Ch 1 Book

ALARA

An acronym for as low as reasonably achievable.

The degree to which the diagnostic study accurately reveals the presence or absence of disease in the patient defines which of the following terms?

D. Diagnostic efficacy.

Optimization for radiation protection (ORP)

Synonymous with the term ALARA.

What are the consequences of ionization in the human cell?

- Creation of *unstable atoms*. - Production of *free electrons*. - Production of *low-energy x-ray photons*. - Creation of reactive *free radicals* capable of producing substances poisonous to the cell. - Creation of *new biologic molecules* detrimental to the living cell. - *Injury to the cell* that may manifest itself as abnormal function or loss of function.

Tools for Radiation Awareness and Community Education (TRACE Program)

A program that includes: technologic enhancements such as embedded software capable of recording and reporting dose, timely notification of the patient and the referring physician when the radiaiton dose is greater than 3 Gy, and substantial lowering of computed tomography (CT) doses through improved technology and alterations to existing protocols.

Entrance skin exposure (ESE)

A representation of the radiation exposure and consequent dose that is given to a patient for a specific imaging procedure.

Millisievert (mSv)

A subunit of the sievert (Sv), which is equal to 1/1000 of a sievert.

Standardized dose reporting

A tool that is a part of the TRACE program that can lead to a reduction in radiation dose for patients.

An effective radiation safety program requires a firm commitment to radiation safety by: 1. Facilities providing imaging services. 2. Radiation workers. 3. Patients.

A. 1 and 2 only.

The term optimization for radiation protection (ORP) is synonymous with the term:

A. As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).

When is medical radiation exposure considered unnecessary?

Any radiation exposure that does not benefit a person in terms of diagnostic information obtained for the clinical management of medical needs or any radiation exposure that does not enhance the quality of the study.

Ionizing radiation

Any radiation that causes a neutral atom to gain or lose an electron, thus acquiring a net charge.

Which of the following is a method that can be used to answer patients' questions about the amount of radiation received from a radiographic procedure?

B. BERT.

If patients in facilities in the same location are receiving on average approximately the same entrance skin exposure (ESE) in every health care facility for a specific imaging procedure with the exception of one facility, in which higher-radiation ESEs and subsequent doses are being receive for the same procedure, that institution would:

B. No longer be in compliance with ALARA standards and would have to take the necessary action to bring the ESE values and subsequent doses back to a level that would comply with regulatory standards.

BERT

Background equivalent radiation time.

Why should the ALARA philosophy be established and maintain as a main part of every health care facility's radiation safety program?

Because the ALARA philosophy is rooted in the radiation protection guidelines. ALARA philosophy should be established and maintained and must show that we have considered reasonable actions that will reduce doses to patients and personnel below required limits.

The millisievert (mSv) is equal to:

C. 1/1000 of a sievert.

Standardized dose reporting for radiologic procedures can lead to:

C. A reduction in patient radiation dose.

Effective measures employed by radiation workers to safeguard patients, personnel, and the general public from unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation define: A. Diagnostic efficacy. B. Optimization. C. Radiation protection. D. The concept of equivalent dose (EqD).

C. Radiation protection.

A patient may elect to assume the relatively small risk of exposure to ionizing radiation to obtain essential diagnostic medical information when: 1. Illness occurs. 2. Injury occurs. 3. A specific imagining procedure for health screening purposes is prudent.

D. 1, 2, and 3.

Which of the following is a two-phase program to create radiation awareness and community education?

D. TRACE.

Biologic effects

Damage to living tissue of animals and humans exposed to radiation.

In the medical industry with reference to the radiation sciences, how is risk defined?

In the medical industry with reference to the radiation sciences, risk is the possibility of inducing radiogenic cancer or a genetic defect after irradiation.

On what premise is BERT based?

It is based on an annual U.S. population exposure of approximately 3 millisieverts per year. BERT does not imply radiation risk; it is simply a means for comparison. It emphasizes that radiation is an innate part of our environment and provides an answer that is easy for the patient to comprehend.

How will a patient benefit from standardized radiation dose reporting?

Patients become empowered and benefit through their inclusion in decisions concerning their own radiologic care. It leads to a reduction in radiation dose for patients.

Describe how radiographers can use the ALARA concept in the performance of their daily responsibilities.

Radiographers can use the ALARA concept by considering time, distance, shielding, or any reasonable actions that will reduce doses to patients and personnel below required limits.

How can the background equivalent radiation time (BERT) method be used to eliminate a patient's fears about medical radiation exposure?

The BERT method gives the patient an understandable and reasonable correct answer by comparing the amount of radiation received to something like the patient's natural background radiation received over a unit of time, such as days, weeks, months, or years.

How does implementation of the TRACE Program improve patient safety?

The TRACE Program improves patient safety by: 1. Formulating new policies and procedures to promote radiation safety and the implementation of patient and community education (Ex. Alteration of existing CT protocols; informational advertisement; E-mails highlighting the most important topics covered in a staff in-service program to imaging staff members to help reinforce and retain vital information; establishing goals for lowering radiation dose). 2. Technologic enhancements, such as embedding software capable of recording and reporting dose, timely notification of the patient and the referring physician when radiation dose is greater than 3 Gy.

Occupational and nonoccupational doses

The amount of radiation that patient (nonocupational dose) and the radiation worker (occupational dose) receives.

Diagnostic efficacy

The degree to which the diagnostic study accurately reveals the presence or absence of disease in the patient.

Radiation protection

The effective measures employed by radiation workers to safeguard patients, personnel, and the general public from unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation.

Risk

The probability of injury, ailment, or death resulting from an activity. In the medical industry with reference to the radiation sciences, risk is the possibility of inducing radiogenic cancer or a genetic defect after irradiation.

Sievert (Sv)

The sievert (Sv) is the International System of Units (SI) unit of measure for the radiation quantity "equivalent dose."

Define the terms sievert (Sv) and millisievert (mSv).

The sievert (Sv) is the International System of Units (SI) unit of measure for the radiation quantity "equivalent dose." The millisievert (mSv) is a subunit of the sievert (Sv), which is equal to 1/1000 of a sievert.

When are patients more likely to overcome any radiation phobia and be willing to assume a small risk of possible biologic damage?

When they've received factual information about the study before the examination. They are more likely to overcome fear and be willing to assume the small risk of possible biologic damage.