As Low as Reasonably Achievable

Since X-rays were first discovered in 1895, medical professionals have used small doses of ionizing radiation to help diagnose and treat health conditions. To make sure the benefits of medical imaging radiation exposure outweigh the risks, Brookings Health strives to deliver the safest radiology procedures possible.

“We have several methods in place to reduce radiation dose and eliminate unnecessary medical imaging,” said Imaging Director Tim Watson. “That includes following the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle for any X-ray, nuclear medicine or CT procedures.” 

ALARA includes looking at every aspect to keep radiation dose as low as possible while still obtaining clear images that allow physicians to give patients a correct diagnosis. Ongoing technology advances help radiologic technologists obtain the high-resolution images physicians need with consistently smaller doses.

“All of our pictures are digital which means we do not need as much radiation dose as older film systems. We also use dose-reduction software which reduces a patient’s exposure to radiation without compromising the diagnostic image quality,” said Watson. 

In addition, today’s imaging technology uses automatic exposure control. Before administering radiation dose, the imaging scanner will take scout images to assess the patient’s size. It then calculates what dose percentage is needed to obtain the necessary image. Once that radiation amount is reached, the test automatically shuts off. 

Automatic exposure control can be especially helpful when imaging children. Radiation is of particular concern in pediatric patients because the cancer risk per unit dose of radiation is higher for younger patients than adults. Younger patients also have a longer lifetime for the effects of radiation exposure to manifest as cancer.

“We also have low dose protocols specific to kids that follow a national dose reduction effort called Image Gently,” said Watson. “We also follow Image Wisely, a campaign that focuses on lowering the amount of radiation used in medically necessary imaging studies and eliminating unnecessary procedures.”

To help reduce the number of imaging exams performed, health care providers also use Appropriateness Criteria. These guidelines help referring physicians prescribe the best radiology exam for a patient based on specific clinical conditions. It assures the most suitable exam is performed first.

In addition, radiologic and nuclear medicine technologists receive extensive education in radiation safety and protection and perform continuing education. They understand the importance of reducing dose and exposure time and also adding necessary shielding to protect patient anatomy that isn’t scanned. 

When used appropriately, necessary medical imaging can improve the care provided for health conditions. Brookings Health System’s goal is to give the right dose for the right clinical outcome every time.

Want to learn more about the quality of care at Brookings Health System? Visit brookingshealth.org/Quality.