ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - With more than 3 billion diagnostic imaging procedures performed worldwide each year, medical radiation is the most significant man-made source of radiation exposure. That makes it a top safety priority for the International Atomic Energy Agency, attendees learned at the 14th Annual Health Care Industry Advisory Council Summit. Medical imaging equipment manufacturers, international radiologic science organizations and representatives from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists met May 1-3 in St. Pete Beach, Fla., to discuss radiation safety issues and other topics.

Sponsored by the ASRT Education and Research Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the annual summit provides equipment manufacturers an opportunity to meet in a noncompetitive environment and develop solutions that will benefit the entire radiologic science community.

Debbie Bray Gilley, radiation therapy specialist for the IAEA, provided a global perspective on worldwide radiation safety efforts for medical imaging and radiation therapy. As the number of diagnostic imaging procedures rise, organizations must work together to develop a focused approach to protect patients, said Gilley.
"Everybody realizes that we need to focus on patient safety, but I think we're still using a shotgun approach," said Gilley. "Any time organizations can collaborate to improve the awareness of patient safety, we're moving in the right direction."

Attendees also discussed the results of a new radiation therapy white paper developed by a subcommittee of the council and published earlier this year. The paper provides best practices and recommendations in the radiation therapy environment. Attendees offered suggestions on how to use the paper as a training tool. One manufacturer agreed to include the white paper as part of its standard training materials for all new radiation therapy equipment installations, and others expressed interest as well.

"When we send customers our training strategy after they receive their equipment, we'll include the white paper so radiation therapy departments can learn about best practices for the workplace," said Sue Merritt, senior manager, clinical delivery for the Americas, Varian Medical Systems. "The paper includes easy-to-understand steps to improve safety, so it's a great source of information."

The group also agreed to form another subcommittee that will develop best practices and recommendations for medical imaging equipment safety. A white paper outlining best practices is a proposed project for the council in 2013.

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