Equipment safety and risk management.

This article reviews the history of federal regulations that affect medical imaging, briefly discusses state regulations and outlines quality control requirements for radiographic and fluoroscopic equipment. After completing it, readers will: Know the history of regulations that ensure safety for patients, radiographers and radiologists. Understand the evolution of and reasons for federal and state agencies that oversee imaging department operation. Review the radiographer's routine responsibilities regarding testing and maintenance. Glimpse the overall picture of how different regulations fit into an imaging department's daily operations. Realize the importance of following a regular maintenance and testing schedule for patient safety.