Case 13: Portable Chest X-rays through Glass during the COVID-19 Pandemic

CE and CME currently unavailable

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:

1. Describe modifications in x-ray technique to allow for acquisition from outside the patient room through a glass door.
2. Recognize potential savings in PPE and reduced exposure risk to x-ray technologist.
3. 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
 

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