Carli Doerr 1

Radiation Safety

Carli Doerr

DOS 516 – Fundamentals of Radiation Safety

Working as a radiation therapist at one of the biggest cancer-treating hospitals in Utah, I

have seen a lot when it comes to work experience. With having multiple linear accelerators and
treating over 100 patients every day I have unfortunately seen some mistakes that were made by
the staff whether it was from the doctors, dosimetrists, physicists, nurses, or therapists. Most of
these mistakes were minor, but some were considered a misadministration. Mistakes can happen
anywhere, but what is important to understand is that there are certain measurements and
procedures that are done to take precautionary steps to try and prevent any mistakes from
happening. Treating cancer with radiation is no minor procedure. From past research and
experiences, we all have come to realize the dangers and side effects that come with radiation
exposure. Thankfully we have procedures and tests that are performed to ensure everyone’s
safety, and studies are still being done to further our knowledge on radiation protection.

Because of the great advancements in medicine and technology throughout the past 30-40
years, radiology imaging has been able to improve in many ways for both diagnostic purposes
and for the safety of the patients. Digital radiography systems have almost completely replaced
computed radiography systems because they provide a better image quality with lower patient
dose. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 specifically mentions transitioning from
computed radiography to digital radiography to promote patient self-determination and welfare
by decreasing patient dose and increasing patient autonomy.1 This illustrates to the public that
the federal government is aware of the concerns and is creating policies to further the
improvement of radiation protection.

As a licensed and certified radiology caregiver, it is within my scope of practice to

communicate with patients and related caregivers about the risks and benefits associated with
radiation treatments and imaging procedures. This can help to better educate the patients about
their care and safety as well as hopefully put them at ease. It is also my responsibility to perform
safety standards, such as ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) and shielding when
possible, with imaging procedures to protect the patients. Not only is this a responsibility of the
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radiation therapists, but it is very important for the entire department to communicate with the
patients to make sure they understand the pros and cons of radiation treatments. The use of
radiation for patients is evolving to become a more essential piece of diagnosis and treatments
and has been improving health outcomes.1

Another reason why radiation has become a trustworthy form of treatment for cancer is
the radiation safety program that is organized by the radiation safety committee along with other
tests and quality assurance procedures that the staff perform. The radiation safety committee is
responsible for the safe use of radiation producing devices and radioactive materials. It is
comprised of a radiation safety officer, a department manager, an authorized user from the
respective imaging departments, and a nursing professional.1 There are quality assurance tests
and procedures that must be carried out daily, weekly, monthly, and annually to analyze and
check each device and machine. They are tested to make sure they function properly for the
safety of the patients and staff.

A crucial part of a patient’s safety while undergoing radiation treatments is the

department’s overall environment with the staff and management. It has been proven time and
time again that by increasing communication between physicians and staff and by creating a
positive atmosphere in the workplace, mistakes and incidents are managed in a better more
effective way. When departments have a type of learning system from the incidents that are
reported, the rest of the staff can learn from these mistakes. Rules and regulations can also be
formed from these incidents to try and prevent any future mistakes. It is the responsibility of the
management and the rest of the healthcare staff to report any accidents or mistakes and figure out
solutions to better the team. By doing this, it ensures the protection of the patients. It is also
important for the department to create a safety culture for the employees where they feel their
opinion is valued. Working in a safe and positive atmosphere helps each caregiver to also
provide better treatment for the patients.2

Patients have every right to educate themselves about radiation before they undergo
treatment. The healthcare staff should remember to keep in mind that when patients come in for
treatment, they will most likely have questions that need answering. Communication between
patients and their caregivers is one of the most important parts of ensuring patient safety.
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References:

1. Roberts BW. Patient Centered Radiation Safety. Radiologic Technology. 2017; 88(5):
499-512.
2. Clark BG, Brown RJ, Ploquin J, Dunscombe P. Patient safety improvements in radiation
treatment through 5 years of incident learning. Practical Radiation Oncology. 2013; 3(3):
157-163.