RTstudents

Radiation Safety And Quality Assurance Overview

Purpose

Protect Patients Staff And Public | Ensure Diagnostic Image Quality | Maintain Regulatory Compliance

Scope

Diagnostic Radiography CT Fluoroscopy Interventional Nuclear Medicine Mammography And Radiation Therapy Interfaces

Key Principles

ALARA | Time Distance Shielding | Justification And Optimization

Designate An RSO Responsible For Policy Implementation | Maintain Training Records And Incident Reporting | Liaise With Regulatory Agencies

Comply With State Radiation Control Regulations And NRC Or Agreement State Requirements | Prepare For Periodic Inspections And Audits

Maintain Accessible Policies For Dose Limits Incident Response Patient Shielding And Equipment Use | Review And Update Annually

Use Shortest Fluoro Time And Fastest Acquisition Modes That Provide Diagnostic Information | Limit Repeat Exposures

Maximize Distance From Source When Practical | Use Remote Controls And Position Staff Behind Barriers During Fluoro And CT Scans

Use Lead Aprons Thyroid Shields And Lead Glass For Staff | Provide Gonadal Shielding For Patients When It Does Not Compromise Diagnostic Information

Record CTDIvol And DLP For Each CT Exam | Use Reference Levels To Compare And Optimize Protocols | Report Dose To PACS When Available

Monitor Cumulative Air Kerma At Reference Point And Kerma Area Product For Fluoro Procedures | Document For Prolonged Procedures And Skin Dose Tracking

Maintain Dose Logs For High Dose Procedures | Implement Alerts For Exceeding Thresholds And Provide Patient Counseling When Necessary

Perform Daily Warm Up And Detector Checks For Modalities That Require Them | Verify Image Quality And System Readiness

Conduct Monthly Tests Such As Uniformity Linearity And Spatial Resolution | Check Collimator Accuracy And Generator Performance

Annual Tests Include Dose Output Linearity HVL And Comprehensive Image Quality Assessment | Document Results And Corrective Actions

Use Standard Phantoms For Mammography CT And General Radiography To Monitor Contrast Resolution Spatial Resolution And Artifacts

Perform Daily Phantom Tests And Compression Paddle Checks | Follow Accreditation Requirements For Mammography Units

Verify CT Number Accuracy Uniformity Slice Thickness And Spatial Resolution | Check Dose Calibration And AEC Performance

Test Fluoro Image Quality Collimation Accuracy And Dose Display Functionality | Verify Interlocks And Emergency Stop Functions

Perform Daily Uniformity Checks Energy Window Verification And Dose Calibrator Accuracy Tests | Maintain SPECT And PET QC Logs

Stabilize Patient Document Event Notify RSO And Radiologist | Provide Treatment For Radiation Injury Or Contrast Reaction As Indicated

Investigate Equipment Human And Process Factors | Implement Corrective Actions And Update Policies To Prevent Recurrence

Report Incidents That Exceed Regulatory Thresholds To Appropriate Agencies | Maintain Documentation For Inspections And Legal Review

Provide Radiation Safety Orientation Including ALARA Principles Equipment Specific Training And Emergency Procedures

Conduct Annual Competency Assessments And Simulation Drills For High Risk Procedures | Keep Training Records Current

Provide Clear Written And Verbal Information About Radiation Risks Contrast Safety And Post Procedure Instructions | Use Plain Language And Interpreter Services When Needed

ALARA

As Low As Reasonably Achievable | Principle For Minimizing Radiation Exposure

CTDIvol

Computed Tomography Dose Index Volume | Standardized Measure Of CT Output

DLP

Dose Length Product | CTDIvol Multiplied By Scan Length | Used For Dose Estimation

KAP

Kerma Area Product | Measure Of Total Energy Delivered In Fluoroscopy

HVL

Half Value Layer | Measure Of Beam Quality And Filtration