Re: Kodak X-ray film lowers radiation dose

[Russ Johnson <rujohnso@nmsu.edu>]

Filmless photography is the rage now, so why not filmless medical radiography? Kodak had better prepare or they will become obsolete. Our local hospital went with digital imaging a couple of years ago. Works fine. Only thing to keep in mind is that digital radiographic images might not be admissible as evidence in a court of law. I don't know if that one has come up yet or not. So, film will likely be around for a while longer, just for things like that. 

-Russ 



"Vernig, Peter G." wrote: 



 Film is passé and will probably soon be all but obsolete in this country.  Digital imaging is here now and we switched over a year ago in radiology.  One of our clinics uses it in their dental clinic we do not as yet, matter of inertia and start up costs.  But besides reducing use of chemicals with toxic silver [that's right silver] and attendant silver recovery it allows us to read studies from two of our clinics here.My guess is Kodak is trying to retain as much business for as long as possible by making whatever improvements it can.I visited an orthopedist because my daughter had a problem [essentially like having osteoporosis [sp?] in one bone in her foot because of poor blood supply.  The doctor was able to zoom, enlarge, rotate, and very visually and explicitly show me the problem, or actually the correction of the problem.It was way cool!  And my daughter's foot is OK too. Any opinions in this e-mail are solely those of the author, and are not represented as those of

 the VA Eastern Colorado HCS, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, or the US Government. 



Peter G. Vernig, Radiation Safety Officer, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, 1055 Clermont St. Denver, CO 80220, peter.vernig@med.va.gov, Phone= 303.399.8020 x2447; Fax = 303.393.5026, alternate fax, 303.393.5248 



"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is found to be excellent or praiseworthy, let your mind dwell on these things." 



Paul of Tarsus 



-----Original Message----- 

From: JGinniver@AOL.COM [mailto:JGinniver@AOL.COM] 

Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 9:33 AM 

To: jim_hoerner@HOTMAIL.COM; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu 

Subject: Re: Kodak X-ray film lowers radiation dose 

 





In a message dated 4/8/04 3:25:34 am, jim_hoerner@HOTMAIL.COM writes: 

  

  



[Makes one wonder if it's more expensive film, and if so, is it worth it? 

LNT in action, folks.



I don't know whether there will be some increase in price for this new film, but I have got the dentist who undertakes work at our site to move from group D to Group E films which reduces the dose by about half.  I did check with his film supplier and the cost was the same.  In addition I checked with Kodak and the  Group E film used the same processing as the Group D and so there was no additional cost for new equipment, writing new procedures, staff training etc. 



A true example of ALARA, where it was entirely reasonable to reduce doses by half. 



Regards, 

     Julian