Improving Patient Safety by Reducing Radiation Exposure from

The advent of computerized tomography (CT) has revolutionized diagnostic radiology. The use of CT for diagnostic studies throughout the nation increased more than 300 percent from 1993 to 2007, and at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center the increase was 40% from 2005 to 2010. By its nature, CT involves larger radiation doses than the more common, conventional x-rays. Health care workers at risk for repeated radiation exposure are typically monitored and restricted to specific radiation exposure in any given year. In contrast, radiation exposure in patients who undergo medical imaging procedures is not typically monitored.