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What's New?
(All documents on this page are less than 500 KB unless otherwise noted.)
Links/Events
CT overexposures in brain perfusion studies.
Over an 18-month period, 206 patients at one facility in California received CT radiation doses that were
approximately eight times the expected level (3-4 Gy to the head, instead of 0.5 Gy). In some cases, this excessive dose
resulted in hair loss and erythema.
Additional high dose events have been discovered at other facilities in California and Alabama. Because of the serious nature
of these overexposures and the possibility similar problems could be present at facilities in Florida, the Bureau strongly
recommends all facilities performing CT exams review Information Notice 32 (PDF) and perform the actions described therein.
FDA continues to investigate these events and encourages every CT imaging facility to review its protocols and be aware of the dose indices normally
displayed on the CT control panel. See the full FDA
notice, for more information, or to
report problems. The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) has also released
guidance (208 KB, PDF) on CT protocol
reviews. (10/31/09, revised 12/15/09)
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The Bureau is sponsoring a 1.5 day class in multiple cities throughout Florida in 2010. The training is provided by the
Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/ Training Site (REAC/TS) staff of Oak Ridge, TN.
Course topics include, but are not limited to: basic radiation protection; basic radiobiology; diagnosis and
treatment of local and whole body irradiation; treatment for internal contamination; and adapting response to handle
radioactively contaminated patients. Patient evaluations will also be covered.
Visit the course registration page
for more information.
(11/20/09)
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The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) has
introduced a new service
for ASRT members who are licensed in Florida. At no
extra charge, ASRT is now transferring all CE credits that Florida technologists earn from ASRT Directed Readings and other ASRT-sponsored CE
courses, to the Florida Department of Health. These credits will then automatically be used to meet the 12 CE hour
requirement for license renewal in Florida, since these ASRT courses are Florida-approved CE. To check whether your CE credits have been
transferred, go to the Florida online license
verification,
lookup your Florida license, and click on your CE tab. The transfer automatically takes place on about the 15th of each month, so please allow
an appropriate amount of time for the credits to appear. (10/7/09)
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Regulations
A new Chapter 64E-5, Revision 10, FAC, effective February 11, 2010, has been posted on the Chapter
64E-5 page. For a summary of the new
requirements, see
Information Notice 2010-01 (39 KB,
PDF). For a copy of just the replacement
pages, see
Revision 10, Replacement Pages (1 MB, PDF).
The purpose of Revision 10 is to maintain required compatibility with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the medical use of
radioactive materials and temporary jobsite requirements. Some proposed amendments will clarify how the department
recognizes out-of-state licensees using materials in Florida. Others will establish or change rules regarding training and
experience requirements for users, requirements for use and calibration of high dose rate remote afterloaders, and gamma
stereotactic radiosurgery units. We have tried to change the regulations so that existing licensees will not need to amend
their radioactive materials license to comply and to have as little impact on licensee daily
operations as possible. (2/11/10)
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A new Chapter 64E-3, FAC (PDF), effective March 4, 2008, has been posted has been posted on the
Radiologic Technology Forms & Documents page. Changes have been made to
sections 64E-3.002, .004, .006, .007, .008, & .009, FAC which modify requirements for: definitions; application forms;
examination; reporting of graduation, criminal history and professional discipline; endorsement; bone densitometry, and; continuing education courses and providers. The
Chapter also contains a new regulation, 64E-3.0033, FAC, establishing minimum training requirements for nuclear medicine technologists who wish to perform limited
PET-CT. However, all NMTs are still prohibited from performing full diagnostic CT by s. 468.302(3)(g), Florida Statutes.
(3/3/08)
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Statutes
Ionizing Radiation Machines (X-ray)
Information Notice 32, Computed Tomography (CT) Overexposures (PDF) has been posted on the
Radiation Machine Forms & Documents page. This notice describes a series of CT overexposures that have
occured at facilities in California and Alabama. Because of the serious nature of these overexposures and the possibility similar
problems could be present at facilities in Florida, the Bureau strongly recommends all facilities performing CT
examinations review this notice and perform the actions described therein. (12/10/09)
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Information Notice 31, Electronic Brachytherapy (PDF) has been posted on the
Radiation Machine Forms & Documents page. This notice describes a new Part XVI in Chapter
64E-5, FAC, for electronic brachytherapy, a method of radiation therapy
that uses electrically-generated radiation from inside, or very close to, the body. (3/12/09)
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Information Notice 30, Use of Hand-Held Intraoral Units (PDF) has been posted on the
Radiation Machine Forms & Documents page. This notice describes recent changes in Chapter
64E-5, FAC, allowing the use of hand-held dental radiation machines. Requirements for registrants and operators, such as machine-specific training
and use of dosimeters, are discussed. (10/12/07)
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A new Radiation Machine Facility Registration form (PDF) has been posted on the
Radiation Machine Forms & Documents page. (3/30/07)
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Radioactive Material
A new Chapter 64E-5, Revision 10, FAC, effective February 11, 2010, has been posted on the Chapter
64E-5 page. For a summary of the new
requirements, see
Information Notice 2010-01 (39 KB,
PDF). For a copy of just the replacement
pages, see
Revision 10, Replacement Pages (1 MB, PDF).
The purpose of Revision 10 is to maintain required compatibility with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the medical use of
radioactive materials and temporary jobsite requirements. Some proposed amendments will clarify how the department
recognizes out-of-state licensees using materials in Florida. Others will establish or change rules regarding training and
experience requirements for users, requirements for use and calibration of high dose rate remote afterloaders, and gamma
stereotactic radiosurgery units. We have tried to change the regulations so that existing licensees will not need to amend
their radioactive materials license to comply and to have as little impact on licensee daily
operations as possible. (2/11/10)
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A new Regulatory Guide 1.30, Revision 3,
"Guide for the Preparation of Applications for Medical Use Programs" (PDF) has been posted on the Radioactive Materials
Forms & Documents page. The guide identifies the
information needed to complete Department of Health Form DH 1322 when applying for a
license for a medical use program. This guide does not apply to generally licensed material or
academic programs that do not use radioactive material for medical use. (2/11/10)
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A new Regulatory Guide 3.5,
"Preceptor Attestation for Medical Authorized Users" (PDF) has been posted on the Radioactive Materials
Forms & Documents page. This is a required guide to document a physician's training and experience
with radioactive materials to become an authorized user listed on a Human - Medical Use Radioactive Materials License. (2/11/10)
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Information Notice 2008-3,
"Voluntary Security Enhancements for Self-Contained Irradiators Containing Cesium Chloride Sources" (634KB, PDF) has been posted on the Radioactive Materials
Forms & Documents page. This notice describes a
new voluntary federal pilot program which seeks to
provide enhanced physical security for these sources. (8/22/08)
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Information Notice 2008-2,
"Revision 8 Changes to Chapter 64E-5, FAC" (PDF) has been posted on the Radioactive Materials
Forms & Documents page. This notice provides filing instructions and a summary of the changes
included in Revision 8, including fee increases for pre- and post-mining, additional requirements for industrial radiography licensees, national source tracking of
certain isotopes above certain quantities (effective 1/31/09) and other changes Information Notice 2008-2 is also provided in a separate file (420 KB, PDF)
bundled together with the actual Revision 8 replacement pages. (2/28/08)
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Information Notice 2008-1,
"Nuclear Medicine Procedure Verification" (PDF) has been posted on the Radioactive Materials
Forms & Documents page. This notice encourages licensees to provide documentation to patients who
receive nuclear medicine diagnostic studies or therapeutic treatment. This documentation should reduce the chance of unecessary delays and searches
if the patient's residual radiation activates an alarm at a security checkpoint. (2/15/08)
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A revised Regulatory Guide 1.2, Revision 2,
"Use of Sealed Sources in Fixed Gauge Devices" (PDF, 1474 KB) has been posted on the Radioactive Materials
Forms & Documents page. (2/15/08)
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Radiologic Technology
Two new application forms have been posted on the Radiologic Technology Forms
& Documents page. This includes Form DH 1005 (PDF, 679 KB), which is for certification as a General Radiographer, Nuclear
Medicine Technologist, Radiation Therapy Technologist, or Radiologist Assistant. Also included is
Form DH 1006 (PDF, 623 KB), which is for certification as a Basic X-ray Machine Operator or Basic
X-ray Machine Operator - Podiatric. (2/8/10)
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A new List of Radiologic Technology
Educational Programs (PDF) has been posted
on the Radiologic Technology Forms & Documents page. The number of accredited programs in Florida
continues to expand to fill the demand for new technologists. (12/4/09)
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The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) has
introduced a new service
for ASRT members who are licensed in Florida. At no
extra charge, ASRT is now transferring all CE credits that Florida technologists earn from ASRT Directed Readings and other ASRT-sponsored CE
courses, to the Florida Department of Health. These credits will then automatically be used to meet the 12 CE hour
requirement for license renewal in Florida, since these ASRT courses are Florida-approved CE. To check whether your CE credits have been
transferred, go to the Florida online license
verification,
lookup your Florida license, and click on your CE tab. The transfer automatically takes place on about the 15th of each month, so please allow
an appropriate amount of time for the credits to appear. (10/7/09)
|
A new Chapter 64E-3, FAC (PDF), effective March 4, 2008, has been posted has been posted on the
Radiologic Technology Forms & Documents page. Changes have been made to
sections 64E-3.002, .004, .006, .007, .008, & .009, FAC which modify requirements for: definitions; application forms;
examination; reporting of graduation, criminal history and professional discipline; endorsement; bone densitometry, and; continuing education courses and providers. The
Chapter also contains a new regulation, 64E-3.0033, FAC, establishing minimum training requirements for nuclear medicine technologists who wish to perform limited
PET-CT. However, all NMTs are still prohibited from performing full diagnostic CT by s. 468.302(3)(g), Florida Statutes.
(3/3/08)
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Environmental Radiation
The Bureau is sponsoring a 1.5 day class in multiple cities throughout Florida in 2010. The training is provided by the
Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/ Training Site (REAC/TS) staff of Oak Ridge, TN.
Course topics include, but are not limited to: basic radiation protection; basic radiobiology; diagnosis and
treatment of local and whole body irradiation; treatment for internal contamination; and adapting response to handle
radioactively contaminated patients. Patient evaluations will also be covered.
Visit the course registration page
for more information.(11/20/09)
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Nonionizing Radiation Machines (Lasers)
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