel designated as qualified by the state radiology technologist licensing body may use the x-ray apparatus, and only similarly designated personnel may apply and remove the radium element, its disintegration products and radioactive isotopes. Only properly trained persons authorized by the medical director of the radiological service may operate fluoroscopic equipment.

(a) Authenticated radiological reports shall be filed in the patient's medical record.

(b) Written orders by the attending physician or other individual authorized by medical staff for an x-ray examination shall contain a concise statement of the reason for the examination.

(c) Interpretations of x-rays shall be written or dictated and signed by a qualified physician or other individual authorized by the medical staff.

(d) Copies of interpretive findings shall be retained in the medical record for at least 10 years. Scans and other image records shall be retained for at least four years.