Fernández SJ

Language: Spanish
References: 35
Page:
PDF size: 100.97 Kb.

ABSTRACT

A great number of patients attend to emergency departments every day. Many of these patients need to be evaluated with several diagnostic imaging methods. Most of the radiological results have an impact on the further management of the emergency patients. Therefore, all hospitals should have an Emergency Diagnostic Imaging Unit (EDIU). The organization and management of an EDIU is described and discussed. This Unit must be located in the Emergency Department in order to avoid an unnecessary and sometimes vital lost of time due to the waiting time and transport of the patient to the diagnostic rooms of the Radiological Department. The EDIU belows to the central Diagnostic Imaging/Radiological Department, but works independently on a 24-hr basis with a continous presence of radiological staff. An EDIU should have, at least, two modern X-ray equipments for conventional radiology (specially, for radiographic examinations of the chest, abdomen and bones), an ultrasound equipment with Color Doppler and an helical CT scanner. All diagnostic imaging examinations of the EDIU must be accompanied by a written report. A quality control of the EDIU (quality assurance for X-ray units, films and processing systems, such as for anatomical structures represented in the radiographs, evaluating if the views were or not complete, and quality assurance of the radiological reports) should also routinely be performed. This concept may improve patient care and management in the Emergency Department.

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