Third-party companies offer hope for XR 29 compliance

You may have heard that there is no other solution to meet XR 29 requirements except for an expensive upgrade to your CT scanner.

This is just not the case.

Third-party vendors are working hard to develop a solution that meets Smart Dose requirements, while saving you money against a costly upgrade.

While no “third-party” solution has been formally announced yet, we know of at least two companies working to provide such a solution.

By integrating a software tool or bolt-on accessory to an existing non-compliant CT scanner, facilities can save hundreds of thousands of dollars when compared to the cost of a replacement system.

The only caveat is that a solution must meet all four of the Smart Dose attributes to be considered compliant.

These four attributes are:

1.  Automatic Exposure Control (AEC)

AEC is incorporated into newer CT scanners as part of the design and firmware. You can check your equipment guide to make sure your equipment has this attribute.

2.  Pediatric and Adult Reference Protocols

“Protocols” are simply “examples” of past scans, so that you can have something to compare with your current scan.  Surprisingly, these protocols are not standards, but rather general guidelines.

3.  The CT DICOM Radiation Dose Standard

DICOM Radiation Dose Standard (RDSR) is available on new model CT scanners and it captures both pre- and post – exam dose information.

85% of all CTs can produce a report as part of the DICOM.  In other words, the report is actually provided through one of the images.  This report has to be converted to text so that it can be put into a database.

4.  The CT Dose Check

The CT Dose Check notifies and alerts the CT operator prior to starting a scan if the dose exceeds a pre-defined value set by the healthcare facility.

In simple words, to be compliant with this attribute the CT scanner must:

a.  Warn the operator
b.  Prevent the machine from operating
c.  Allow operation when the operator overrides it by typing in his/her name/initials and the reason why it’s being allowed

If a third-party software or bolt-on solution is not right for you, the purchase of a newer refurbished CT scanner may be a good choice to meet Smart Dose compliance. Let us know if we can help you find the right solution for your clinical needs.