What Can I do as a Technologist?

"Child-size” the radiation delivered to your pediatric patients!

Here are five simple steps to improve patient care in your everyday practice:

As the front line in the imaging process, the technologist plays a key role on the imaging team. CT scanning is critical in diagnosing illness in children and ultimately improving patient outcomes. By logging onto this Web site, you already have shown your commitment to improve radiation protection for children. It is the responsibility of technologists as well as other members of the healthcare team to ensure that every imaging study in pediatric patients is thoughtful, appropriate and indicated for each and every child.  As a technologist in a busy department with a varied work load, it is sometimes hard to ensure that your action plans are adjusted to use “child-size” protocols. This Web site provides simple educational resources to inform radiology practices what can be done now to improve radiation use in children.

Medical imaging, with CT scans as the largest contributor, will approaches background radiation as the single largest source of radiation for humans (NCRP Report 160, April 2007). Research is clear… children are more vulnerable to radiation. In addition, have a lifetime to manifest those changes. 

1. Increase awareness for the need to adjust (often decrease) radiation dose to children during CT scanning. Encourage your fellow professionals to get involved in the effort.
2. Be committed to make a change in your daily practice by working as a team with your radiologist, physicist, referring doctors and parents to use the appropriate  radiation dose. Sign the pledge! Click on the link on the home page to join the image gently™ campaign today.
3. Know your practice standards. Standards 1 and 2 on assessment and analysis are your guide to ensuring an appropriate action plan is established for completing a CT exam.
4. Work with your physicist, radiologist and department manager to review your adult CT protocols; then use the simple CT protocols on this Web site to “down-size” the protocols for kids. More is not better; adult-size KV and mAs are not always necessary for small bodies.
5. Be involved with your patients. Be the patient’s advocate. Be prepared to answer the questions parents and caregivers may have to reassure them that you “child-size” the scan and only scan the area required to obtain the necessary information.

Your patients and their families will thank you!

Greg Morrison, CAE, MA, RT(R), CNMT 
Chief Knowledge Officer 
American Society of Radiologic Technologists