Background/introduction
Computed tomography (CT)has been used in medicine since 1970s and is now firmly established as an essential tool for medical diagnosis and therapy.
On that context,
there has been a marked and steady increase in numbers and the use of CT in the past two decade (1),
and it,
now,
accounts for more than half of the medical radiation exposure of the European population in 2007-2010 (2).
Increased collective dose levels that are mainly due to CT examinations are known to increase the incidence of...
Description of activity and work performed
Institution
As the largest provider of health services in Turkey,
the Ministry of Health is segmented into multiple hospital associations including the 2ndHealthcare Region of Istanbul Province (a.k.a.Anatolia North,which consists of 13 hospitals and 6 dental hospitals/centers.
In Anatolia North 3 million residents are being served; 11.1 millions outpatient admissions and 250 thousands surgical operations are being performed annually.
The annual number of radiologic procedures in Anatolia North are more than 4 milion and roughly represents 1/1.000th of world radiological services.
Sancaktepeis a mid-size (400...
Conclusion and recommendations
Results shown in Sancaktepe are quite promising regarding patient safety and population health.Legacy of a Anatolia North’s successful dose optimization project has enabled this hospital to beat DRL targets,
although it has no recent experience in imaging as an institution ( Fig. 7 ).
Key success factors in Sancaktepe dose management project were standardization of protocols,
strict adherence to and uniformity of scanning technique powered by intensive trainingcourses and regular dose meetings,engagement at every level and awareness through data and leadership.
Similar methodology is being...
Personal/organisational information
About the primary author:Prof.
Hakki Muammer Karakas,
MD.,
is the Chief Officer and Chairman of Istanbul Provincial Public Imaging Services where 1/200hof world’s radiological services are conducted.He is also the Chairman of Radiology at FSM Research and Training Hospital,
Istanbul,
and professor of radiology at Health Sciences University of Turkey.
About the institutions:The presentation includes two public hospitals of2ndHealthcare Region of Istanbul Province (a.k.a.Anatolia North).
Radiology clinics of these hospitals are currentlyfunctioning as units of greaterAnatolia North Radiology (ANR).The annual number of radiologic procedures in...
References
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Goldberg-Stein S,
Liu B,
Hahn PF,
et al.
Body CT during pregnancy: utilization trends,
examination Indications,
and fetal radiation doses.
AJR American Journal of Roentgenology,
2011;196:146-151.
2.
European Comission.
Radiation protection N° 180.
Diagnostic reference levels in thirty-six European countries.Directorate-General for Energy Directorate D — Nuclear Safety & Fuel Cycle Unit D3 - Radiation Protection,
2014.
3.
National Research Council.Health risks from exposure tolow levels of ionizing radiation: BEIR VII phase 2.
Washington,
DC: The National Academies Press,
2006.
4.
European Commission,
Food And...