Most people have heard or know regarding the x-ray, ultrasound and CT scanner but few people know regarding the healthcare professionals that handle this equipment and qualities each requires to be able to perform their duties daily. The radiologist remains as being among the least recognized healthcare professionals in the industry despite them performing a critical healthcare task. There are two types of radiologist namely the Diagnostic and Therapeutic radiographer each specializing in a specific form of patient imaging. Radiology refers to the use of specialized equipment which emits burs of radiation or sound waves to map an individual’s internal organs. This is important as it allows medical professionals to assess possible health issues affecting a patient before performing surgery. Radiology is also used for treatment and suppression of terminal illness such as cancer and tumor growth. This makes radiology imaging an important branch of healthcare each person must understand for them to make informed choices thus helping all stakeholders perform their roles effectively.
Diagnostic radiographer
A diagnostic radiologist is in charge of using the low radiation equipment to generate images of the patient-internal organ functions. This can be done using x-rays, ultrasound or CT scanners which deliver 3D images of the patient’s internal organs. The diagnostic radiologist is responsible for counselling the patient and assisting them to help produce the highest quality images for assessment.
Therapeutic radiographer
A therapeutic radiologist specializes in using high power radiology equipment to treat medical conditions such as cancer and uncontrolled tumor growth. This category of radiologists, therefore, encounters a high number of seriously ill patients who are experiencing serious medical conditions and facing major trauma as well as stress and psychological strain. In addition to this, this radiologist also handles high power radiation equipment which exposes the radiologist to the risk of radiation sickness.
Legislature relating to radiology
Radiology related to use of equipment to produce images of patient-internal organs or treatment of terminal illness using low and high powered radiation and acoustic equipment. While ultrasound has lower risks due to being sound-based imaging equipment, x-rays and CT scanners pose a higher risk of radiation of exposure for all stakeholders. This has resulted in a need for strict legislature setting legal guidelines that each medical facilities radiology department must follow. The legislature set the guidelines for each stakeholder associated with the radiology department both on a temporary as well as the permanent basis and states the specific guidelines to be followed by each stakeholder.
Radiation Safety Act and the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations
Each nation has healthcare legislature detailing specific guidelines about the laws medical radiology departments, the radiologist and patients need to adhere to remain protected by the law. It is important to review the legislature and actors which define specific information each stakeholder needs to maintain and follow while performing radiology screening or treatment of patients.
Collection of data and informed consent
Informed consent is among the most important aspects of each radiology department and its personnel need to follow before offering the services. It is the radiology counselor's moral obligation to inform the patient and their guardians and family regarding the risks and benefits linked to the medical procedures. To collect information and guide the patient correctly, some important approaches need to be followed as discussed below:
Disclosure of medical details
The patient needs to communicate accurately regarding their health condition for the radiologist to screen the patient accurately. This requires the patient to make accurate disclosures relating to the health issues for the radiologist to make a preliminary assessment and determine the best location to screen. It’s also important for the patient to be prepared to undergo the procedure since screening equipment requires the individual to remain still for clear imagery to be collected. Patients unwilling to corporate will only result in hampering the quality of screening results collected.
Psychologically stability to make independent decisions
The radiologist and medical Councillors also need to assess the patients mycological status and determine whether they are stable enough to make an independent decision and capable of coping with the results. Radiology screening has the potential of delivering bad news relating to serious health concerns, making it important to assess the individual’s strength and determine whether they can cope with the situation. In case a patient is facing mycological pressure and stress the patient must be accompanied by a family member, guardian or close friend to offer support relating to the results and further treatment.
The patient is undertaking screening or treatment voluntarily
A perfect example of this can be observed in nations like India where family members pressurize pregnant women to undergo an ultrasound to determine a Fetus gender. This has resulted in a sharp increase in female infanticide, where parents decide to terminate the pregnancy due to the fetus being female. Similar to these patients may be under pressure to reveal certain information against their will through radiology screening, making it the radiologist responsibility to prevent this from happening. Failing to determine a patient genuine reason for screening can result in legal implications and proceeding against the radiologist.
Communicable and non-communicable Diseases
It is the responsibility of the patient and radiologist to also declare their current health and if they have any communicable diseases. This is important while deadline with patients who suffer from HIV & AIDS, Tuberculosis and Anthrax among many other diseases. The patient must declare their medical conditions to prevent infecting the radiologist another patient with the disease. In some situation, the medical condition or disease may be agitated by the treatment causing further complications. This makes declaring of communication and non-communication disease very important before radiology screening.
Preparedness for End-of-Life
While a Diagnostic radiologist may not need to carry regarding the end of life issues, the therapeutic radiologist needs to addressee this concern before offering treatment. This is due to most therapeutic radiologist handling patients suffering from chronic medical conditions such as cancer. This places them at high risk making it important for the radiologist to discuss the end of life issues. Radiology may offer a chance to treat certain medical conditions but it also has the potential of accelerating the condition resulting in the untimely death of the patient. This makes it important for the patient to receive counselling regarding the threat and advised to complete their pending paper works before receiving treatment.
Conclusion
Radiologist tends to be overlooked by many patients suffering from minor medical conditions but the radiologist plays an important role in delivering top quality screening and medical prognosis. In addition to screening the radiologist needs to follow strict guidelines which allow them to assess the patient’s current status before providing with procedures. This is important as it helps educate and information’s regarding the risk and benefits linked to radiology thus ensuring each stakeholder is well informed regarding the procedures. This is important as radiology
assignment help improve treatment which is essential towards increasing treatment success.