The Nassau County Department of Health wishes to assure residents that all hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices and other installations which offer mammography X-rays are inspected each year by a U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) certified inspector from the Nassau County Department of Health. The inspector insures that these facilities meet quality standards for personnel, equipment, as low as reasonably achievable radiation doses, and other areas as specified in the Federal Mammography Quality Standards Act.

Each facility offering mammographies in Nassau County must be accredited by the American College of Radiology and have an up-to-date certificate from the Food and Drug Administration. The certificate should be prominently displayed for public view.

All other medical X-rays may only be taken by doctors, chiropractors and licensed radiologic technologists. The X-ray technologist's current N.Y.S. Registration should be prominently displayed.

Physician assistants, nurses, medical technicians, aides, laboratory personnel or secretaries should not be measuring or positioning patients, adjusting X-ray equipment, setting factors on the equipment or actually making the exposure.

The majority of practitioners operating radiological services do observe the law. However, if you know or suspect that an unlicensed person or facility may be performing X-ray procedures, contact the Nassau County Department of Health.

For more information, call the Nassau County Department of Health weekdays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. at 571-3313.