Giving Your Patients Peace Of Mind, And Educating Them On The (Lack Of) Radiology Risks!

If you work in a medical practice, one thing you may have recognized recently is that there has been an upswing in concern regarding the medical issues that can result from exposure to radiation - particularly in regards to the radiation exposure children are subjected to through ionizing radiation. Of course, this form of radiation (which is used in CT scans and X-rays) stays in the body for life, so it is quite natural for parents to feel a level of concern. And as a result of this concern, you may also have found that a handful of parents have started asking if you are ACR accredited.

In case you have failed to take a look at ACR accreditation yourself, here is a brief look at exactly what it means: ACR is an abbreviation for the American College of Radiology, and accreditation conveys that the radiation emitted by the machines in one's facility matches exactly the dosage settings on the equipment.

Of course, while ACR accreditation is voluntary, it is certainly worth pursuing, as more and more people are beginning to become aware of this "promotor of peace of mind," and the peace of mind of your patients should be of the utmost importance to you.

Another way in which you can also make sure you are giving peace of mind to your patients is by helping them to understand the difference between repeated exposure to radiation and sparse, intermittent exposure to radiation; in fact, exposure to radiation a single time - even if the radiation in question is ionizing radiation - will have no discernible effect on a person's body (including children), as it is more the cumulative effect of repeated exposure that can put a person at increased risk later in life for cancer and other physical ailments. In spite of the fact that this simple bit of knowledge could put a lot of minds at ease, most doctors have never taken the time to explain this to their patients!

And finally, realize that it is okay when parents, as well as other patients, ask questions about your radiation equipment, and about the precautions you take, as it is quite natural for them to be concerned. Rather than making them feel as though they are stepping out of line by asking such questions, take this opportunity to educate them on the nuances of radiation, and on the precautions you take in order to ensure their wellbeing, in both the short term and the long term.

The best doctors are the ones who keep the peace of mind of their patients intact, and who keep their patients well-informed, and when you keep these thoughts in mind, you will be able to accomplish both of those goals!

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American Board of Radiology Foundation Convening For National Summit

If you are a doctor, a couple things you are surely aware of are A) the huge benefits of radiology in helping you accomplish all you need to accomplish as a medical professional, and B) the small risks that come along with using radiology in order to diagnose problems in a patient's body; ever since the recent, highly-publicized study showing the potential risks of brain cancer and leukemia in children who have undergone CT scans, however, many parents - and in fact, many patients in general - have come to be aware of the risks involved as well, and have generally failed to understand the positives that balance these risks.

The truth of the matter, when it comes to radiology, is that the probability of a child developing leukemia later in life as a result of an earlier CT scan were less than one-one hundredth of one percent - and this was before dose reduction techniques started becoming more widespread, especially in CT scans administered to children, and now that the doses administered to children are much lower, the risk posed is lower than ever before.

Of course (and rightfully so), there are many parents who would contend that a chance of one in one hundred thousand - as slim as it is - is still not a risk they want to subject their children to; while it is quite natural for a parent to feel this way about the safety of their child, there are still enormous benefits that come as a result of using CT scans with only a minimal amount of risk - and what's more, in certain situations (for instance, in a car wreck wherein a patient has a high likelihood of having injured their organs), a CT scan is necessary in order to properly diagnose and care for the patient.

Because of the recent contention between parents and doctors in regards to radiology, and because of the aim of all branches of medicine to balance risk and reward as best as possible, the American Board of Radiology Foundation has announced that they will be convening this summer in the first of a series of national summits, in which they hope to discuss all safety opportunities available in medical imaging.

Many groups have been invited to partake in the summit - including quality and standards organizations, patient safety and consumer groups, healthcare delivery organizations, and healthcare providers - with the hope that, upon the conclusion of the series of summits, there will be a partnership in place that leads the medical community toward a final, definitive solution to medical imaging concerns and problems; and of course, along with the results of this summit will come peace of mind for all parents with questions about the safety of radiology in general, and about CT scans specifically!

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