From the November 2015 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
HCB NEWS: What challenges do you face every day?
LMW: At one institution, if I don’t ask for the hanging shield they remind me. If I’m distracted and don’t bring the detector close to the patient, then someone on the team reminds me. At the other institution, I’m the only person thinking of it. I did get the other hospital to buy lead-lined scrub hats, but most people are not wearing them unless I tell them to put them on. The administration isn’t really plugged in on this issue. I feel like I discuss it all the time and I’m not getting anywhere with it. It’s really something that shouldn’t be on my mind, it should be automatic. I shouldn’t have to think about it. Short of something catastrophic occurring, for example a coworker having possibly radiation-induced cancer, I think the culture won’t change without a real-time radiation dose monitoring device that shows them the reality of what is happening visually. At the hospital where they have the real-time radiation dose monitoring device, everyone’s behavior has changed dramatically. I think seeing is key.
HCB NEWS: Do you have a radiation safety officer?
LMW: Technically, we do, yes. At the one hospital with the issues, I believe it’s the nuclear medicine physician. But that person is not involved in the day-to-day radiation environment other than nuclear radiation. I’ve actually asked to be the radiation officer at the hospital where the dose monitoring system is used. The radiation officer is not known or visible to others and does not provide ongoing education and awareness. We do have thyroid shields, but it’s important to make sure people are wearing them. If the radiation officer is actively around, and teaching people about safety, change for the better may happen.
HCB NEWS: Where does the responsibility for radiation fall? Individual? Radiation safety officer? Administration?
LMW: It is a collective effort. The largest part of the burden falls to the physician who is performing the case. It is part of our job, but it should be everybody’s job since everyone is equally invested and involved. Technologist, nurse, physician, hospital admin, are all equally invested in the safety of employees. It shouldn’t fall to me alone because I’m the conscientious nice guy. It should be part of the culture.
