Level of Awareness and Implementation of Radiation Protection
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study Protecting the patient from unnecessary radiation exposure include not only the Cardinal Principles of radiation protection, but also the behaviors of imaging personnel towards each patient. It is often asked, "Why do we need to discuss patient protection when it is the patient who is being imaged and therefore being exposed to radiation?" "And is not all radiation exposure made within safe limits so that patient protection is not really possible?" The answer centers on the concept of ALARA, which is the basic principle of radiation protection. Again, the operator of any medical imaging radiographic equipment is mandated to use as low as is reasonably achievable radiation dose to provide the highest quality radiographic image. Any unsafe exposure beyond the ALARA principle is considered unnecessary excess exposure. Not just anyone can be a satisfactory substitute to advocate patient radiation protection through equipment operation in the place of an educated imaging professional. Though radiographers are not the exclusive gatekeepers to thousands of rads of radiation dosed upon a trusting public annually, they are the educated professionals who practice daily safe exposure principles. Practicing ALARA as a form of patient radiation safety while providing diagnostic information for radiological interpretation is the focus of this issue. We will look at how radiographers make the most of the Cardinal rules of time, distance, and shielding as part of the ALARA mandate to protect patients from unnecessary radiation exposure. These principles are part of the continuum of competent imaging and positioning skills to bring about radiation safety for patients and personnel. This research paper discusses what measures are employed to assure ALARA while providing diagnostic images for radiological interpretation, and discusses how the radiographer controls various aspects of technique selection to augment the ALARA
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study Protecting the patient from unnecessary radiation exposure include not only the Cardinal Principles of radiation protection, but also the behaviors of imaging personnel towards each patient. It is often asked, "Why do we need to discuss patient protection when it is the patient who is being imaged and therefore being exposed to radiation?" "And is not all radiation exposure made within safe limits so that patient protection is not really possible?" The answer centers on the concept of ALARA, which is the basic principle of radiation protection. Again, the operator of any medical imaging radiographic equipment is mandated to use as low as is reasonably achievable radiation dose to provide the highest quality radiographic image. Any unsafe exposure beyond the ALARA principle is considered unnecessary excess exposure. Not just anyone can be a satisfactory substitute to advocate patient radiation protection through equipment operation in the place of an educated imaging professional. Though radiographers are not the exclusive gatekeepers to thousands of rads of radiation dosed upon a trusting public annually, they are the educated professionals who practice daily safe exposure principles. Practicing ALARA as a form of patient radiation safety while providing diagnostic information for radiological interpretation is the focus of this issue. We will look at how radiographers make the most of the Cardinal rules of time, distance, and shielding as part of the ALARA mandate to protect patients from unnecessary radiation exposure. These principles are part of the continuum of competent imaging and positioning skills to bring about radiation safety for patients and personnel. This research paper discusses what measures are employed to assure ALARA while providing diagnostic images for radiological interpretation, and discusses how the radiographer controls various aspects of technique selection to augment the ALARA
Bibliography: Bushong, Stewart C. Radiologic Science for Technologist: Physics, Biology and Protection. 8th Ed, St. Louis : Mosby, 2004 Journals: