From the November 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
ASRT
Jean I. Widger Distinguished Author Award
The award honors the best peer-reviewed articles published in ASRT’s scientific journals. The award is named after longtime Radiologic Technology editor Jean I. Widger.
Quentin T. Moore, M.P.H., R.T.(R)(T)(QM), earned the Widger award for his article “An Interdisciplinary Approach to Improving Radiation Protection in Digital Radiography.”
Moore is director of the Bachelor of Science in medical imaging and associate of science in radiologic technology programs for Mercy College of Ohio in Toledo.
His study aimed to determine which improvement approaches can be incorporated in digital radiography to ensure radiation protection practices are based on current equipment capabilities. He performed a literature review to understand how radiation protection, quality improvement, evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary approaches come into play with digital radiography. He found that the transition from film-screen to digital radiography has resulted in confusion in applying appropriate techniques and abiding by the as low as reasonably achievable concept. Thus, Moore recommended radiologic technologists and others working in medical imaging continually review and incorporate clinically effective research into practice. He argues that increasing interdisciplinary quality and implementing practice improvement projects will help facilities achieve radiation-based benchmarks to improve imaging practices.
Harold Silverman Distinguished Author Award
The award is named in honor of radiation therapist Harold Silverman, an advocate for accreditation of radiation therapy educational programs. This award also honors the best peer-reviewed articles published in ASRT’s Radiation Therapist.
Linda Schinman, M.B.A., R.T.(T)(CMD) and
Megan Trad, Ph.D., M.S.R.S., R.T.(T), earned the Silverman Award for their article, “Incorporating VERT Technology Into the Radiation Therapy Classroom: A Case Study.”
Schinman is associate professor for the radiation therapy program, as well as the program chair of radiation therapy and medical dosimetry, for Bellevue College in Bellevue, Wash. Trad is associate professor for the radiation therapy program at Texas State University, San Marcos Texas.
They pursued this study after noticing a disconnect between classroom and clinic regarding complex treatment procedures. The divide often exists because it is difficult to teach complicated procedures in a lecture or classroom format, and each clinic has different expectations of students. To help address the issue, the authors designed a case study to assess student learning with Virtual Environment Radiation Therapy technology in a radiation therapy course. According to their research, students found the practice of determining setup errors and making the corrections was most helpful in developing and improving their skills. This research also demonstrated improved technical communications and competence after using VERT technology, consequently improving safety and quality in the radiation workplace. Although the authors know simulated practice cannot replace working with real patients, 3-D VERT technology can help bridge the gap between the classroom and the clinic.
