June 16, 2011 — Imaging Healthcare Specialists (IHS) recently adopted Image Wisely, a program encouraging practitioners to avoid unnecessary ionizing radiation procedures and to use the lowest optimal radiation dose for necessary studies. Created by the American College of Radiology (ACR) Joint Task Force on Adult Radiation Protection, the program offers resources and information to address concerns about the surge of public exposure to ionizing radiation from medical imaging.
IHS has implemented the concepts of Image Wisely within everyday practice, including sharing supporting educational information with referring professionals and their patients. Adherence to the program ensures IHS holds accreditation by the ACR; employees are credentialed by the governing accreditation boards and licensed by the state of California; and radiologists are board certified by the American Board of Radiology. Program guidelines also require all facilities to complete an external review process to meet nationally accepted standards of care, and a medical physicist must inspect imaging equipment.
"It is our commitment to our patients' safety, health, and welfare that makes this program such a perfect fit for us," said John O. Johnson, M.D., chief of computed tomography (CT) imaging. "To convey the principles of the Image Wisely program, Imaging Healthcare Specialists has optimized imaging protocols to ensure it is using the least amount of radiation necessary to acquire a diagnostic quality image for each examination."
In addition, IHS has adopted the practice of ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) to limit the use of ionizing radiation. In support of this, IHS radiologists and staff have implemented a number of dose reduction protocols specific to CT imaging and routinely shield breast and thyroid tissue.
Imaging Healthcare Specialists is a full service outpatient medical imaging center offering specialized services throughout San Diego County and southern Riverside County.
For more information: www.imaginghealthcare.com
