Radiography (RT): Difference between revisions

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# Radiation exposure is measured by personnel monitoring device; therefore, they must be worn at all times within the department.  Personnel monitoring devices are to be worn at the collar. It is the student’s responsibility to exchange badges on a quarterly basis with person designated by the RSO for each program.
# Radiation exposure is measured by personnel monitoring device; therefore, they must be worn at all times within the department.  Personnel monitoring devices are to be worn at the collar. It is the student’s responsibility to exchange badges on a quarterly basis with person designated by the RSO for each program.
# If your personnel monitoring device is lost or left where it can be exposed unknowingly, contact the respective program director immediately.
# If your personnel monitoring device is lost or left where it can be exposed unknowingly, contact the respective program director immediately.
# In accordance with the philosophy of keeping exposures ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), the Radiation Safety Office has established levels at which the dosimetry company will provide immediate notification of a higher than normal reading. These notification levels are presently as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Dose Type !! Evaluation Level !! Investigation Level
|-
| DDE (whole body) || 300 mrem || 600 mrem
|-
| LDE (lens of eye) || 900 mrem || 1500 mrem
|-
| SDE (skin or extremity) || 900 mrem || 2000 mrem
|-
| Declared Pregnant Woman || 40 mrem || 50 mrem
|}
'''ALARA DOSE LIMITS (PER MONITORING PERIOD)'''
Any doses above the ALARA Evaluation Level require that the Radiation Safety Officer review the circumstances pertaining to this dose and determine if additional actions need to be taken or if further investigation is required. An investigation requires that the Radiation Safety Officer investigate the cause of the dose and steps that may be required to prevent this dose level in the future with consideration of cost and scientific impact. All doses above the ALARA action levels will be reported to the Radiation Safety Committee.
The Radiation Safety Committee may alter these values based on regulatory or departmental concerns. When an individual exceeds any one of these levels, a follow-up survey may be conducted to determine if a reduction in dose can be reasonably achieved.
For further information regarding personnel monitoring of ionizing radiation, refer to the [http://www.unmc.edu/CRSO/ UNMC Radiation Safety Manual] or contact the Radiation Safety Office.
If a student becomes pregnant, she is encouraged to voluntarily consult with the program director concerning the most appropriate procedure to assure that exposure to the fetus is less than 0.5 rem (refer to Pregnancy Policy below).
=== Pregnancy ===
The pregnancy policy is a voluntary program intended to provide safety for pregnant students and their fetus who are considered occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. In the event of a suspected or confirmed pregnancy, it is the responsibility of the student to advise her program director in writing of her condition. Pregnancy will not affect the student’s enrollment in the academic courses in the program. However, due to the physical requirements placed upon the student in the clinical courses and assignments, and in order to comply with 180 NAC 004.13 (10 CFR Part 20.1208) to keep the radiation exposure to the fetus as low as reasonably achievable (no more than 500 mrem during the entire gestation period), the following procedures will apply:
# The student may voluntarily report suspected or confirmed pregnancy to the program director. At that time the UNMC/The Nebraska Medical Center policies and procedures and the MITS Student Policies and Procedures Manual pregnancy policy will be reviewed with the student. Once the student has elected to declare suspected or confirmed pregnancy, the student should:
# Complete the form “UNIVERSITY of NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER DECLARATION OF PREGNANCY” and forward it to the Radiation Safety Office.  (See form on next page.)
# The Radiation Safety Office will determine the estimated radiation dose from time of conception to the date of declaration based on dosimetry records and calculate the permissible remaining dose to the embryo/fetus for the remainder of the pregnancy. (See the following pages).
# Upon review of the findings and recommendations of the Radiation Safety Officer or Medical Radiation Physicist, clinical assignments will be reviewed. Clinical assignments will only be altered if the fetus received the maximum permissible dose as stated by 180 NAC 004.13 (10 CFR Part 20.1208). Any clinical competencies not completed for reasons related to pregnancy must be successfully completed prior to graduation.
# Provide the program director with written indication of intent to:
## continue in the program, or
## take a medical leave of absence with intent to complete the program (form available from CAHP Academic & Student Affairs), or
## withdraw from the program (form available from CAHP Academic and Student Affairs).
# The student should provide the program director with written consent from her physician providing medical advice for:
## continuing in the program as a full-time student, and/or
## any limitations placed upon the student while enrolled in the program.
# A student may also voluntarily withdraw their declaration of pregnancy at any time. See form on following pages.)
# Upon review of the findings and recommendations of the Radiation Safety Officer or Medical Radiation Physicist, clinical assignments will be reviewed. Clinical assignments will only be altered if the fetus received the maximum permissible dose as stated by 180 NAC 004.13 (10 CFR Part 20.1208). Any clinical competencies not completed for reasons related to pregnancy must be successfully completed prior to graduation.


== [http://unmc.edu/alliedhealth/faculty/mits.html Program Faculty] ==
== [http://unmc.edu/alliedhealth/faculty/mits.html Program Faculty] ==