Your Safety is
Everything
WAKE RADIOLOGY UNC REX HEALTH
Wake Radiology has long been a low-dose leader in the Triangle area, adopting rigorous CT dose compliance and quality control standards for our outpatient facilities that go above and beyond the standards set by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
Our commitment to the right dose means that minimizing radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic quality imaging is at the core of what we do. This commitment is especially important in children because they are an estimated two to ten times more sensitive to radiation than adults in terms of carcinogenesis and will have longer lifetimes of medical exposure.
Computed tomography (CT) is a vital and accurate tool for rapid diagnostic evaluation of serious illness or injury in children. This extremely useful imaging modality can provide valuable and even life-saving medical information, as well as help children, avoid unnecessary surgery. Despite the many benefits of CT, a disadvantage is the inevitable radiation exposure.
Fellowship-trained Pediatric Radiologists
Our team of four fellowship-trained pediatric radiologists – all of whom trained under national leaders in the dose-reduction movement – is focused on minimizing our youngest patients’ radiation exposure while maintaining high-quality imaging. We understand the importance of balancing patient safety and radiation concerns with the need for diagnostic quality imaging for children, and have developed a CT program that reflects this.
Technology supports high resolution & low-dose
Wake Radiology CT scanners are equipped with dose reduction software to deliver high-quality images and exposure levels on the low end of the dose range as defined by the ACR. Our fluoroscopy suite employs pulsed technology, allowing us to complete studies with a fraction of the conventional dose. Wake Radiology’s long-length imaging system, which is particularly suited to scoliosis patients, can image the entire spine in a single view, which eliminates the need for separate exposures of the upper and lower spine.
Image Wisely and Image Gently and follow ALARA
Both our radiologists and technologists have taken the appropriate pledges to Image Wisely (adults), Image Gently (children), Pause and Pulse (fluoroscopy), and Step Lightly (interventional radiology). These initiatives of the ACR and the Radiological Society of North America promote radiation protection in the imaging of adults and children. We also follow radiation safety practices known as ALARA (keeping radiation “as low as reasonably achievable”). ALARA is not simply a phrase to us, but rather a work principle and mindset that leads to a culture of professional excellence.
Image Gently and follow ALARA
Our pediatric radiologists have all taken the appropriate “Image Gently” pledges, initiatives of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging that promote radiation protection in the imaging of children. We follow the philosophies and protocols established through the Image Gently, Pause and Pulse (fluoroscopy) and Step Lightly (interventional radiology) programs. All other Wake Radiology physicians involved in a child’s care are similarly bound by these pledges. We also follow the gold standard in radiation safety practices known as ALARA (keeping radiation dose “as low as reasonably achievable”). This is not simply a phrase to us, but rather a work principle and mindset that leads to a culture of patient safety as well as professional ethics and excellence.
Pediatric protocols reduce CT exams and dose
At Wake Radiology, all information from the referring provider is carefully evaluated to customize every patient scan for the area of clinical interest. For our youngest patients, a pediatric radiologist is available to review every CT request and determine if an alternative exam such as ultrasound or MRI could be used, so that any radiation can be avoided. When a CT is appropriate, each scan is tailored to the child to ensure the correct pediatric protocol is implemented. Learn more about the right dose for children
Driven by radiologist oversight and a formal quality assurance program, we internally track dose and include it in our CT reports. Thomas Presson, MD, is the director of radiation safety programs at Wake Radiology. An interventional radiologist, Dr. Presson also serves as the radiation safety officer at UNC REX Healthcare and Maria Parham Medical Center. If you have any questions about radiation safety at Wake Radiology, please email Dr. Presson.
ACR accredited facilities
All Wake Radiology UNC REX Healthcare imaging center are accredited by the American College of Radiology for CT. This designation demonstrates that Wake Radiology meets or exceeds nationally-accepted care standards and that our team is expertly qualified in their education, experience and certifications to perform and interpret pediatric medical images. Maintaining low radiation dosages while achieving high image quality is part of the accreditation requirements.