Services

Radiation Safety

Our Commitment to Radiation Safety

Montefiore is committed to ensuring patient safety during medical imaging.

As part of this patient safety goal, all requests for computed tomography (CT) imaging—a method that accounts for a large percentage of medical radiation exposure—are reviewed by a board certified radiologist. When appropriate, other procedures that do not involve patient radiation exposure (such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging) are substituted.

Radiology patients should also note the following:

• All requests for CT imaging are reviewed by a board certified radiologist.
• Alternatives to CT imaging, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, will be recommended and used, when appropriate.
• We perform fluoroscopic evaluations of all patients under the standards set by the Image Wisely^® and Image Gently^® campaigns to reduce medical radiation.
• CT and fluoroscopic dose levels are continuously monitored in accordance with the American College of Radiology requirements.
• You are encouraged to discuss your concerns regarding radiation exposure with your referring clinician or with one of our department's subspecialty-trained, board certified radiologists.

Procedures are based on a patient's age and size and the reason for the exam. We firmly believe in the ALARA principle, which states that any radiation dose should always be "as low as reasonably achievable."

As part of our patient safety initiative, our department provides ongoing feedback and education to clinicians, radiologists and technologists on medical imaging.