Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2020
Keywords:
Not applicable, Education and training, Radiation safety, CT, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Management, Radiographers
Authors:
C. Burton, M. May, J. Pereira-Ross, J. Talotta, D. Singleton, W. Reiss, A. Yue, G. Langley-Farrell, A. Leung, P. Rogalla
DOI:
10.26044/esi2020/ESI-03842
Conclusion and recommendations
The benefits of creating and sustaining a CT Dose Optimization Committee can be felt across all five hospital settings and most importantly, this journey has galvanized our culture of quality and safety and enabled front-line technologists to have a clear path and an understanding of their role to continuous improvement in the service we provide to our patients.
This process as also built a stronger foundation for the relationship between radiologist and technologists.
Further successes:
- Achieved CT dose consistency and / or dose reduction across 5 hospital sites and multiple radiology divisions (Chest, Abdomen, Neuro, MSK and IR)
- Attained an average of 35% lower CT radiation dose for high volume protocols across abdominal, chest, IR and MSK divisions
- Harmonized protocols across all sites
- Constructed and implemented a consistent naming convention for all CT protocols
- Established a sustainable structure and protocol change management framework
- Increased patient safety by ensuring consistent CT protocol delivery
- Impacted technologist continuing education and cemented “Tip of the month”
Next Steps
- Improve DLP data accuracy for complex scans
- Compare international dose levels and set parameters for each protocol
- Enhance and broaden educational opportunities