Korean J Radiol.  2019 Mar;20(3):399-404. 10.3348/kjr.2018.0416.

Radiation Safety in Emergency Medicine: Balancing the Benefits and Risks

• Azman RR
• Shah MN
• Ng KH

• KMID: 2438269
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2018.0416

Abstract

The use of computed tomography (CT) in emergency departments has increased over several decades, as physicians increasingly depend on imaging for diagnoses. Patients and medical personnel are put at risk due to frequent exposure to and higher levels of radiation, with very little evidence of improvements in outcomes. Here, we explore why CT imaging has a tendency to be overused in emergency departments and the obstacles that medical personnel face in ensuring patient safety. The solution requires cooperation from all emergency care stakeholders as well as the continuous education of doctors on how CT scans help in particular cases.

Keyword

Ionizing radiation; Medical technology; Cumulative radiation dose; Decision-making process; Private practice

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Education
Emergencies*
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medicine*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Patient Safety
Private Practice
Radiation, Ionizing
Risk Assessment*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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