The Need Continues: Diagnostic imaging accounts for a relatively large percentage of the average total annual exposure per capita in the United States (US) to ionizing radiation [1]. There are justifiable concerns over appropriate use as well as potentially excessive exposure, especially in children. There also continues to be both misinformation as well as unbalanced portrayal of the facts about cancer risk from ionizing radiation from diagnostic imaging in both adults and children [2,3], especially considering trends over the past 2-3 decades for unparalleled improved...

Action3: Implement measures to maintain radiation doses within diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) The currency of the Image Gently Alliance is information and knowledge and developing methods for disseminating this information. The Alliance does not have a vested regulatory authority, is not predominately research-based, does not have industry oversight, and has no accreditation responsibilities. However, the Alliance has grown to be an acknowledged influence on and respected collaborator for those US organizations with these responsibilities. Over the years, these organizations have included: - The Joint Commission...

1. Action Item 3: “…measures to maintain radiation doses within diagnostic reference levels…” include actions embraced by the Image Gently Alliance, such as committee leadership, document review, advising for those organizations with authority (e.g., regulatory) for DRLs. 2. Organizations for patient radiation protection/awareness information and communication share missions and should interface to optimize use of resources. 3. Registries are useful in establishing DRLs: “In order to generate national DRLs for the US, institutions where these procedures are performed should submit radiation dose metrics to a...

Authors: Personal/Organisational Information 1.Donald P. Frush, MD FACR FAAP Chair Image Gently Alliance; Duke Medical Center, NC USA 2. Keith J. Strauss, MSc FACR FAAPM Vice Chair, Image Gently Alliance;Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, OH USA 3.Sarah Cater, MD Duke Medical Center, NC USA 4.Priscilla Butler, MS FACR FAAPM Steering Committee, Image Gently Alliance and American College of Radiology, VA USA

1. Kase KR, Strom DJ, Birchall A, et.al., NCRP Report No. 160: “Ionizing radiation exposure of the population of the united states.” (2009) NCRP, Bethesda, 202 pp. http://www.ncrppublications.org/Reports/160 2. Strauss KJ, Frush DP, Goske MJ. Image Gently Campaign: Making a world of difference. Med Phys International 2015; 3:94-108 3. Frush D, Goske MJ. Image Gently: Toward optimizing the practice of pediatric CT through resources and dialogue. Pediatr Radiol 2015; 45:471-5 4. Goske MJ, Applegate KE, Frush DP, et al. Image Gently: A national education and...