Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DEPARTMENT OF RADIODIAGNOSIS
SCOPE:
To establish set of written guidelines for the effective management of patient coming to the
department of Radio-diagnosis in an ethical and professional manner
PURPOSE:
To guide staff members regarding protocols and policies to be adhered to ensure prompt
and error free management of outpatients, inpatients as well as Emergency patients at
department of Radio-diagnosis.
To guide staff members to adhere to hospital policies to comply the national and hospital
safety policies to ensure zero errors as well as to abate any sort of safety risk and
emergencies
To guide staff members to follow policies and protocols to monitor, manage and handle
all equipments in a safe and effective manner.
All Radiology services are functioning 24 hours a day. Scope of services of the department
includes:
MANAGING DIRECTOR
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR
RADIOLOGIST
SECTION INCHARGE
Sr. RADIOGRAPHERS
Jr. RADIOGRAPHERS
As per AERB guidelines only people with recognized qualification are recruited and
posted for imaging assignments.
Round the clock service is ensured and staffs are deployed as per the patient flow
and departmental requirements.
Annual Man power planning is done to ensure adequate mix of Radiologist, Senior
and Junior Radiographers and other technicians.
Responsibilities of Radiologist
Obtain patient's' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or
by communicating with referring clinicians.
Gather medical information from patient histories.
Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical
professionals.
Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET),
nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications
systems
Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians,
patients, or families.
Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.
Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
NIMS LOGO
Provides radiology services by directing and coordinating the services of radiology and
diagnostic imaging procedures; overseeing staff in operation of imaging equipment, such,
as X-Ray machines, Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners, or Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) equipment.
Accomplishes radiology human resource objectives by selecting, orienting, training,
assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; communicating
job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job contributions; recommending
compensation actions; adhering to policies and procedures.
Conduct periodic departmental training for existing staff and orientation training for new
staff members.
Improves quality results by evaluating accuracy and quality of images; providing technical
assistance; implementing new techniques, equipment and procedures.
Provides statistical reports by controlling the collection of treatment and clinical data.
NIMS LOGO
Provides a safe environment by monitoring radioactive exposure of staff and patients; keeping
staff and patient’s safe, maintaining records.
Serves and protects the hospital community by ensuring adherence to professional standards,
hospital policies and procedures, statutory, legal and AERB requirements and National
Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare organizations (NABH) standards.
Quarterly review of occupational exposures. The RSO will review at least quarterly
external radiation exposures of authorized users and workers to determine that their
exposures are ALARA.
Quarterly review of records of radiation level surveys. The RSO will review radiation
levels in unrestricted and restricted areas to determine that they were at ALARA levels
during the previous quarter
NIMS LOGO
The RSO will schedule briefings and educational sessions to inform workers of ALARA
programs.
The RSO will ensure that authorized users, workers, and ancillary personnel who may be
exposed to radiation will be instructed in the ALARA philosophy and informed that the
management, the Radiation Safety Committee, and the RSO are committed to
implementing the ALARA concept.
Carry out routine measurements and analysis of radiation levels in the controlled area,
supervised area of the radiation facility and maintain records of the results thereof.
Investigate any situation that could lead to potential exposures.
Advise management on
o The necessary measures aimed at ensuring that the regulatory constraints and the terms and
conditions of the licence are adhered to.
o The safe storage and movement of radioactive material within the radiation facility.
o Initiation of suitable remedial measures in respect of any situation that could lead to
potential exposures.
o Ensure that test and maintenance schedules for safety related components and systems are
carried out in accordance with the schedule
o Report on all hazardous situations along with details of any immediate remedial actions
taken are made available to the employer and licensee for submitting to the Competent
Authority.
o Ensure that personnel monitoring devices are provided to workers in the facility, used as
required and securely stored in a radiation-free zone.
NIMS LOGO
o Supervise during maintenance and test procedures on systems and components or in areas
where radiation safety may be affected or where service/maintenance personnel may need
to be given special protection.
o Instruct the technicians and staff members on hazards of radiation and on suitable safety
measures and work practices aimed at ensuring that exposure to radiation is kept as low as
reasonably achievable.
o Developing suitable emergency response plans to deal with accidents and maintaining
emergency preparedness.
o Furnish to the licensee and the Competent Authority periodic reports on the safety status of
the radiation installation.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF RADIOGRAPHER
Maintain registers.
Documentation
In case of any untoward incident in the department, initiate an incident report timely.
Adhere to NABH standards, Quality and Infection control practices and take part in
Quality improvement activities.
REQUESTING OF INVESTIGATIONS
All requests for Radiology investigations are sent to the department in a standardized
requisition format for each investigation as X-ray, Ultrasound, CT etc.
The referring doctor enters the patient details in the requisition form along with
provisional diagnosis. The details required include:
o Patient Name
o MRD Number
o Age/ sex
o Date and time of reporting
o Name and signature of requesting doctor with seal
o Investigation to be performed with specifications on view of the image
o Part to be investigated with side / views, directional specifications etc.
In case of Outpatients and patients from emergency department, the request form is sent
to concerned department via patient / bystander / hospital patient relations staff /
secretaries of OPD.
In case of inpatients, the request is done in patient medical records as well as in
requisition form which will be sent to radiology department through nursing aid.
Inpatients will be called for investigation once request form is received at radiology or
approximate time of reporting is informed to the concerned nursing station where the
patient is admitted.
NIMS LOGO
Inpatients are brought for scanning after prior appointment from the concerned
ward / nursing station based on the priority notice of the treating / requesting
doctor.
ii. CT Scan; Brain – film within 30 minutes and report within 2 hrs
Results are communicated over phone to the doctor concerned or his team or if doctor is
not reachable it is informed to nurse in charge for further processing within one hour of
the report or at the earliest possible time.
of person receiving the communication, date and time of communication and readback
done to confirm the critical value / report communicated.
List of possible critical cases is kept with the imaging division for reference.
REPORTING OF RESULTS
Images for X-Ray and scan are made available to individual doctors through Picture
Archiving and Communication System (PACS) in the designated MRD number slot.
For X-ray normally film is issued to the patients/ doctors concerned at request.
Where report from radiologist is desired like insurance cases etc., it is issued by
radiologists in a standard format.
All reports from out sourced are issued in the standardized format of the outsourcing
agency. They are not modified in any aspect by the hospital authorities.
RECALLING OF REPORTS
In case of Reporting Error; wrong reports issued from the department will be recalled
Reporting error is first informed to the treating physician directly.
Nursing station will be intimated next and report issued will be recalled.
Corrected report will be issued later on
Reporting Errors happen at Radiology department due to the following reasons:
NIMS LOGO
NIMS Medicity complies with all legal requirements for the setting up and functioning of the
Department of Radiodiagnosis.
Organization has appointed RSO for the purpose of radiation safety monitoring and
controlling.
Radiation Safety Officer is Mr. Dipu full name
i. RSO ensures the implementation as per following documents/ practices;
a) AERB safety code no. AERB/sc/med-2 (rev. 1)
b) Radiation safety in health care guidelines
c) Gazette publication on radiation installation rules.
d) Radiological safety in health care : guidelines, Practice and outcome
NIMS LOGO
Radiation warning sign for pregnant ladies to keep away from radiation zone.
Radiation Hazard symbol.
Sex Determination prohibition board (PNDT Act.)
OUTSOURCED SERVICES
The outsourced services are:
o Mammogram
o Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD)
MOU is established with an outsourcing agency after evaluation of the agency by a
competent person from Hospital.
This MOU ensures the following aspects;
Identifying a Focal person for day to day dealings from out sourcing agency
The format for referring for tests with patient identification
Quality Assurance Programme for outsourced services
TAT of outsourced investigations (shall be received within 24hrs).
Quality Assurance of outsourced centres shall be verified once in a year.
o Adherence to AERB guidelines
o Verification of Certifications and Accreditations
This MOU is reviewed once in a year or when revision from either party takes place.
NIMS LOGO
vi. Instrument setting and parameter setting is complied with established shooting table
in X-ray shots.
vii. Film processing and bath control is complied to standard process parameters
NIMS LOGO
viii. In case of CT scan/Ultra sound machine manufactures quality control norms are
followed.
ix. Radiation leakage test of premises and equipments shall be done minimum once in a
year by competent/ BARC approved agency.
x. CT scan equipment/X-Ray & Ultra sound equipments are calibrated for quality
parameters defined by the equipment supplier and as per corresponding standards
through annual contracts to equipment suppliers and records are maintained by Bio
Medical department.
Peer Review :
Every month department conducts a peer review of the reports and document them for
further Quality improvement of the department.
HOD of the department is responsible for the conduction of peer review.
Sample size is taken on the basis of the following:
10% of the total radiology investigations in each department
Every 10th report of the most frequent diagnosis.
Very rare diagnosis
1% of clinically non-correlated diagnosis; if numbers of clinically non-correlated
findings exceeds 10% of total studies.
Random sample of clinically non-correlated cases in case of the total non-
correlated cases is within 10% of total studies.
Special procedures / unusual procedures done in the month
Deviations are documented and corrective preventive actions are implemented based on
the analysis.
Surveillance
NIMS LOGO
Definition; The continuous scrutiny of factors that determines the occurrence and
distributions of diseases and other conditions of ill health. It implies watching over with great
attention, authority and often with suspicion. It requires professional analysis and
sophisticated interpretation of data leading to recommendations for control activities.
Surveillance activity;
1. Senior radiographers scrutinize the 10 % of films daily for positional error,
definition, contrast and also patient condition related errors.
Note; Monthly surveillance report is prepared and submitted to Quality System Management
based on the logbook records. Quality assurance does analysis for system effectiveness.
Radiologist in charge shall go through the diagnosis and the test requested to perform, in
case of any inappropriateness noticed for requested test, radiologist shall directly
communicate with the consultant for clarification and collaborative recommendation
shall consider for procedure.
Annual calibration and maintenance is done through outsourcing services by Bio Medical
department and records are maintained
Based on surveillance report where desired CA/PA are being implemented
Equipment when do not meet the accuracy levels CA/PA are being implemented.
Radiation warning sign for pregnant ladies to keep away from radiation zone.
Radiation Hazard symbol.
Sex Determination prohibition board (PNDT Act.)
Caution Board warning for MRI patients and bystanders
Red light indication in Xray and CT for intimating others that procedure is in
process.
Restricted entry sign boards to high risk areas.
Display on how to use TLD badges.
xi. Radiation leakage test of premises and equipments shall be done minimum once in a
year by competent/ BARC approved agency.
xii. In-house Leakage testing of Lead aprons shall be done once in a year
xiii. To ensure a thorough inspection of the lead apron, the following types of inspections
are recommended:
Visual - lay the apron out on a clean, flat surface and visually inspect for any tears, perforations
or imperfections (such as bumps) that may warrant further inspection. Take note of the apron
closures (velcro, buckles, etc.) to ensure that they are in proper working order.
Tactile - run your hands over the entire surface of the apron to find any thinning of the lead or
creases. Some people prefer to lay the apron down to perform the inspection. Another method is
to hang the apron on an apron rack and place one hand on the front and one hand directly on the
back of the apron. Keeping your hands directly parallel to each other, slowly run both hands up
and down the surface area of the apron, noting anywhere there is a thinning or creasing of the
material.
X-ray - x-ray method is a suitable alternative for fluoroscopic technique
Closely inspect each item for kinks and irregularities.
Take a radiograph of suspect areas.
Process the image and look for breaks in the lead lining, typically appearing as
dark slashes.
NIMS LOGO
Examine the entire item using the fluoroscope’s manual settings and low
technique factors (e.g. 80 kvp).
Shielded areas will appear dark and defects, seams, and stitching will appear
light.
Safety check list for radiation protection are followed, in case of MRI standard check list
used to eliminate errors.
For paediatric procedures, parents also allowed to accompany with safety precautions.
Informed consent is collected for all contrast procedures, moderate or deep sedation
procedures.
Radioactive material is not in the scope of the present scope of functions of the hospital.
Hazardous materials handling disposal are dealt in chapter FMS 8
Protective Barrier
The protective barrier (Three folding lead sheet) between operator/control panel and X-Ray machine
is provided complying with safety standard. (AERB radiation safety code)
Protective aprons are provided as per standard. (AERB radiation safety code)
their size/design shall ensure adequate protection to the torso and gonads of the radiologist
against scattered radiation.
Protective Goggles
Thyroid shield
All radiographers and persons involving in the jobs connected with radiation hazard
including doctors are provided with radiation dosage monitoring badges;
Area surrounding imaging lab is tested for radiation leakage by out sourced authorized
agency
Aprons/ Thyroid shields are radiographed internally to assess cracks if any which can cause
radiation leakage and records are identified.
Equipments are tested for radiation output every year through AMC by the supplier liaised
by Biomedical division.
Warning red light is provided outside the X-ray room and glows when X-ray process is on.
In all radiation facilities Radiation sticker is affixed.
Warning boards like caution for pregnancy ladies are affixed in all radiation zones as per
regulatory requirements.
DOSE LIMITS (Reproduction from standard for guidance; Always refer standard for
application)
Workers
The cumulative effective dose over a block of five years shall not exceed 100 mSv.
The effective dose in any calendar year during a five-year block shall not exceed 30 mSv.
The equivalent dose in any calendar year to the lens of the eye shall not exceed 150 mSv;
The equivalent dose in any calendar year to the skin, the hands and feet shall not exceed 500 mSv.
In case of a woman worker of reproductive age, once pregnancy has been established, the
conceptus shall be protected by applying a supplementary equivalent dose limit to the surface
of the woman's abdomen (lower trunk) of 2 mSv for the remainder of the pregnancy.
Internal exposures shall be controlled by limiting intakes of radionuclides to about 1/20 of
ALI. The employment shall be of such type that it does not carry a probability of high
accidental doses and intakes.
If expose level of radiation exceeds the limit as per above standard compulsory leave is given
to staff.
Trainees
NIMS LOGO
The effective dose in any calendar year shall not exceed 6 mSv.
Public
The effective dose in any calendar year shall not exceed 1 mSv.
In special circumstances, a higher value of effective dose is allowed in a single year,
provided that the effective dose averaged over a five year period does not exceed 1 mSv.
TRAINING OF RADIOGRAPHERS
Training of all staff members is conducted based on the HR Training calendar
Imaging personnel are periodically trained by HOD, Radiation Safety Officer and
Incharge of Radiology department in coordination by HRM.
Orientation training is given by department incharge from time to time.
Training of the following topics are conducted to ensure quality of services.
o Department scope of services
o Management of patients (receiving, identifying)
o Documentation standards
o Positioning of patients
o Error management
o Quality assurance
o Critical alert reporting and documentation
o Surveillance and review
o Soft skill development
Radiation safety training for imaging personnel;
As induction training for radiation workers this training is covered.
Every year, training is repeated for all radiation workers to get refreshed.
Training can be given by senior radiographer or Radiologist/ Radiation safety
officer.
NIMS LOGO
-End of document-