Image Wisely has a new website that contains educational materials designed to generate awareness regarding the dangers of radiation. It also includes methods that can be used to eliminate excessive exposure to radiation for radiologists as well as other medical workers and patients who are exposed to it on a daily basis. James A. Brink, who serves as the chair of diagnostic radiology at the Yale School of Medicine, said that radiation awareness has been increasing in recent years, but that many individuals are still unaware of just how dangerous it can be and how to properly avoid it. Image Wisely aims to change that.

Image Wisely follows the success of a previous program entitled Image Gently. Image Gently, which was conceived at the beginning of 2007, focuses on safe imaging practices for pediatric patients, while Image Wisely is primarily designed to ensure the safety of adult patients, radiologists and related medical practitioners.

Specifically, Image Wisely is seeking to reduce and eventually eliminate unneeded imaging exams and reduce the amount of radiation used in necessary exams to the minimum required for basic medical imaging. As the program begins, CT (computed tomography) will be the primary focus. Program organizers plan to broaden the scope of the program in the future by including radiography, fluoroscopy and nuclear medical procedures.

The Joint Task Force on Adult Radiation Protection has decided to use an image of a wise owl as the Image Wisely logo. The logo is designed to provide easy brand recognition for the program, which will be shared with medical vendors, government agencies, educational institutions and healthcare organizations, as well as the general public.

One of the most useful resources that is planned to be on the Image Wisely website is a series of links to medical vendor websites, which will thoroughly describe various radiation reduction techniques as they pertain to specific pieces of medical equipment.

In addition to informational materials, the Image Wisely program will contain multiple calls to action. Medical practitioners who view the site are asked to digitally sign a pledge to commit to the program’s principles, and individuals are encouraged to seek accreditation programs from the ACR. Part of the ACR’s CT accreditation program heavily emphasizes the necessity for, and the techniques of, radiation protection.

Some have feared that the program could unnecessarily scare the public about the potential dangers of radiological techniques. Program officials have largely quelled these fears, explaining that the program emphasizes the benefits of medical imaging scans (including faster recovery from injury, a reduced need for surgery, and ultimately saved lives) in addition to the dangers of radiation over time.

Currently, there are over 300,000 registered medical radiation technologists working in the United States. Image Wisely understands that the choice to pursue radiation dose reduction ultimately lies in the hands of these individuals, and they hope that the program will provide the educational tools necessary to ensure that these workers are equipped with the proper knowledge.

The announcement of Image Wisely is great news for citizens who regularly require medical imaging procedures, as well as for the practitioners who administer them.

8:00 a.m. Brian arrives at the clinic and checks to make sure his equipment has been properly maintained. He receives a referral from one of the physicians on another floor for a woman who has been complaining of chest pains. When the patient is brought to him, he lifts her in front of the x-ray machine that he will use to produce the images. He checks the distance and angle to make sure that the image will be clear and the patient will not be exposed to potentially dangerous levels of radiation. The patient is also given a lead vest to wear to protect her. He begins taking images, which will be processed later and the results forwarded to the patient’s physician. The imaging process itself may take ten minutes.

8:30 a.m. Brian has a pregnant patient who needs an ultrasound. He applies a jelly to her stomach to allow sound waves to pass through the surface of her skin more easily. He uses a wand that produces high-frequency sound waves that are directed to the patient’s abdominal region. These waves are reflected back to the wand and Brian’s computer is able to pick them up and calculate the distance they traveled. The computer is able to create a black and white, two-dimensional image of the fetus, which is shared with the patient and her doctor. The entire appointment takes about 15 minutes.

9:00 a.m. Brian has some concerns with some of the equipment he has been using and begins to look into getting it replaced. He has to fill out specific forms and make a request with the purchasing office. While his current equipment is still functioning, Brian’s request emphasizes the potential issues with outdated or malfunctioning instruments in the hopes that the process can be expedited and he can give his patients the level of care he feels they deserve.

11:00 a.m. Brian finishes his paperwork and prepares for a rush of patients who need various procedures completed. These procedures may involve using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to develop two or three-dimensional maps of tissue types, fluoroscopy to visualize the digestive systems of patients and CT (computed tomography) scans to develop cross-sectional views of patients’ bodies. The procedures for these exams are similar in many ways to performing ultrasounds and x-rays. Brian is responsible for measuring patients’ vital signs, preparing their charts, and giving them instructions.

3:30 p.m. Brian begins to go over x-rays from prior patients. His reports are then forwarded to the patients’ respective physicians. This process may take a couple of hours to complete.

Throughout the day, Brian has to interact with patients, physicians and other health care providers both inside and outside the clinic. He works with patients of all ages, from ten-year-olds with growth hormone deficiency to elderly people suffering from a number of age-related conditions. He finds that the largest group of patients is postmenopausal women, who are at the greatest risk for bone loss.