Purpose
To ensure the safety of medical personnel and patients during various radiologic procedures. To meet the objectives of Healthy People 2020, C1-C11, C-20, GH-3, GH-4, and GH-5.
The goals of those objectives concern global health and the rates of cancer among the population, including the influence of irradiation on the individuals (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2020). The frequency of radiologic procedures might be unnecessarily high, which can lead to an increase in radiation-related cancer among patients (Bodenheimer & Grumbach, 2012).
The excessive frequency of computed tomographic (CT) scans can lead to a higher exposure of the patients by radiation, which can cause adverse consequences. The statistics show that the number of magnetic resonance imaging has significantly grown from 2000 to 2005, increasing by 94%, and the number of CT scans is rising by 10% annually (Bodenheimer & Grumbach, 2012). Consequently, there is a need to implement control among radiology departments to reduce the potential harm for the patients and professionals by restricting the number of related activities and performing only medically necessary ones.
Policy
This is the policy of the ABC Hospital’s radiology department to provide safe conditions for the patients and personnel connected to radiological procedures within the facility. Healthy People 2020 objectives contain the sections of global health and cancer, and the ABC Hospital aims to contribute to the improvement of the situation.
The ABC Hospital aims to implement additional requirements to comply with the regulations and minimize the adverse influence of radiation through this policy. The hospital is responsible for applying necessary measures for the operations of the radiology department, which will work towards reducing the amount of risk related to radiation among all the parties involved. The exposure to radiation among personnel and patients will be minimized to the medically necessary extent.
Audience
All ABC Hospital’s radiology and oncology department employees, including the leadership management of the facility, and assisting and registering personnel. The heads of radiology and oncology departments, as well as radiation safety officer, are the figures responsible for the policy’s enforcement.
Procedure
The radiology and oncology departments are obligated to integrate information technology tools to keep the automated track of radiation-related procedures for the patients. Besides, the heads of the radiology and oncology department, and chief radiation oncology nurse, should provide the necessary education and training for their subordinates connected to the new policy. During the registration process, the patients should receive a manual with required precaution measures to go through radiation-related procedures. The personnel of the radiology department, radiation therapist, and radiation oncology nurses are responsible for describing the processes in detail for the patients and going through all safety requirements.
Definitions
- Medically necessary procedures are radiation services required to diagnose, prevent, or treat conditions, diseases, or illnesses.
- Radiation oncology nurses are registered nursing professionals who collaborate with radiology department personnel during cancer treatment process.
- Radiation-related aspects are diseases, illnesses, adverse consequences, caused by the procedures involving radiation influence on the patients, such as CT and MRI.
- Radiation safety officer is a professional licensed by the American Board of Radiology, contracted by the ABC Hospital.
- Radiation therapist: the administrators of daily treatment collaborating with oncology doctors, keeping records, and supervising procedures.
Signature Lines
- Head of the radiology department
- Head of the oncology department
- ABC Hospital’s board of directors’ member
- Radiation safety officer
- American Board of Radiology representative
- Chief radiation oncology nurse
References
Bodenheimer, T., & Grumbach, K. (2012). Understanding health policy: A clinical approach (6th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2020). Healthy People 2020 topics & objectives. HealthyPeople. Web.