Hospital staff may rely on room shielding instead of lead aprons

Hospitals must require a real-time dosimeter for each health professional who chooses not to wear a lead apron. This applies during hospital cardiac catheterization procedures that use real-time X-ray imaging. The health professional must choose not to wear the apron because the procedure room has a radiation protection system. The device must monitor exposure during the procedure.

Hospitals may not require lead aprons when the specified room shielding is in use. This applies to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and other health professionals during hospital cardiac catheterization procedures using real-time X-ray imaging. The system must be used according to its maker's instructions. A hospital radiation safety officer or designee may require lead aprons, neck shields, or other protective gear if exposure may approach occupational dose thresholds or be elevated under the as-low-as-reasonably-achievable standard. Health professionals may still choose to wear lead aprons. This applies during the procedures.

The law defines which shielding systems qualify for these rules. The definition applies to radiation protection systems in hospital procedure rooms under these rules. The system must shield against scattered or direct ionizing radiation and provide protection equal to or greater than a 0.25 millimeter lead-equivalent apron.