Radiology department is a
place in a hospital where following services are carried out
- Diagnostic imaging
- Radiological interventions
Diagnostic Imaging consists of the following
- Plain radiography
- Ultra sound scanning
- Contrast studies without fluoroscopy
- Fluoroscopy studies with contrast
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- Nuclear imaging
- Image guided biopsies
- Aspiration of abnormal body fluid collections
- Drainage of abnormal body fluid collections
- Nephrostomy, gastrostomy
- Hepatobilliary interventions
- Vascular interventions to prevent haemorrhages
- Vascular interventions to establish patency of vessels
Layout
of a Radiology Department is as follows
Reception
Examination
booking room
Plain
radiography ( x – ray ) rooms
X
ray processing room
X
– ray items storage room
Fluoroscopy
room / s
Ultra
sound scan rooms
Patient
waiting area
Nurses
station and examination preparation room
CT
/ MRI rooms
Wash
rooms for patients, staff
Patient
reception
- Patient comes with a x ray / examination request form signed by a specialist of a ward / clinic
- Patient’s name, age, sex , BHT / clinic number are entered in a book / computer
- Patient is given a examination number
- Patient is explained of what is to be done and sent to the relevant room for examinations
- Take precautions to minimize dose of radiation to the patient, patient is inquired about previous examinations, possibility of being pregnant
Plain
radiography
- X – ray images are taken according to the clinical problem, area of body or system involved
- Take all precautions to minimize radiation by avoiding repetitions
- Children and ill patients are given priority
- X –ray request forms are scrutinized and pictures are checked for quality by the radiographers as well as by a medical officer who is present physically in the x – ray room
- X- ray images are given a report instantly unless there is a problem to be sorted out by a specialist
Contrast
studies / special examinations
- Examinations are done by a prior appointment
- Patients are explained the procedures and written consent is obtained
- Allergies are excluded or necessary precautions are taken as contrast medium may give rise to unwanted reactions
- Examinations are performed by the radiography technologists with the help of a nursing officer under the supervision of a medical officer
- Report is released after the expert opinion is obtained and records are maintained
Special
examinations & Radiological
interventions
- Done on a request made by a specialist who is primarily responsible for the patient
- Examinations are carried out after obtaining informed written consent of the patient
- Examination suite is equivalent to a surgical theatre and strict asepsis is maintained
X
– ray processing room
- Situated in the middle of department for easy access
- Strict light proofing is maintained
- Trained worker is handling the process to avoid artefacts on x – rays mimicking disease and warranting repetitions
-
A
radiography technologist supervises the process to assure the quality
Radiation Protection
The
radiation protection is of three fold. That is protection of patients, genral
public and radiation workers. This is achieved by taking following measures
- All the walls of the x – ray rooms are 9 “ brick
- Doors are lead lined
- Protective gears are worn by the workers who are at a risk of exposing to scatter radiation
- Unnecessary repetition of x – rays avoided
- Pregnant mothers are not exposed to x –ray examinations as much as possible, an alternative method such as US / MRI is used
- Children are selectively examined by x – ray examinations such as plain radiography, contrast studies & CT
Summary
- Department of radiology is designed to help the needy patients
- Precautions are taken to protect patient , the workers as well as public from radiation
- Strict asepsis is maintained wherever it is applicable
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