HSLL 5056 - Health Physics Society: Fluoroscopy Occupational Dose Monitoring/EDE Dose Calc Methods

Speaker - Deidre Elder; University of Colorado Hospital

Medical environments where fluoroscopy is routinely used offer unique challenges for monitoring and reporting of occupational radiation doses.The use of lead aprons and thyroid shields results in a substantially reduced effective dose.However, the non-uniform exposure makes occupational dose monitoring and reporting more difficult.

Over the decades, international and national expert bodies expressed varied opinions and made inconsistent recommendations.As a result, radiation regulations vary from state-to-state and a number of approaches involving multiple or single dosimeters are practiced.Regulatory Guide 8.40 was issued in July 2010 to describe methods that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers acceptable for determining the effective dose equivalent for external radiation exposures.The National Council on Radiation Protection and the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors have also published recommended methods of effective dose and effective dose equivalent determination for individuals with non-uniform exposures due to the use of protective garments.The practical considerations of financial and behavioral issues are also considered when determining the method of occupational dose monitoring and dose determination for healthcare workers.