title: Results of a survey on the implementation of diagnostic reference levels for X-rays among Dutch hospitals.
abstract: Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for medical x-ray procedures are being implemented currently in the Netherlands. By order of the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate, a survey has been conducted among 20 Dutch hospitals to investigate the level of implementation of the Dutch DRLs in current radiological practice. It turns out that hospitals are either well underway in implementing the DRLs or have already done so. However, the DRLs have usually not yet been incorporated in the QA system of the department nor in the treatment protocols. It was shown that the amount of radiation used, as far as it was indicated by the hospitals, usually remains below the DRLs. A procedure for comparing dose levels to the DRLs has been prescribed but is not always followed in practice. This is especially difficult in the case of children, as most general hospitals receive few children.
authors.affiliation: *Centre for Environmental Safety and Security, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands; †Medical Technology Group, University of Applied Sciences Inholland, Bijdorplaan 15, 2015 CE, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harmen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bijwaard
authors.forename: Doreth
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valk
authors.forename: Ischa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Waard-Schalkx
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000592:standards*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D011874:Radiometry; D012015:Reference Standards; D014965:X-Rays