The British Institute of Radiology (BIR) has endorsed a recommendation that healthcare facilities form image optimizations teams (IOTs) to help raise awareness and lead the education of staff about radiation safety.
The initiative comes from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) and follows U.K. law that requires practitioners to balance the benefits and potential risks of radiation to patients. The use of radiation should also be optimized with procedures and techniques to keep exposure as low as reasonably possible.
BIR said there is a need for stricter compliance and a more consistent approach to dose management. In addition, an integrated radiation safety approach within radiology and radiation oncology teams is needed to ensure that image quality and patient safety are not compromised. Doing so would result in better diagnosis, more accurate treatment, and better clinical outcomes for the patient.
