Diagnostic Radiation Physics Services (DRPS) provides board-certified medical physics and radiation safety consulting to healthcare facilities in Des Moines and throughout the Des Moines metropolitan area, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, and Polk County. DRPS supports hospitals, imaging centers, outpatient departments, and specialty practices that need responsive, credentialed physics coverage without the overhead of in-house physics staff.
Medical Physics Services in Des Moines
DRPS delivers a comprehensive suite of medical physics services to Des Moines-area facilities:
- Equipment Performance Evaluations (EPEs): Annual and acceptance testing for radiographic, fluoroscopic, mammography, CT, and other imaging systems, supporting both regulatory compliance and clinical optimization.
- Radiation Shielding Design and Certification: Structural shielding calculations and design documentation for new construction, renovation, or equipment upgrades, prepared for submission to Iowa HHS.
- Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) Services: Consulting RSO support for facilities with radioactive materials programs or complex radiation safety needs, including license maintenance, staff training, and regulatory correspondence.
- Accreditation Support: Preparation and documentation support for ACR, IAC, RadSite, and Joint Commission accreditation, including phantom imaging, image quality review, and physicist report preparation.
- CT Physics Testing and Optimization: CT acceptance and annual testing per ACR and AAPM guidance, including dose assessment, image quality benchmarking, and protocol review.
- PET/CT and Nuclear Medicine Physics: Acceptance testing, performance characterization, and ongoing QA consultation for PET/CT systems and nuclear medicine departments.
- Quality Assurance Programs: Development and implementation of facility-specific QA programs aligned with applicable standards and accreditation requirements.
Iowa Radiation Regulations
Healthcare facilities in Des Moines are subject to oversight by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS), Bureau of Radiological Health. Iowa became an NRC Agreement State on January 1, 1986. The Iowa HHS Bureau of Radiological Health licenses radioactive materials and registers radiation-producing equipment. Diagnostic X-ray rules are in 641 IAC Chapter 40, which requires floor plans to be submitted for review before new installations and sets equipment performance evaluation frequencies — annually by a qualified expert for CT and fluoroscopy.
Federal and accreditation standards apply alongside state rules. Mammography facilities must meet the federal Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA), which requires annual surveys by a qualified medical physicist, and ACR, IAC, Joint Commission, and other accrediting bodies impose their own physics and QA requirements. DRPS tracks current Iowa requirements and these overlapping national standards to keep Des Moines-area clients compliant.
Why Des Moines Facilities Choose DRPS
Board-Certified Expertise. DRPS physicists hold American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification in diagnostic medical physics — the credential that matters for MQSA compliance and ACR accreditation.
Regional Coverage. DRPS serves facilities across the Des Moines metropolitan area, providing consistent coverage for multi-site health systems and imaging networks.
Integrated Compliance and Accreditation Support. Physics surveys, shielding documentation, and accreditation physicist reports are coordinated under a single engagement, reducing administrative burden and eliminating gaps between deliverables.
No In-House Overhead. Facilities gain credentialed physics expertise on a consulting basis, without the cost of a full-time physics hire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Iowa require annual medical physics surveys for diagnostic X-ray equipment? Survey frequency depends on equipment type and the standards that apply to your facility. MQSA mandates annual surveys for mammography; Iowa regulations and accreditation standards govern frequency for other modalities. DRPS can review your equipment inventory and establish a compliant survey schedule.
Who regulates radioactive materials licenses in Des Moines? Iowa is an NRC Agreement State (since January 1, 1986). The Iowa HHS Bureau of Radiological Health issues and oversees radioactive materials licenses; facilities do not apply directly to the NRC. DRPS can assist with license applications, amendments, and ongoing compliance support.
Does DRPS serve facilities outside Des Moines proper? Yes. DRPS provides physics services across the Des Moines metropolitan area, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, and Polk County.
What is required for a new CT scanner installation in Iowa? New CT installations typically require a shielding design before construction, acceptance testing by a qualified medical physicist, state registration, and — for ACR-accredited sites — physicist documentation for the accreditation record. DRPS handles shielding calculations, acceptance testing, and the associated documentation.
Can DRPS serve as our facility's Radiation Safety Officer? Yes. DRPS offers consulting RSO services for facilities that do not need a full-time in-house RSO, including oversight of radioactive materials programs, staff training, audit support, and regulatory correspondence.