U.S. flag An official website of the United States government
  1. Home
  2. Radiation-Emitting Products
  3. Mammography Quality Standards Act and Program
  4. Consumer Information (MQSA)
  5. MQSA: Other Resources
  1. Consumer Information (MQSA)

MQSA: Other Resources

  • The National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced the results of the DMIST (Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial). Women with dense breasts, women younger than 50, and pre and perimenopausal women may benefit from digital mammograms.
  • The creation of the Office of Women's Health (OWH) in 1994 by the Food and Drug Administration established a new chapter in the agency's commitment to women's health issues. The FDA has jurisdiction over the drugs, medical devices, vaccines, blood and tissue products, foods and cosmetics on which every American woman and her family depend--about 20% of every consumer dollar. Thus, OWH has an almost unlimited number of women's health issues in which to engage. Since its creation, OWH has established itself as an effective voice for women's health concerns
  • To receive a personalized response to your specific questions about cancer, we encourage U.S. residents to call the Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to speak with a Cancer Information Specialist. The CIS responds to calls in English and Spanish. Deaf and hard of hearing callers with TTY equipment may call 1-800-332-8615.
  • The Cancer Information Service (CIS), a national information and education network, is a free public service of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Nation's primary agency for cancer research. The CIS is your source for the latest, most accurate cancer information for patients, their families, the general public, and health professionals. The CIS is a confidential program - it will not obtain personal information about you unless you provide such information to us.
  • "Testing for Breast Cancer" on the Breast Cancer page of NCI's Cancer Net has information about screening mammograms as well as extensive information about breast cancer.
  • The Mammography MedlinePlus at NIH is a directory of mammography resources.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly the Health Care Financing Administration) publishes a bimonthly newsletter about their Medicare Mammography Campaign.
  • The National Women's Health Information Center contains many resources. Of particular interest is its Breast Cancer page.
  • The National Health Information Center (NHIC) is a health information referral service. NHIC puts health professionals and consumers with health questions in touch with organizations best able to provide answers. NHIC was established in 1979 by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP).
  • The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was established in 1989 as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Reauthorizing legislation passed in November 1999 established AHRQ as the lead Federal agency on quality research. AHRQ is charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost, and broaden access to essential services. AHRQ's broad research programs bring practical, science-based information to medical practitioners and to consumers and other health care purchasers.
  • The American College of Radiology is the principal organization of radiologists, radiation oncologists, and clinical medical physicists in the United States.
  • The Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) was founded in 1985 to: 1) improve and disseminate knowledge in the field of breast imaging; 2) improve the quality of medical education in the field of breast imaging; 3) foster research in all aspects of breast imaging; 4) provide a medium for the exchange of ideas among professionals involved with breast imaging; 5) provide meetings for presentation and discussion of papers and the dissemination of knowledge in the area of breast imaging, and 6) establish a channel for publication of scientific reports in the field of breast imaging.
  • Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities are exempt from MQSA. However, the VHA has initiated its own quality mammography program with standards as strict as those required by MQSA. All VHA facilities are required to be accredited by the American College of Radiology and are inspected by FDA-trained MQSA inspectors. For information about VHA facilities, call Womens Health at 1.855.VA.WOMEN (1-855-829-6626)​​.
  •  A .ZIP (compressed) file containing a listing of all currently FDA-certified mammography facilities is available on our "Search for a Certified Facility" page. The file is updated weekly.
  • On October 31, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a public health notification, "Avoiding Hazards with Using Cleaners and Disinfectants on Electronic Medical Equipment." The notification describes the hazards of using excess cleaning and disinfecting liquids on certain electronic medical equipment and recommends ways to avoid these hazards.

 

 
Back to Top