Care Act Builds on Manufacturing Industry Efforts to Ensure Safe and Effective Medical Imaging Services

Washington, D.C. – The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) voiced its support today for the “Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2010,” introduced yesterday by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Tom Harkin (D-IA). Also known as the CARE Act, the bill builds on the efforts of the medical imaging industry to ensure safe and effective patient care and promotes access to high-quality medical imaging and radiation therapy services.

Specifically, the CARE Act would work to further guarantee that the individuals performing medical imaging and radiation therapy are appropriately qualified by establishing standards for these personnel.

“High-quality patient care has always been the number one priority of the imaging industry. We fully support the steps that Senators Enzi and Harkin are taking to build on this commitment through trainings and standards that ensure safe and effective diagnosis and therapies,” said Dave Fisher, Executive Director of MITA, the leading trade association representing medical imaging and radiation therapy technology manufacturers.

Ensuring operators are appropriately trained to use medical imaging and radiation therapy technologies is just one of the proactive steps the industry has taken to improve patient care and safety. Earlier this year manufacturers released a Radiation Dose Reduction Plan, which includes support for mandatory reporting of medical errors associated with ionizing radiation, certification of imaging technologists and accreditation of imaging facilities.

CT manufacturers also released the CT Dose Check Initiative, which is a commitment to include a new Dose Notification feature to reduce the dose levels associated with scans; a Dose Alert to prevent medical errors; and a new dose recording feature to help track dose and to develop reference dose levels to help providers understand how their facility compares to local and national standards. 

Further, in June, radiation therapy technology manufacturers released the Radiation Therapy Readiness Check Initiative to develop and implement additional patient protection features for radiation therapy equipment.  These features will confirm that patient treatment plans are delivered as intended, and that radiation therapy equipment, accessories, and patients are properly positioned prior to delivery of therapy.

“The imaging industry continues to innovate, revolutionizing the health care industry through advanced technologies and higher standards of care,” said Fisher. “We look forward to working with Congress on the passage and implementation of the CARE Act.”