ISRRT's Position Statement
Radiographer/Radiological Technologist Role in Optimization of Medical Exposure
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ISRRT's Position Statement of the Radiographer/Radiological Technologist Role in Optimization of Medical Exposure
The ISRRT considers optimization of medical exposures to the patient to be part of the radiographer’s/radiological technologist’s scope of practice, subject to their demonstration of appropriate education and training leading to clinical competence.
The ISRRT policy underpinning this statement was adopted at the Council meeting in October 2016 and is as follows:
The ISRRT expects all qualified radiographers/radiological technologists to be competent in the principles and practice of ionizing radiation dose optimization relevant to their clinical work.
As professionals bearing the responsibility for delivering doses of ionizing radiation to patients and in research applications, radiographers/radiological technologists must have authority to exercise their judgment in accepting a referral for exposure. This must include adjusting technique to minimize the exposure to patients, staff and the public whilst optimizing a diagnostic or therapeutic result.
Background:
According to the Basic Safety Standards (BSS) published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as General Safety Requirements-Part 3, July 2014, once the medical exposure has been authorized and justified the third component is the optimization of the medical exposure for protection and radiation safety of the patient. Action number two of the ‘Bonn Call for Action’ is; ‘enhance the implementation of the principle of optimization of protection and safety’. The ISRRT recognizes that radiographers/radiological technologists bear the responsibility for delivering the exposures of ionizing radiation during procedures for diagnosis and therapy.
The ISRRT supports the scope of practice of the radiographer/radiological technologist and recognizes that it is appropriate and that they possess the authority to optimize the exposure and alter the examination parameters in the patient’s interest subject to their demonstration of appropriate educational preparation leading to clinical competence and where permissible by regulation/national law.
It is the ISRRT Policy to expect all qualified radiographers/radiological technologists to be competent in the principles and practice of ionizing radiation dose optimization relevant to their clinical work. As professionals bearing the responsibility for delivering doses of ionizing radiation to patients and in research applications, radiographers/radiological technologists must have authority to exercise their judgment in accepting a referral for exposure. This must include adjusting technique to minimize the exposure to patients, staff and the public while still optimizing a diagnostic or therapeutic outcome.
References:
www.isrrt.org, ISRRT response to the Bonn Call-for-Action
www.iaea.org, International Basic Safety Standards (BSS), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , General Safety Requirements Part 3, July 2014.