Due to recently enacted Georgia legislation and effective July 1, 2008, the Health Care Section of the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) will no longer be performing routine periodic surveys of x-ray machines. 
 
ORS will continue to perform initial state registration surveys and shielding design reviews, as well as complaint investigations which allege that an x-ray machine is not being used safely.   However, please be aware that due to the volume of requests received and the availability of staffing resources, there may be a delay in scheduling these survey activities.  Surveys will be completed in the order the registration applications are received. 
 
ORS recommends that you forward your completed registration application well in advance of your intended operational date to facilitate scheduling of the initial survey. However, please be aware that the x-ray rules do authorize an alternative to a review and survey performed by ORS.  Facilities may directly contract with a qualified physicist to complete the shielding design review and initial on-site survey. Once these reports are completed and submitted to ORS they will be received and reviewed in support of your application.
 
Regardless of whether you choose ORS or a qualified physicist or to perform your initial state registration survey and shielding design review, please be advised that you cannot operate your x-ray machines until the initial inspection is successful and you receive a state of Georgia certificate of registration.

Please also be aware that if your insurer or other interested parties require that your X-ray machines have routine periodic inspections, you must arrange for those privately with a qualified physicist. Reports of any routine inspections should be kept on file in your office but will not be required to be submitted to ORS.