We take radiation safety and patient radiation exposure seriously. Many patients have questions about radiation risks from imaging exams, particularly CT and PET/CT exams. When indicated, the benefits of any medical imaging exam outweigh its associated risks. Measures to reduce risk and ensure patient safety have always been in place at Suburban Imaging.
Radiation Exposure We are exposed to small amounts of radiation every day from natural sources, including soil, rocks, air, water and the atmosphere. This is called background radiation.
Other common sources of radiation exposure include cross-country airplane flights, radon gas found in homes and medical imaging exams that use x-rays, including:
Radiation in Medical Imaging The use of medical imaging has revolutionized the field of medicine and has significantly advanced the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care people receive, improving health outcomes. Imaging equipment has become more widely available and the number of imaging exams performed each year has also increased. Attention to radiation exposure from medical imaging exams has also grown. There is some concern that radiation from medical x-rays could minimally increase your risk of developing cancer later in life. This potential risk decreases with age, so attention to radiation exposure is most important for children and young adults.
However, there is no definitive scientific evidence that radiation from medical imaging exams causes cancer. To be safe, the medical community advocates taking reasonable precautions to limit the radiation exposure from medical imaging, including:
- image only when there is a clear reason
use the least amount of radiation needed for a quality diagnostic exam image only the indicated area limit multiple scans suggest alternative imaging exams that do not use radiation, such as MRI or ultrasound, when appropriate
Radiation Safety Measures at Suburban Imaging
We have procedures in place to ensure that each exam is appropriate by following the American College of Radiology’s Appropriateness Criteria®. To ensure that we use the lowest radiation dose necessary to obtain good quality images, we continually evaluate our processes and exam protocols. Nationally Accredited Outpatient Centers All Suburban Imaging outpatient centers are accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This accreditation certifies that:
our radiologists have met strictly-regulated education and training standards our technologists are certified and credentialed by their respective national boards our imaging equipment is routinely inspected by a third-party medical physicist to ensure it is operating correctly and producing optimal images
Radiation Safety Program
We maintain a radiation safety program to ensure compliance with federal and state radiation safety standards. The program monitors imaging departments that: use radiation to obtain images (CT, PET/CT, x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography) use radioactive materials for medical purposes (nuclear medicine, PET/CT)
Our program is directed by one of our radiologists and a radiation physicist. Each is specially trained to understand the process, effects and medical use of radiation on the human body.
State-of-the-Art Equipment
Our advanced CT scanners adjust the amount of radiation needed to obtain quality images based on a patient’s body mass. For example, a 5’1” tall, 120 pound female patient would receive less radiation than a 6’2” tall, 360 pound male patient.
Image Gently
Suburban Imaging is a member of the international Image Gently campaign. An initiative of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging, Image Gently educates medical professionals and parents about steps to lower the radiation dose in the imaging of children. As part of this campaign, the physicist with whom we work has reviewed our CT protocols and has determined that they fall well within the recommended Image Gently guidelines.
Image Wisely
Suburban Imaging is a member of the international Image Wisely campaign. Image Wisely is an awareness program of the American College of Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Image Wisely's objective is to encourage practitioners to avoid unnecessary ionizing radiation scans and to use the lowest optimal radiation dose for necessary studies.
Medication and Imaging Record Card
We recommend that all patients keep track of their medications, medical allergies/reactions and imaging exams. Ask one of our receptionists for a personal wallet card so you can record this information. What You Should Know If you have questions about your imaging exam, ask one of our technologists. Important questions to ask about your imaging facility include: |
