The Mammography Department at Community Memorial Hospital has met all Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) requirements at the annual inspection held Nov. 19.
This is the third year in a row that the hospital has been in complete compliance with the regulation. Imaging Department Director Linda Dittberner said it is through the efforts of lead mammographer, Heidi Motzko, that all quality control tests and documentation were completed, resulting in the positive inspection.
Mammography services are highly regulated. The FDA requires an annual inspection of all mammography programs per the MQSA. In Minnesota, the inspection is conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
The MDH inspector evaluates equipment condition and performance. The results of the annual radiation physicist inspection are also reviewed. Ongoing quality control testing for the mammogram machine and processor must be completed and documented according to MQSA guidelines. Certain quality control tests are done on a daily basis.
The inspector reviews actual mammograms and determines if the image quality meets the standards. Mammogram reports are reviewed and must contain language approved by the MQSA.
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The mammogram technologist must perform a minimum of 200 mammograms within a two-year period and have the required number of continuing education hours. Likewise, the radiologist (the physician who interprets the mammogram) must have interpreted the required number of mammograms and have documentation of ongoing continuing education.
Outcomes are tracked for all mammograms. The inspector looks for complete documentation to ensure that recommended follow-up exams are tracked.
Community Memorial Hospital has provided mammogram services to the community for 30 years.
