The new Image Gently™ campaign “Back to Basics” initiative has developed online teaching materials, checklists and practice quality improvement projects to help providers strengthen radiation protection when performing X-ray examinations on children — particularly as technology shifts from standard screen-film X-ray to digital X-ray imaging.
The campaign emphasizes the need for a standardized approach by measuring patient body size and developing technique charts. This is particularly important as radiologic technologists use the different technologies in computed and direct radiography (X-rays). All physicians, medical physicists and radiologic technologists are urged to visit imagegently.org to review these important materials and factor the information into their clinical decision making.
“Digital radiology has brought many improvements to imaging. However, some of the technical factors and processes used for digital imaging differ from those used in screen-film radiology. If not accounted for, these differences could result in patients receiving a higher radiation dose than otherwise necessary. This initiative seeks to make radiology medical professionals aware of the differences and how to account for them. Modern radiation reduction techniques include a return to simple techniques, such as collimation, that allow children to consistently get low-dose exams,” Susan D. John, MD, FACR, co-chair of the Back to Basics campaign committee.
“Children are more likely to receive X-rays than any other type of imaging exam. With the large number of manufacturers of digital radiography equipment, it is critical that radiologists, radiologic technologists and medical physicists understand how the exposure indices can help in quality assurance within their department. This can help ensure that we get the best possible images to help children while using a low dose,” Steven Don, MD, co-chair of the Back to Basics campaign committee.
At least 10 million X-rays were performed on children in 2010. There is no doubt that standard X-Ray exams improve and save lives every day. However, children are more sensitive to radiation received from imaging scans than adults, and cumulative radiation exposure to their smaller, developing bodies could, over time, have adverse effects.
When X- Ray is the right thing to do, imaging providers are urged to:1. Measure patient thickness for “child-size” technique2. Avoid using grids for body parts less than 10-12 cm thick3. X-ray only the indicated area with proper collimation and shielding4. Check exposure indicators and image quality
“Physicians, medical physicists and radiologic technologists have to work together to ensure quality imaging and that each patient receives a reasonably low dose while getting the study needed. The technologist often has the final opportunity to ensure that appropriate steps are taken before an image is acquired. We urge technologists to work with the other team members and to take advantage of the materials provided in the Back to Basics initiative,” said Greg Morrison, MA, RT (R), CNMT, CAE, chief operating officer of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
The Image Gently campaign is conducted by the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging, founded by the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR), the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), and now encompasses 71 medical organizations serving more than 500,000 health care providers world-wide.
“You’re going to get the best result if you have a technologist, a radiologist and a medical physicist all working cooperatively together to create the best protocol. The technologist has the expertise of working with pediatric patients on a day-to-day basis, the radiologist has the medical expertise and the medical physicist has the technical expertise. All of these professionals need to work together to reduce dose and ensure quality patient care,” Keith J. Strauss, MSc, FAAPM, FACR, medical physicist and Back to Basics campaign committee member.
For more information, visit www.imagegently.org. To speak with a representative from the Back to Basics campaign, please contact ACR Director of Public Affairs, Shawn Farley at 703-648-8936 or [email protected].
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