requesting radiographs Flashcards
what are the official personnel for diagnosis radiography
- employer
- referrer
- practitioner (IRMER)
- operator
- all of these act under the umbrella of the employer
what are the principles of radiation protection
- justification
- optimisation (ALARP)
- dose limitation - for radiation workers, not public
why is there no dose limitation for patients
- because if you can justify getting the exam then net benefit to patient outweighs risk
what does ALARP stand for
- as low as reasonably practicable
what is IRMER
- the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations
what is the ‘referrer’
- a registered health care professional who is entitled in accordance with the employer’s procedures to refer individuals for exposure to a practitioner
- refers to a practitioner
what must the referrer supply the practitioner with
- unique ID of patient
- clinical information to justify exposure
- need to write as much detail as can
what are the considerations for those who are pregnant
- in dentistry the abdominal and pelvic regions are not irradiated by the primary beam
- discuss with patient
- patient may not want it if they are pregnant
- strictly speaking, what we do has no effect on pregnancy
what is the risk status based on
- high, low or moderate
- social history
- medical history
- dietary habits
- use of fluoride
- plaque control
- saliva
- clinical evidence
how often should a high risk patient get a bitewing radiograph
- primary and permanent 6-monthly
how often should a moderate risk patient get a bitewing
- annually unless risk status alters
how often should a low risk patient get a bitewing
- primary dentition 12-18 monthly
- permanent 2-yearly (can be more if completely sound dentition)
how to create a request on TrakCare
- completed by a logged-in clinician
- selects type of radiograph required
- clinical question and answers (type in relevant clinical findings and what you need to find out)
- use FDI notation when referring to teeth - must specify which teeth are to be radiographed
- codes for periapicals are non-specific
use of laminated imaging slip
- complete slip using whiteboard pen with patients name and CHI number
- if they’re returning to you write it on slip
- if patient to go home write it on slip
- leave x-ray box blank
what to tell patients
- go to level 3 reception with laminated slip and hand it in to desk
- there will be a wait till they are seen
- the radiographer will check their images as soon as they are taken
- if you are seeing them again that session patient will be given laminated slip to take back up to level 6
what is the ‘practitioner’
- responsible for justification and authorisation
- authorises the request, confirming justification, in accordance with employer’s written procedures
- variety of permitted people
- ensure does are ALARP
what is the operator
- responsible for each practical aspect which the operator carries out as well as for any authorisation given pursuant to regulation
- taking radiographs
- annotating the images
- sending to PACS
- recording findings (differs operator to one who took images)
who takes the radiographs
- the operator
where are X-ray images found
- on PACS
what is the clinical evaluation report
- legal requirement
- clinical evaluation of the outcome of each exposure is (must be) recorded in accordance with the employer’s procedures
- responsibility normally the referrers
- complete in patient’s notes
- has to be done
what is pericoronitis
- inflammation of tissues around crown of the tooth
what is the best grade of radiograph
- grade 1 is ideal
