by
John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | September 23, 2019
From the September 2019 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
The ACR’s CT Accreditation program not only raises awareness about dose protocols, but ensures that sites implement them for lower and appropriate dose levels. Using the knowledge they gain from these programs, facilities are examining and adjusting their imaging protocols to meet industry standards, which has led to a downward trend in radiation dose. Also helping are campaigns such as Image Wisely and Image Gently, which provide information about dose and certification.
“A lot of participants take an Image Wisely pledge,” said Dr. Durairaj. “The participants display pledge certificates in the imaging department so when patients walk in, they feel welcomed and say, ‘Okay, the imaging professionals that are scanning me today are conscious in dose reduction strategies and dedicated to following patient safety initiatives.’”
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Administering CT dose responsibly is a team effort that requires different stakeholders within the imaging process to have a voice. According to Gregg Daversa, vice president of business development for West Physics, one of the keys to establishing a culture of dose optimization is formalizing an official dose committee that meets on a regular basis.
“An ideal CT dose committee would involve a radiologist, a medical physicist, a lead CT technologist, and a business administrator,” he said. “When you get these four stakeholders at the table is when the core team comes together to take the data they’ve been working with and implement changes to optimize dose and image quality.”
New challenges and new hopes
Patients are becoming increasingly aware of the risks involved in radiation exposure, and misinformation is a fact of life for many people researching imaging exams online. This creates a unique challenge for providers, who are tasked with articulating relative pros and cons, as well as sharing facility details concerning accredited and quality control programs.
“At the radiation dose levels used for routine medical imaging such as CT, there is no good evidence to demonstrate adverse effects,” said Mahesh. “However, there is confusion about this and depending on who spins the story, people are often really concerned even with routine medical imaging.”
