Revision History
Facilities with mobile units must call the ACR for specific instructions on accreditation. Because mobile practice settings vary significantly, the FDA has approved the ACR to provide some flexibility in accrediting mobile units. In general, mobile units may apply for accreditation as follows:
Scenario I
A mobile unit operating under a fixed, accredited, and certified facility (utilizing the same personnel) may either:
Accredit as an additional unit under the facility’s MQSA certification, or
Accredit and certify as an entirely separate facility
If the fixed facility chooses to accredit the mobile unit under its existing MQSA certificate, the mobile unit must be present at the fixed site during MQSA inspections.
Scenario II
A mobile unit owned and operated by a single entity must designate a single lead interpreting physician in order to accredit and certify as a single facility.
Scenario III
A mobile unit owned by a single entity servicing multiple sites with different lead interpreting physicians must accredit and certify as separate facilities.
These scenarios are outlined in the table below:
Mobile Scenario Examples | Mobile Unit Owner | MOBILE SERVICE SITE | Accreditation/Certification | ||
Location | Mammo Service Provider/Owner | Lead MD | |||
I. Mobile unit owned and operated by a single, fixed accredited and certified facility; services 3 sites | A.Hospital | 1. B Hospital | A Hospital | Dr. Q | Option 1: Accredit the mobile unit under the fixed facility’s (A Hospital) MQSA certificationOption 2: Accredit and certify the mobile unit as a separate facility |
2. C Nursing Home | A Hospital | Dr. Q | |||
3. D Health Center | A Hospital | Dr. Q | |||
II. Independent mobile service owned and operated by a single entity; services 3 sites | E.Mobile Co. | 1. F Hospital | E Mobile Co. | Dr. S | Option 1: Accredit and certify the mobile unit as 1 facility (E Mobile Co.)Option 2: Accredit and certify the mobile unit as 3 separate facilities |
2. G Hospital | E Mobile Co. | Dr. S | |||
3. H Hospital | E Mobile Co. | Dr. S | |||
III. Independent mobile service owned by a single entity; services 5 sites, with 3 different lead interpreting physicians | I.Mobile Co. | 1. J Hospital | J Hospital | Dr. U | Accredit and certify as 1 facility (either I Mobile Co. or J Hospital) |
2. K Hospital | K Hospital | Dr. V | Option 1: Accredit and certify as 1 facility; only 1 owner may be designated (either I Mobile Co., K Hospital or L Hospital)Option 2: Accredit and certify the mobile unit as 2 separate facilities (K Hospital and L Hospital) | ||
3. L Hospital | L Hospital | Dr. V | |||
4. M Hospital | M Hospital | Dr. W | Accredit and certify as 1 facility; only 1 owner may be designated (either I Mobile Co. or M Hospital) | ||
5. N Nursing Home | M Hospital | Dr. W | |||
Revision History for this Article | ||
Date | Section | Description of Revision(s) |
12-12-19 | All | Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes |
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