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Fwd: Radiation Safety question
>From: Tim Kensora <tkensora@MEMORIALSB.ORG>
>
>At our last radiation safety committee meeting, a X-ray technologist was
>invited to discuss a problem she and apparently some of the other
>technologists have been having. It seems that occasionally when called to
>do a portable x-ray, she is given considerable grief from either employees
>or other patients. I'm sure you can all think of an example when people
>are unable to leave a room, due to one on one patient care for critically
>ill patients, or overcrowding in the Emergency Department where patients
>are really only separated by curtains, etc. The technologists know to
>instruct people to move as far away as possible, but apparently that is
>not alleviating fears of being irradiated. I just previewed a radiation
>safety video that discussed this very same issue. It said that the
>technologist should instruct people to move at least 8 feet away and/or
>have additional lead aprons on hand. Is this a NCRP guideline or just
>good common sense?
>I'm sure I will hear from someone that further "training" needs to be done
>on my part to educate people and thus reduce their fears. I don't think
>that is the answer because I cannot in good conscience say that there is
>no risk involved. What about the patient/employee that may be pregnant
>but thought she was ok/safe to be working her shift in the ER or ICU?
>If you really want to get into the messy workings of today's hospital
>environment, think about how many portables are being done for reasons
>other than the patient is not ambulatory, short-staffing, convenience, etc.
>Since it is these departments that are requesting the portable x-rays, is
>it fair to insist that the x-ray tech lug up an additional 4 aprons for
>everyone nearby?
>Your comments would be appreciated,
>Tim Kensora, M.S., RSO
>tkensora@memorialsb.org
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