Assessing the Service Provided by an Institutional Radiation Safety Survey Program

2022

Self Cite

In 1992, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Radiation Safety Program began assembling data on a monthly basis that described various program drivers and associated activities. A summary of the data was assembled on an annual basis and shared with the professional health physics community at the 10-y and 20-y intervals. With the inclusion of 1991 data points, three decades (1991 to 2020) of data have now been collected and summarized into an updated program prospectus. The prospectus models a commercial enterprise prospectus provided to potential investors and displays various program indicator parameters. The consistent formatting of the data affords an easily digestible and succinct snapshot of program activities and trends. Various program stakeholder’s feedback regarding this data continues to be well received. Additionally, UTHealth provides increasing support for UT Physicians clinics throughout the greater Houston, Texas area. The prospectus allows succinct description of the drivers of the program, revealed interesting trends, and has identified training needs for both existing personnel and academic programs that support the radiation protection sciences.

Section: Program Description and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 30-Year Radiation Safety Prospectus Describing Organizational Drivers, Program Activities, and Outcomes

Gutierrez

2022

Self Cite

“…The daily activities of the staff include the performance of routine workplace surveys, delivery of packages of radioactive materials and issuance of personnel dosimetry devices, all described previously (Emery et al 1995(Emery et al , 1996Emery and Charlton 1999;Emery and Savely 1997). The Radiation Safety Program also oversees the possession of cyclotron activated components after the storm damage to the cyclotron from Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.…”

Section: Program Description and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Updated Radiation Protection Program Prospectus Based on 20 Years of Data Describing Program Drivers and Activities

Gutiérrez

2014

In 1992, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSCH) Radiation Safety Program began assembling data on a monthly basis that described various program drivers and associated activities. At the end of calendar year 2002, a decade of data had been collected, so the information was summarized into a novel program prospectus, displaying various program indicator parameters in a format similar to that used in a commercial enterprise prospectus provided to potential investors. The consistent formatting of the data afforded a succinct and easily digestible snapshot of program activities and trends. Feedback from various program stakeholders, even those unfamiliar with radiation safety matters, was overwhelmingly positive. By the end of 2012, a total of 20 years of data had been collected, so an updated and slightly modified prospectus was created. The summary document has helped to describe the drivers of the program, revealed some interesting trends, and has aided in maintaining program support even in challenging economic times. The data summary has also proved to be useful in making future projections regarding program needs.

“…Accordingly the program has enjoyed strong upper management support and accolades from the faculty (Emery et al 1996). …”

Section: Suggested Contextual Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contextual Information for the Potential Enhancement of Annual Radiation Protection Program Review Reports

Gutiérrez

2017

Organizations possessing sources of ionizing radiation are required to develop, document, and implement a “radiation protection program” that is commensurate with the scope and extent of permitted activities and sufficient to ensure compliance with basic radiation safety regulations. The radiation protection program must also be reviewed at least annually, assessing program content and implementation. A convenience sample assessment of web-accessible and voluntarily-submitted radiation protection program annual review reports revealed that while the reports consistently documented compliance with necessary regulatory elements, very few included any critical contextual information describing how important the ability to possess radiation sources was to the central mission of the organization. Information regarding how much radioactive material was currently possessed as compared to license limits was also missing. Summarized here are suggested contextual elements that can be considered for possible inclusion in annual radiation protection program reviews to enhance stakeholder understanding and appreciation of the importance of the ability to possess radiation sources and the importance of maintaining compliance with associated regulatory requirements.