In a study sponsored by the North Texas Veterans Healthcare System, researchers found that medical workers significantly reduced their radiation exposure while administering cardiac catheterizations, a type of procedure that often involves X-rays or fluoroscopy, when a real-time radiation monitoring device with auditory feedback was used. Of the 505 patients who participated in the clinical study, half were randomly assigned to wear a device that beeped with increasing frequency—varying between once every 15 minutes, once every 20 seconds, and continuously—depending on the level of radiation it detected, while the other half went without the device. Medical workers in both groups
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Ensuring the Safety and Accuracy of Radiation Medicine
In its December bulletin focused on radiation medicine and technology, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emphasized the importance of medical physicists in modern medicine. As radiation is sometimes necessary in order to perform a diagnosis or treatment for such ailments as cancer and heart disease, experts in applying physics in medicine are needed to ensure the safety of both caregivers and patients. The role of medical physicists includes: Defining the technical specifications of new equipment to reflect a facility’s clinical requirements and ensure that the newly installed equipment operates as specified throughout its expected life Ensuring compliance with regulatory
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