Mobile Radiography: Radiation Protection Summary Flow Chart
Start with 'Justification'
- Is the examination medically justified?
- Has it been done already (avoid repeating unnecessarily)?
- Is it needed now?
- Is this the best investigation?
Proceed to 'Optimisation: Patient dose'
- Is this the correct patient?
- Has the patient consented?
- Do it right – first time! Pay attention to technique to minimise repeats
- Careful patient and image receptor positioning
- Have I optimised the exposure factors?
- kV and mAs appropriate to patient size and image receptor? Use exposure charts where available
- Standardise SID (or adjust mAs accordingly)
- Collimation to just the required chest region?
- Is a grid required? (according to kV in use and patient size)
- If using a grid – avoid grid cut-off and misalignment
- Contact shielding is not required
- Monitor patient doses via DAP or exposure indices
Remember: Optimisation: Staff dose
- Maximise distance between Radiographer and patient (ideally >2metres)
- If < 2m consider wearing lead aprons
- Stand at 90 degrees to central ray direction
- Use barriers as appropriate (mobile shields /walls)
- Control the area by limiting the number of other staff in vicinity
- Announce clearly ‘x-ray exposure’ to other staff so they maximise their distance
- Ensure other staff are appropriately distanced
- Use barriers as appropriate (mobile shields / walls)
- Monitor patient doses via DAP or exposure indices (patient dose influences staff dose)