Blog Layout

Radiologic Services: Refresher for Hospitals on CMS Conditions of Participation

When it comes to delivering radiologic and diagnostic services under The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation, hospitals need to have policies, procedures and safe practices in place that are centered around delivery of patient services, safety of patients and personnel, qualifications of personnel and record keeping practices. 

Hospitals should be equipped to provide radiologic or diagnostic services to meet patient needs. If a hospital is not fully equipped, or equipment is being serviced, contingency arrangements should be made in the interest of patient safety.

Protecting patients and personnel is another requirement and should also be at the forefront of any hospital’s radiation safety program. Shielding of both patients and team members is essential to minimize unnecessary exposure to harmful radiation. Furthermore, team members who are routinely exposed are required to wear dosimetry badges to monitor their level of exposure to radiation.

In addition, routine inspections of equipment should be performed to mitigate the risk of hazards associated with exposure to radiation. Additional safety measures must also include safe storage, use and disposal of radioactive materials. 

Hospitals must carefully consider the qualifications of those who provide radiology and diagnostic services while adhering to state laws and regulations. Considerations must include not only state law but also consideration for competency with regard to granting clinical privileges. It is not uncommon for hospitals to use teleradiology services to perform diagnostic image analysis remotely. If your facility utilizes these services, be sure that they are vetted through the same credentialing process as per your organization’s Medical Staff and Governing Body’s Bylaws dictate.

According to CMS conditions of participation, imaging records must be kept by hospitals for a minimum of five years. All imaging reports with diagnostic interpretations must be signed by the radiologist or practitioner who provided services to a patient. Be sure to check with your medical records department to determine the duration of time and the process for medical archiving historical medical records. 

Our experts understand the challenges that all healthcare facilities are facing today. Using a customizable approach, we will help you navigate through even the toughest of challenges.

Whether you are in need of mock surveys, leadership training, corrective action plans or ongoing routine support services, we can help! We pride ourselves on helping our clients achieve and maintain a status of excellence in the healthcare industry.

Be sure to browse Our Website for a full list of services we provide.

Contact us today at +1 (800) 813-7117 to schedule a free consultation.

February 10, 2025
It is that time of year again. At least for acute care hospitals, long-term acute care (LTAC) hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) who report to The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). If annual surveys are not reported by March 1 st , then your organization will not be permitted to enter monthly reporting plans until the annual survey has been completed. Although there are just a few weeks to go, early planning is the key. It is important to consider that responses to the Annual Survey questions are a collaborative effort. Planning a meeting in advance with key stakeholders will help to ease the stress of completing what some may consider to be a daunting task. Be sure to coordinate with Facilities Managers, Pharmacists, Laboratory, Nursing, Infection Prevention and Quality leaders on annual survey responses. Although individuals who are responsible for report submission may find that some of the data has not changed significantly from the previous year, we have identified that some questions have been removed while additional questions have been added. If you are new to NHSN reporting and have not yet completed an annual survey, you will find an alert reminding you on your dashboard upon logging in. Keep in mind that the survey you are completing requires data from the previous calendar year. You will be submitting data for 2024 due March 1 st , 2025. There are a variety of questions that will require information about metrics, facility type, infection prevention practices, laboratory testing methods, water quality management, and antimicrobial stewardship practices for example. Instructions on completing your organization’s annual survey click on the link below that corresponds with your facility type: Instructions for Completing Annual Hospital Survey Instructions for Completing LTAC Annual Survey Instructions for Completing IRF Annual Survey OSHA requires the following facilities to complete an annual occupational injury and Illness Report: Ambulatory Health Care Servies General Medical and Surgical Hospitals Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals Specialty Hospitals Skilled Nursing Facilities For a complete list of facilities required to report annually via electronic submission and for additional information on Standard 1904 Subpart E Appendix B click on the following link: OSHA Injury and Illness Reporting Requirements . Much like NHSN annual surveys, this reporting is also for the prior calendar year. Your deadline for submission is March 2, 2025. If your organization has not previously been reporting, please note that you will need to set up an Injury Tracking Application (ITA) account. For complete instructions, click on the following link User Guide . Individuals who are responsible for report completion and submission should have a clear understanding of criteria that constitutes a work-related injury. They will also need to know if the employee missed days of work because of injury or illness. If an employee was restricted from usual work activities or reassigned to a new role as a result of the injury or illness this information must be documented. If an employee required care beyond basic first aid, this will also need to be reported. Reporters should not include Protected Health Information (PHI). For a brief tutorial on OSHA annual reporting requirements, click on the following link OSHA Injury and Illness Reporting . Our experts understand the challenges that all healthcare facilities are facing today. Using a customizable approach, we will help you navigate through even the toughest of challenges. Whether you are in need of mock surveys, leadership training, corrective action plans or ongoing support services, we can help! We pride ourselves on helping our clients achieve and maintain a status of excellence in the healthcare industry. Be sure to browse Our Website for a full list of services we provide. Contact us today at +1 (800) 813-7117 to schedule a free consultation. References: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/forms/instr/57_103-toi.pd https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904SubpartEAppB https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/ita_user_guide.pdf https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/osha_rktutorial.pdf
A hospital room with a bed and a lot of medical equipment.
January 13, 2025
In 2002 The Joint Commission (TJC) first established the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) Program. In 2003, TJC rolled out the first set of NPSG’s. Each year, TJC prioritizes patient safety goals for various healthcare programs.
A red background with white snowflakes and the words happy holidays
November 5, 2024
The holiday season is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends. Depending on your level of enthusiasm, you may be someone who prepares for celebrations’ month in advance.
Share by: