The Canadian journal of medical radiation technology最新文献

In Canada adverse events occur in 7.5% of all hospital admissions, and are responsible for up to 23,750 deaths annually. Adverse events are mostly related to system failure, but have multiple and varied primary causes. In order to establish the knowledge required to reduce adverse events it is important that they are reported, that data is collected and analysed on a large scale and that results are shared amongst the relevant institutions. This in turn requires a change in the culture in the health care system to one where safety is paramount and reporting is encouraged and maximized. There is also a requirement for the establishment of national reporting systems and databases to house information and a cohesive strategy for communicating findings effectively across the country.

The field of magnetic resonance (MR) is rapidly expanding and the number of high field strength magnets (1.5 and 3.0 Tesla) being installed is on the rise. High performance gradients allow for ultra fast imaging and therefore more sophisticated and complex exams can be performed in a very short time. To ensure the safety of both patient and health care workers and to maintain a safe MR environment, safety guidelines and policies should be in place and strictly adhered to. These policies should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis. The purpose of this article is to review the safety aspects of the static magnetic field (1.5 and 3.0 Tesla), the gradient and the radiofrequency fields. Further, we will discuss topics on patient care and contrast agents administration specific for the MR environment.

Those of us working in a dedicated paediatric environment are aware of the important safety issues with regard to paediatrics. Our goal when working with paediatric patients, the goal is to obtain the best quality images while keeping patients safe and their distress to a minimum. This article will discuss some of the issues regarding paediatric safety in a diagnostic imaging department, including radiation doses and the risk to paediatric patients, reducing medication errors, safe sedation practice and environmental safety.

Also discussed are some conditions requiring special consideration to maintain patient safety such as epiglottitis and suspected child abuse. Promotion of a patient/family-centered care system will create an environment of trust where parents or guardians will know that their children are being well cared for in a safe, effective environment.

Clinical images must meet the needs of the radiologist in order to serve the patient well. Learning to fully appreciate and assess the range of potentially pathological concerns is an important part of the role of the mammographer within the breast imaging team: being sure of a complete study that serves the purpose for the radiologist goes beyond pure technical appreciation. It now requires some clinical knowledge in order to ensure the area of concern is appropriately imaged, clearly seen and readily characterized by the radiologist.

The technologist's role in ensuring appropriate imaging to clarify the extent of potential disease becomes an integral part of the criteria for excellence. Application of our basic analytical skills to our patient history and clinical images should now be an expectation of the mammographic technologist.

Assessing and demonstrating clearly an area of concern on our images is a long way from diagnosing disease. What is missed or obscured on our clinical images is not analyzed by the radiologist. Therefore it is essential that we recognize a possible concern and know how to demonstrate it clearly.

To recognize what is potentially a concern, it helps to know a little about where and how pathology within the breast develops. There are three basic areas of concern when checking our images, clinical assessment, calcifications and masses.

The mammographer within today's modern team oriented department must have the advanced positioning and clinical skills to ensure the area of concern is appropriately imaged, clearly seen and able to be characterized by the radiologist.

To properly assess and demonstrate potential problems for our medical partner, the radiologist, we must understand well the three areas of clinical and pathological change that exposes early breast cancer.