Discovering Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy

Taking Care of Patients

Taking Care of Patients

Radiologic technologists know how to keep you safe during imaging exams and radiation therapy procedures. See how they do it.

How does radiologic technology benefit patients?

Medical imaging exams allow doctors to see inside the body in order to make an accurate diagnosis for treatment. Radiation therapy directs radiation precisely to the area that needs treatment and can kill cancer cells or slow their growth. More than half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy at some point during their course of treatment.

stock-photo-43071638-good-news

My final treatment!

​Anne Baek / © ​iStock

What about patient protection?

Medical radiation can be dangerous if it’s not used correctly. Radiologic technologists are responsible for using radiation safety techniques to protect patients, themselves and their coworkers. First, they use proper equipment settings to deliver the smallest radiation dose possible in order to obtain a quality medical image. Second, they make sure everyone involved in the procedure uses proper shielding to protect them from unnecessary radiation, which can include lead aprons, lead gloves, lead shields and lead-lined glasses and headwear. And third, radiologic technologists position patients properly in order to get the image right the first time because additional images can expose the patient to extra radiation.

Lead wall, ALARA, Lead apron

Lead wall and lead apron

Michael McDermott / © ASRT​

The intensity and dose of medical radiation decrease dramatically with distance. Radiologic technologists must be careful to protect patients ​and ​themselves.

  • Principles of radiation protection / © ASRT
    Principles of radiation protection / © ASRT

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