Not every interruption means something is broken. These 10 operator-level checks may help you resolve a routine workflow issue—or explain the problem more clearly when you call.
For trained equipment operators in medical and veterinary facilities. Use your exact model’s operator manual and your facility’s procedures first. These are starting points, not a ranked list of failures or a promise that a repair isn’t needed.
Smoke, burning smells, liquid intrusion, damaged cables, unexpected motion, radiation warnings, failed interlocks or failed quality checks: stop using the equipment and follow your facility’s safety and escalation procedures. Contact qualified service; use your emergency response process for immediate danger.
Linear accelerators: this checklist is not a treatment-system troubleshooting guide. Route treatment, dose, imaging or interlock faults to your radiation oncology team, medical physicist and manufacturer/service provider. Do not reset faults or resume treatment using this page.
01
WORKSTATION
A blank screen may just be asleep
Use the normal keyboard or mouse to wake the display. Check the monitor’s power light and operator-accessible power button. If your facility permits it, confirm the monitor’s usual input is selected.
Know when to stop: Do not open covers, touch damaged wiring or change diagnostic display calibration. If the equipment is unexpectedly unpowered, call your facility’s support team.
02
ALL SYSTEMS
Check the message before clearing it
Read the full message and look it up in your model’s operator manual. Record the exact code, when it appeared and what the system was doing. A routine workflow prompt may explain the next operator step.
Know when to stop: Do not dismiss radiation, motion, safety-interlock or recurring fault messages to continue an exam. Keep patient information out of notes sent outside your approved systems.
03
WORKSTATION / APPROVED SYSTEM PROCEDURE
Try a restart—only when the manual says to
A normal software restart can sometimes resolve an unresponsive application. First record the error. Only restart when your operator manual and facility policy allow it, no patient exam or treatment is active, and image processing, saving and transfers are complete. Use the documented shutdown and startup sequence.
Know when to stop: There is no universal “unplug it for 30 seconds” rule for imaging equipment. Do not pull power, reset breakers or repeatedly reboot. This is not a CT or linear-accelerator fault-reset procedure.
04
WIRELESS X-RAY DETECTORS
Check the detector battery indicator
If your detector uses an operator-removable battery, check its charge indicator. Follow that detector’s manual to charge it or fit an approved charged spare. Confirm the detector returns to its normal ready state.
Know when to stop: Do not use a damaged, swollen, leaking or unusually hot battery. Use only the specified battery and charger; leave internal batteries and repairs to qualified support.
05
DIGITAL X-RAY
Make sure the intended detector is selected
Check the acquisition screen to confirm that the intended detector is selected and shows its normal connected or ready status. Follow the ordinary operator selection process in the manual.
Know when to stop: Do not factory-reset, re-pair or change detector network settings unless authorized for your model. Do not make patient exposures just to test the connection.
06
X-RAY / CT WORKSTATIONS
See whether it is a wider network outage
Check the normal connection indicator and ask whether other approved workstations are also having trouble. A wider outage is useful information for your facility’s IT team.
Know when to stop: Do not change IP addresses, disable security software, restart network equipment or connect a personal hotspot. Working internet access does not prove the imaging network is working.
07
WORKLIST / SCHEDULING
Check worklist filters before re-entering an exam
If an expected exam is missing, check the date range, modality and location filters in the normal worklist view. Use the approved refresh function. Ask scheduling or IT to verify the order if it still does not appear.
Know when to stop: Confirm patient identity and the correct order through your facility’s workflow. Do not create duplicate orders or edit identifiers as a workaround.
08
PACS / IMAGE TRANSFER
Check the transfer queue for a missing image
If an image is present locally but missing from the image archive (PACS), check the normal send-status screen for pending or failed transfers. Give the status and time to your PACS or IT team.
Know when to stop: Do not delete local images, empty storage, change destinations or repeat an exposure because a transfer failed. Use only approved retry procedures and verify receipt.
09
REPORT / FILM OUTPUT
Check the printer’s normal status
For an output problem, check whether the printer is online and whether its display requests paper or the correct media. Use only the supplies and operator-loading steps specified for that printer.
Know when to stop: Do not open service panels or use the wrong film/media. Image quality or diagnostic hardcopy concerns need your facility’s quality-control process.
10
X-RAY / CT READINESS
Check whether normal startup is still in progress
Read the system status: an approved startup, warm-up or daily quality-control step may still be in progress. Follow the model-specific operator workflow and confirm all required checks pass before clinical use.
Know when to stop: Do not bypass warm-up, calibration or failed quality checks. Do not run extra exposures or change dose settings to investigate. If readiness does not return normally, stop and contact support.
Lenz X-Ray supports X-ray and CT equipment repair in Oklahoma City and the surrounding metro, with travel by arrangement. You don’t need to finish every check before calling.
Share patient information only through your facility’s approved support process.
Before returning to use: follow the manufacturer’s required startup and your facility’s quality checks. A cleared message alone does not establish that equipment is safe.
Use the instructions for your equipment
This general guide does not replace model-specific instructions. Battery handling, restart sequences and readiness checks vary by system.