Responsibility of radiographer

All medical personnel share same thing in common, they all serve the patients. no one of them is entirely independent of others. the patient is a reason for existence in whole organisation. hence, the duty of RADIOGRAPHER must be seen in relation to the patient in particular and hospital as a whole.

1. RESPONSIBILITY OF
RADIOGRAPHERS DURING
RADIOLOGICAL
PROCEDURES
MOHAMMED ALTHAF
3
RD YEAR
DEPT: OF RADIOLOGY
AJ INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCE

2. CONTENTS
•INTRODUCTION
•COMMON TASKS
•CARE OF RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION ROOM
•CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITY
•ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY
•LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
•PATIENTS RIGHTS AND PATIENT CONSENT
•EQUIPMENT
•EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
•RADIATION PROTECTION

3. INTRODUCTION
A RADIOGRAPHER IS A UNIVERSITY-TRAINED
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO WORKS WITH
CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE X-
RAYS,CT SCANS,MRI SCANS AND OTHER MEDICAL
IMAGES TO ASSIST CLINICAL RADIOLOGISTS

4. COMMON TASKS
•THE DAILY TASKS OF A RADIOGRAPHER REQUIRE A
PRECISE WORK AND ADHERENCE TO STRICT SAFETY
PROCEDURES
•RADIOGRAPHER ARE REQUIRED TO BE
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ALL TERMINOLOGY RELATED TO
RADIOGRAPHY , ANATOMY AND PATHOLOGY

5. ❖RADIOGRAPHER DEALS WITH THE SPECIAL
PROCEDURES FREQUENTLY PERFORMED FOR
DIAGNOSIS & FOR TREATMENT.
❖A FIRM KNOWLEDGE OF ANATOMY , PHYSIOLOGY &
PATHOLOGY IS NEEDED.
❖SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EQUIPMENT, PARTICULARLY
THE ROLE OF COMPUTERS IN IMAGING.
COMMON TASK

6. ❖KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CATHETERS, GUIDE WIRES,
CONTRAST.
❖ABILITY TO APPLY WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND
STANDARDIZED WORK PRACTICES.
❖KNOWLEDGE OF X-RAY PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS.
❖THE TECHNOLOGIST MUST USE GOOD PATIENT
CARE, SKILLS & BE AWARE OF MEDICO-LEGAL
ISSUES.
COMMON TASK

7. CARE OF RADIGRAPHIC
EXAMINATION ROOM
❖THE EXAMINATION ROOM SHOULD BE CLEAN.
❖THE MECHANICAL PART OF X RAY MACHINE SUCH AS
TABLE AND TUBE STAND SHOULD BE CLEANED WITH
CLEAN DAMP CLOTH EVERY DAY .

8. RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION ROOM

9. THE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH RADIOGRAPHER CARRY FOR
PATIENT IN THEIR DEPARTMENT MAY BE CONSIDER IN
THEIR PROCEDURE.
a)CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITY
b)ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY
c)LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY

10. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITY
•TO CARRY OUT DAY WORK RADIOGRAPHER NEED SOME
KNOWLEDGE OF PRACTICAL PROCEDURE IN THE CARE OF
THE PATIENT , SOME KNOWLEDGE OF PATHOLOGY AND
DISEASES PROCESS SO THAT THEY DO NOT WORSEN A
DISEASES BY UNIFORMED HANDLING OF THE PATIENT
• SOME KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST AID AND WHAT TO DO IN
EMERGENCY SITUATION SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
HELP THE PATIENT UNTIL THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT
ARRIVE.

11. ▪UNDERSTAND OF THE PATIENT PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE
▪ WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE PATIENT WITH AN
UNFAVORABLE OR DEPRESSING SITUATION. IT IS
NECESSARY TO SURROUND THE PATIENT WITH THE RIGHT
ATMOSPHERE.
▪TO PATIENT, IT IS A VERY STRANGE DEPARTMENT SO
THAT THE RADIOGRAPHER SHOULD BE REASSURED FIRST
OF ALL AS TO CERTAIN PERSONAL QUALITIES AND OF
PROFESSIONAL CAPABILITIES.
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITY

12. ▪A SMILE FROM THE RADIOGRAPHER CAN GO VERY
LONG WAY TOWARDS MAKING AN EASY
RELATIONSHIP AND REDUCING TENSION IN THE
PATIENT.
▪ASSIST PHYSICIANS DURING PROCEDURES.
▪PROCESS AND EVALUATE RADIOGRAPHS

14. PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP
•THE APPEARANCE OF RADIOGRAPHER IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
•HE MUST LOOK NEAT, CLEAN AND SUITABLE
DRESSES.
•THE FEMALE RADIOGRAPHERS SHOULD AVOID
KEEPING LONG NAILS AND AVOID WEARING JEWELRY
TO AVOID SCRATCHES DURING HANDLING THE
PATIENT.

15. ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY
IT MAY BE DEFINED AS THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN DUTY AND
ALSO IMPORTANT FACTOR IN RADIOGRAPHER AND PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP
THERE ARE TWO SPECIAL ELEMENT IN THIS RESPONSIBILITY-
• DISCRETION IN SPEECH AND ABSOLUTE NECESSITY NOT TO
REVEAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PATIENT WHICH IS
CONFIDENTIAL.
• IT IS RADIOGRAPHER DUTY TO GIVE MINIMUM RADIATION
DOSE TO THE PATIENT .

16. STANDARDS OF ETHICS
1.CODE OF ETHICS
2.RULE OF ETHICS

17. CODE OF ETHICS
⦿A RADIOGRAPHER SHOULD BE IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
⦿RESPONDS TO PATIENT NEEDS AND SUPPORTS CO-PARTNER
AND ASSOCIATES IN PROVIDING QUALITY PATIENT CARE.
⦿THE TIMING OF RADIOGRAPHS , PROPER SIDE MARKING AND
LABELING ARE ALSO IMPORTANT DUTIES OF THE
TECHNOLOGIST.

18. RULE OF ETHICS
⦿EXAMINATIONS MAY BE REQUESTED BY A
PHYSICIAN OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.
⦿THE RADIOGRAPHER SHOULD EXAMINE THE
REQUISITION CAREFULLY AND HANDED TO
PHYSICIAN
⦿IF THE PROCEDURE CAUSE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT
TO THE PATIENT IT MUST BE INFORMED

19. ⦿RADIOGRAPHER SHOULD BE IN PROFESSIONAL
MANNER.
⦿RADIOGRAPHER MUST BE WELL MANNERED IN
SPEECH AND BEHAVIOR.
⦿TREAT THE PATIENT GENTLY DURING
PROCEDURE

20. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
THE MAY BE CONSIDERED SIMPLY UNDER THREE HEADINGS.
THIS ARE,

❖ BREAK OF PROFESSIONAL CONFIDITION
❖ NEGELIGENCE
❖ THE PROCESS IN THE EVENT OF THE ACCIDENT

21. BREAK OF PROFESSIONAL
CONFIDITIONAL
•THE RADIOGRAPHERS SHOULD REGARD AS CONFIDENTIAL
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE PATIENT, AVAILABLE
FROM THE CASE SHEETS DURING THE ROUTINE WORK.
•TO DISCLOSE ANY SUCH INFORMATION , THE RESULTS
OF INVESTIGATION DONE IN THE DEPARTMENT OR ANY
OTHER CONFIDENTIAL OR PERSONAL INFORMATION
GAINED ABOUT THE PATIENT DURING DEPARTMENTAL
WORK , CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT .

22. NEGLIGENCE
•NEGLIGENCE BECOME ACTIONABLE IN CIVIL LAW WHEN
THERE IS DUTY TO TAKE CARE AND IF THERE IS A
FAILURE IN THAT DUTY RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE
OTHER PERSON.
CERTAIN EXAMPLES ARE:-
•THE RADIOGRAPHER MUST SEE THE ON OFF SWITCH.
•HE OR SHE SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE PATIENT TO GET OUT
OF THE TABLE.
•FAILS TO CHECK THE CONTRAST AGENT INJECTED FOR AN
IVU.
•THE RADIOGRAPHER SHOULD REDUCE THE DOSE RECEIVED BY
THE PATIENT.

23. PROCEDURE IN THE EVENT OF AN
ACCIDENT
THE PROCEDURES IN SUCH CASES ARE ,
❖CARE OF THE VICTIMS
❖REPORTING THE ACCIDENT
❖RECORDING THE ACCIDENT

24. CARE OF THE VICTIMS
•CARE OF THE VICTIMS IS TO BE GIVEN IMMEDIATELY
DETAILED PROCEDURE IN FIRST AID AND TREATMENT
CAREFULLY WILL BE DETERMINED BY WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IT IS WISE TO SEE MEDICAL ADVISE AS
PART OF THE CARE OF THE VICTIMS .

25. REPORTING THE ACCIDENT
•REPORTING THE ACCIDENT SHOULD BE DONE AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE APPROPRIATE STUDENT OR
JUNIOR RADIOGRAPHER SHOULD REPORT TO THE
SENIOR RADIOGRAPHER ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.
•IT WILL BE REPORTED ALSO TO THE CHIEF
RADIOLOGIST.
•IF THE ACCIDENT INVOLVES A WARD PATIENT ,
THEN THE SENIOR WARD STAFF MUST BE TOLD WHAT
HAS HAPPENED.

26. RECORDING THE ACCIDENT
•HOSPITAL HAVE A FORM FOR THIS PURPOSE AND THIS FORM
SHOULD BE COMPLETED AS SOON AFTER THE ACCIDENT AS IS
ALLOWED BY FIRST AID , TREATMENT AND REPORTING TO SENIOR.
•IT MUST BE DONE WITH COMPLETE HONESTY AND FAIRNESS
•THE FORM HAS SPACES FOR,
1.RECORDING WHAT HAPPEN
2. WHO WAS INVOLVED
3.WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT WAS.
4.WHAT ASSURANCE WERE TAKEN IN DEALING WITH ACCIDENT.

27. PATIENT’S RIGHTS PATIENT CONSENT 

⦿Patient consent can be verbal or written.
⦿Consent should be taken before the
procedure.
⦿First party consent – patient
⦿Second party consent – patient party
⦿Doctor(radiologist) & technician who are
attending the procedure should also sign in
the consent.
⦿In pediatric cases guardian is the first
party.

28. PATIENT CARE 

❖THE PATIENT IS ALWAYS AT RISK WITH THE
INJECTION OF CONTRAST AGENTS .
❖THE TECHNOLOGIST MUST DEVELOP A SENSITIVE
SUPPORT WITH THE PATIENT AND EXPLANATION
OF PROCEDURE CONTENTS OFTEN BECOMES THE
TECHNOLOGISTS MAIN RESPONSIBILITY.

30. EQUIPMENT
The employer shall draw up, keep up-to-date and preserve at
each radiological installation an inventory of equipment at
that installation and, when so requested, shall furnish it
to the appropriate authority.
•The inventory shall contain the following information:
a. name of manufacturer,
b. model number,
c. serial number or other unique identifier,
d. year of manufacture, and
e. year of installation.

32. JUSTIFICATION
•ANY DOSE EXPOSURE MUST HAVE BENEFIT TO
EXPOSED INDIVIDUALS
•THUS ,IF THE EXPOSURE HAS NO BENEFIT IT IS
NOT JUSTIFIED.
•IN THE CASE OF A FEMALE CHILD BEARING AGE,
HE HAS ENQUIRED WHETHER SHE IS PREGNANT OR
BREAST FEEDING, IF RELEVANT.

33. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
❖THE TECHNOLOGIST SHOULD BE AWARE OF ANY
POTENTIAL HARM TO THE PATIENT,
ALLERGIES, PREVIOUS CONTRAST REACTIONS
& APPROPRIATE MEASURES.
❖EMERGENCY DRUGS SHOULD BE THERE IN
EXAMINATION ROOM.
❖ALL EMERGENCY DRUGS SHALL BE CHECKED
PERIODICALLY FOR EXPIRY DATES
❖HE/SHE SHOULD HAVE A FAIR IDEA OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL.

34. KNOW THE CODE
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
FIRE
MISSING PATIENT
DISASTER
INFANT/CHILD ABDUCTION
Bomb threat

35. CODE BLUE(medical emergency) 3111
CODE PINK(infant abduction) 3222
CODE PURPLE(theft, violet
behaviour)
3333
CODE RED(fire) 3444
CODE GREEN(disaster) 3555
RRT(rapid response team) 3112

36. HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RADIOGRAPHERS
❖RADIATION-
THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO
SCATTERED RADIATIONS,
HENCE USE LEAD APRONS
AND SELF MONITORING
DEVICES

37. ❖DISINFECTANT-
USES POWERFUL
DISINFECTANTS TO
CLEAN SURFACES
TOUCHED BY
PATIENTS, HENCE USE
GLOVES.

38. ❖COMMUNICABLE DISEASES-
STANDARD PRECUATIONS
MUST BE PRACTICED AT
ALL TIMES AS THEY WILL
BE EXPOSED TO MULTITUDE
OF COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES.

39. RADITION PROTECTION
•PROTECT THE PATIENT FROM UNNECESSARY
RADIATION .
•THYROID ,GONAD AND EYE PROTECTED FROM
RADIATION BY PROPER SHIELDING.
•COLLIMATE THE PROPER EXAMINATION AREA.
•KEEP RADIATION DOSE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
•USE FILTER TO REMOVE LOW ENERGY RADIATION .

40. SELF MONITORING DEVICE

41. DISINFECTANT