The increasing use of complex and involved interventional and diagnostic imaging procedures renews concern for both patient and staff radiation dose and radiation safety principles and procedures. Of special interest are fluoroscopy procedures in which the use of a continuous x-ray beam increases patient and staff radiation dose. For this reason, radiation safety principles and operator knowledge are essential in keeping radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) for both patients and fluoroscopy staff while still producing a diagnostic quality image so as to not deliver unnecessary radiation. This course reviews dose management goals, technical factors of digital fluoroscopy and how they influence radiation dose, dose reduction principles, safe and proper use of digital fluoroscopy equipment, and the concepts of justification and optimization in regards to radiation safety. Cardinal principles to reduce radiation dose are also discussed.
According to the Radiologic Health Branch, “if any of the mammography or fluoroscopy CE credits that you have obtained are related to digital radiography, they may be used to satisfy the four (4) digital radiography CE requirements.” This course can be applied to both the CA digital and fluoroscopy requirement. See Question 4 under the FAQ section of California’s CE requirements here.