On March 1st, 2019 at the ECR meeting in Vienna, Austria the ISRRT and Samsung held an Award ceremony at the Samsung exhibit booth for the recipient Sigurd Sundland. Sigurd was awarded the 2018 ISRRT/Samsung Best Practice Award. Sigurd presented a paper and PowerPoint on Dose Reduction using the Samsung GC85a.
The ISRRT and Samsung Electronic developed a joint research competition for X-ray reduction best practise radiology and mobile imaging. Applicants were to submit a paper based on their research or experience demonstrating a successfully plan to reduce radiation dose while at the same time maintaining image Quality. The competition gives professionals the opportunity to demonstrate their efforts and achievements in dose reduction.
As the Winner of this award Sigurd received travel expenses for the ECR 2019 meeting held in Vienna where he is receiving the award and have a chance to present his research and work. Below you will find a summary of his work which Sigurd has provided for our members to read and implement in their daily practice in your country.
The ISRRT is excited to announce the 2019 theme will be,” Best practice in X-ray dose reduction in Pediatric imaging”. Please check the ISRRT website for details about the competition deadlines and details for submission note September 25th, 2019 is the deadline. This year’s winner will have the opportunity to attend the RSNA Congress in Chicago, USA this coming Dec1-5, 2019. The award ceremony will take place here where the recipient will present their work.
Summary of presentation:
Dose Reduction using the Samsung GC85a Summary
My name is Sigurd Sundland, and I sent in a rapport to the ISRRT best practice competition, which was called “Dose Reduction Using the GC85a”. It won the award, and I got to present it at the ECR congress in Vienna 2019.
I work as a radiographer at Vrinnevi Hospital in Norrköping, Sweden. In the rapport, I wrote about our skeletal x-ray section, and what we have done to lower the dose given to our patients. The rapport shows that in just a few years we had lowered our median dose (DAP) down from 0,235 Gycm2 to 0,150Gycm2. These numbers were taken from our non-acute GC85a machine, and the data was gathered between 2015-2019.
We do focus a lot on dose reduction and image quality at our hospital. There is a fine line between lowering the dose and keeping the image quality high. In the rapport I wrote about how we strive to keep lowering the radiation dose to our patients. One of our most valuable technique is having a constant communication loop between our radiologists, physicist and application trained radiographers. We also use newer technology as programable size indicators, stitching, S-Guide (live camera control), simulated grids and compression of the patients. Keeping up to date on new technology is key to getting the best images for the lowest dose.
These are all techniques and technology which all together creates a climate for dose control and dose reduction at our hospital. The take home message of my rapport is that it is not hard to get control of the patient dose, without tarnishing the quality of your images. It is all the small things that make a bigger picture, and it is important to understand this. Small changes can collectively make big waves. Everything you as a radiographer can do for your patient is important, nothing is trivial.
The experience of being at ECR and presenting my paper was one of the most fun and biggest honours of my life to this date. Samsung sponsored my trip to Vienna for which I am forever grateful. Samsung Medical presented me with a trofé and a chance to present this rapport at their booth, and for this I am also most thankful. I also got to attend a lot of lectures and meet a lot of new people, which was all kinds of inspiring.
I would recommend anyone and everyone to send in a paper to the next competition, as I think this is important. I think it is important for radiologic sections to share their methods, experiences and viewpoints. Most hospitals have different ways of doing examinations with different types of equipment and tech, and it is very important to have an open mind and look out to other hospitals for advice and inspiration. There is no truly right or wrong way to do our job, but we can all learn from each other.
Thanks again to the ISRRT and Samsung Medical.