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    Radiation Safety

     

    About CT and Medical Radiation Safety

    With its ability to create precise, accurate images of areas deep inside organs and tissues, CT is a powerful diagnostic tool. In some situations, only CT can provide the information physicians need to diagnose and determine the most effective treatment option. But part of the power of CT comes from using more radiation. In an effort to be as responsible as possible, RMI participates in two medical-radiation safety programs: Image Wisely, for adult patients, and Image Gently for pediatric patients.

     

    RMI Pledges to “Image Gently” with Children

    If you’re the parent or physician of a child who needs an imaging procedure, perhaps you’re concerned about radiation. We are too! Rest assured that RMI takes special care with pediatric patients.

    At RMI, we believe that even an inconclusively proven, slightly increased risk should be taken seriously. That’s why we follow the “Image Gently” approach.

    Image Gently is an initiative of an organization, made up of radiologists, pediatricians, family practitioners, and other medical professionals, called the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging. Its purpose is to increase awareness that medical radiation doses can be lowered. Image Gently participants agree to:

    • Image only when there is a clear medical benefit
    • Use the lowest adequate amount of radiation, based on the size of the child
    • Image only the specific area of the body that needs to be studied
    • Avoid multiple scans
    • When possible, use types of imaging studies that do not use radiation, such as ultrasound or MRI

    When you bring your child to RMI for imaging, be assured that we’re looking out for their best interest.

     

    Image Wisely

    Image Wisely is a set of medical radiation safety principles formulated by the Joint Task Force on Adult Radiation Protection, which was formed by the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Imaging facilities that participate in the Image Wisely program have committed to following safety standards that were developed in collaboration with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

     

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