I063] Safety and quality in the medical imaging department

Abstract

Quality and safety of treatment of patients in the medical imaging department depend on cooperation between several professionals. First there is the medical doctor who is specialized in (interventional) radiology and/or nuclear medicine. This medical specialist is responsible for the medical treatment of the patients i.e. acceptance of the patient, the medical treatment and the report of the findings. Second, there is the radiographer who is responsible for the well-being of the patient, the technical actions during the treatment and the after-care. More in the background is the medical engineer who is responsible for the medical equipment i.e. maintenance, reliability and costs. Last but not least we have, also more or less in the background, the medical physicist expert (MPE) who is responsible for the right set-up for the intended treatment, quality assurance procedures concerning technical set-up, involved dosimetry and radiation protection concerning patients. Also, in some hospitals, the MPE is appointed as the radiation protection officer according to the EU Council Directive Basic Safety Standards 2013/59/Euratom. Within this role the MPE is responsible for radiation protection of department staff and environment. Together these professionals are entitled to optimise the treatment process in the light of diagnostic or therapeutic values and acceptable risks. Conclusions Each professional has had an education and a specialized training fit for the job. The medical specialist and the medical physicist are both trained at a high science level i.e. medicine and physics. Radiographer and medical specialists are trained how to deal with patients and equipment, and the medical engineer and medical physicist are technical experts who know the equipment in detail, including the underlying physics. There is also much overlap between knowledge of these professionals and best results are achieved when they cooperate closely. This means they must know each others jobs and position, related to patient, equipment and each other. Respect is the central theme and this can be best paid when they understand each other’s duties and responsibilities. It appears that close cooperation strengthens itself (positive feedback) and close cooperation improves knowledge of each other’s jobs which increases mutual respect.