Medical imaging may soon become the single largest source of radiation exposure to the general public, and though no one will deny its benefits for the detection and management of many diseases and life threatening conditions, the over utilization and inappropriate use of some types of imaging is of growing concern for patients and health care professionals. While the risks of potential harm from low doses of radiation such as those associated with medical imaging are controversial, it makes good sense to perform any study with the lowest dose necessary to obtain a diagnostic exam, and to only do such studies when the value of the exam, both economically and to the patient, outweigh any detriment.

At St. Luke’s Hospital, your study will be performed by a licensed, professional imaging specialist using state of the art equipment. Efforts already in place to ensure that all imaging procedures are done in the safest way possible include:

  • Daily review of the CT schedules by a radiologist to assess the appropriateness of the study, and to determine if any alternative method of imaging that does not use ionizing radiation (such as ultrasound or MRI) may be substituted.
  • Utilization of dose reduction software on all hospital CT scanners that calculate and deliver a radiation dose tailored for your body type and the area being imaged.
  • Periodic quality assurance review by a medical physicist and radiologist to assure radiation exposure is within guidelines for safe practice in departments where individuals have the potential to receive higher doses of radiation, such as the cardiac cath lab and interventional radiology suite.
  • All CT scanners at St. Luke’s are accredited by the American College of Radiology to assure quality exams and safe radiation exposure limits.
  • CT Technologists at St. Luke’s have passed Advanced Level Certification Board testing in CT to provide our patients with the highest quality exam.

The delivery of safe, necessary imaging by the most appropriate means is a shared goal of your health care provider and the imaging professionals at St. Luke’s Hospital To obtain a better understanding of the risks and benefits of imaging studies using ionizing radiation, and to see how much radiation you might receive from common x-ray studies and CT scans, follow the links below:

For a general overview about x-rays and radiation risk, go to:

www.RadiologyInfo.org

To learn more about radiation exposure from specific exams, and online tools that calculate risks, go to:

www.X-rayRisk.com

www.AmericanImaging.net/safety/PatientExposureTool.html

Risks and studies

For a general overview about x-rays and radiation risk, go to: RadiologyInfo.org

To learn more about radiation exposure from specific exams, and online tools that calculate risks, go to: X-rayRisk.com
AmericanImaging.net/safety/
PatientExposureTool.html