Image Wisely, a joint initiative of ACR, RSNA, ASRT and AAPM,
provides information to the medical community to promote safety in medical imaging.
Case 13: Portable Chest X-rays through Glass during the COVID-19 Pandemic
While chest radiographs are not recommended to screen for COVID-19, portable chest x-rays are often ordered in the work-up for a complicated pneumonia and may have a role for ED patients or patients needing hospital admission with suspected or known COVID infection. Techniques for acquiring chest x-rays in these patients can be modified in order to preserve PPE and limit personnel contact with the patients. The modified techniques are described in this case by medical physicists and a radiologist from two US hospitals where the practice was adopted.
Authors: M. Hoerner, E. Gingold, A. Mustafa, D. Vergara, J. Pahade
Target Audience: Radiologists, radiologic technologists and medical physicists
This educational activity is free.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this case, the participant will be able to:
- Describe modifications in x-ray technique to allow for acquisition from outside the patient room through a glass door.
- Recognize potential savings in PPE and reduced exposure risk to x-ray technologist.
- Review methods to estimate radiation exposure to patients and staff with modified x-ray technique.
Activity Dates:
Release Date: 04/08/2021
Expiration Date: 04/08/2024
The ACR Disclosure Policy: In compliance with ACCME requirements and guidelines, the ACR has developed a policy for disclosure and review of potential conflicts of interest, and a method for resolution if a conflict does exist. The ACR maintains a tradition of scientific integrity and objectivity in its educational activities. In order to preserve these values and ensure its educational activities are independent and free of commercial bias, all individuals, including planners, presenters, moderators and evaluators, participating in an ACR educational activity, or an activity jointly provided by the ACR must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.
The following planners, managers and authors have no financial relationships to disclose:
Dustin A. Gress, MS; Wil Creech, BS; Alexis LaCount; Susan Felty, RT; Matthew Hoerner, PhD; Eric L. Gingold, PhD; Adel Mustafa, PhD; Daniel Vergara, MS
Author Jay Pahade, MD, discloses the following financial relationship: Consultant, GE Healthcare
The American College of Radiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American College of Radiology designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) is approved by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) as a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM) to sponsor and/or review Continuing Education programs for Radiologic Technologists and Radiation Therapists.
The American College of Radiology designates this educational activity as meeting the criteria for up to 0.5 Category A Credit hour(s) of the ARRT.
Medical physicists should be sure to opt in to have the American College of Radiology as a participating organization at CMEgateway.org, which will allow them to claim up to 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ for this material activity.
There is no charge to participate in this educational activity. For CE credit tracking and reporting, you will be redirected to the ACR website to log in or register and add the free module to your shopping cart for $0. Step-by-step instructions on accessing the case are available here.
In order to successfully complete the activity, participants must complete the post-test with an 80% or higher, 3 attempts will be provided. Once the post-test has been successfully completed, participants must complete an activity evaluation and claim credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.
For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact the ACR at imagewisely@acr.org.
