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There are over 3 in Poland. radiologists. The average waiting time for diagnostic imaging services is 2,6 months. According to the president of PLTR, the number of specialists is insufficient and the demand is growing. Meanwhile, the question of whether the profession of a radiologist is safe keeps recurring. Should the imaging diagnostician be afraid of radiation? What are his working conditions? Prof. Andrzej Cieszanowski.
- In the list of the most dangerous professions, the radiologist is in ninth place. The main harmful factor is X-rays
- Several years ago, radiologists lost the privilege of a five-hour working day
- Although the interest in the profession has increased in recent years, there is still a shortage of radiologists in Poland
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
As part of our campaign “We choose the truth”, we recall selected texts of TvoiLokona that influenced the reality that surrounds us. In the coming months, more articles from the series will be presented on the TvoiLokony home page. This text originally appeared on Onet in November 2019.
Radiologist at the forefront of dangerous professions
The radiologist is at the forefront of the most dangerous professions, according to the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network, which has looked at the working conditions of 974 professions. The ranking does not include soldiers or policemen whose health and life are directly exposed. Non-obvious issues such as exposure to pollution, contact with bacteria and viruses or exposure to extreme weather conditions were taken into account. In the case of radiologists ranked ninth in the list, X-ray radiation was considered a harmful factor.
Once and today – working conditions of a Polish radiologist
According to the International Safety Data Sheet, the radiologist comes into contact with ionizing, infrared, ultraviolet, and electromagnetic radiation. In 2011, the then vice-president of the Polish Medical Society of Radiology, prof. Andrzej Urbanik, sounded the alarm that our country does not meet the strict EU standards for equipment and security, which doctors in radiology laboratories cannot feel completely safe. Three years later, despite protests, the privilege that radiologists had in relation to the risk they faced was lifted – a five-hour working day.
– Shorter working time of radiologists was a thing of many years ago, when we had older generation devices, and the staff working in radiology departments more often performed examinations that were associated with high exposure to radiation, e.g. contrast tests of the gastrointestinal tract – the current president says in an interview with MedTvoiLokony PLTR, prof. Andrzej Cieszanowski.
Radiology no longer poses a real threat. Interview with prof. Andrzej Cieszanowski
Aleksandra Lipiec, MedTvoiLokony: Professor, do radiologists have direct contact with radiation?
Prof. Andrzej Cieszanowski: Now, most radiologists have little direct contact with X-rays or electromagnetic fields. Radiologists who perform, or in fact mainly describe computer tomographs and magnetic resonance imaging, do not work directly in the zone of exposure to ionizing radiation (CT) or to the electromagnetic field (MR). They spend most of their time in front of the descriptive stations (computer + monitor) watching and analyzing the research done by technicians. Even the technicians who perform CT directly during the examination are in another room (protected by special lead shields) from which they supervise its course. And the stay of technicians in the electromagnetic field (MR) – necessary, among others to the appropriate positioning of the patient in the apparatus – it is reduced to a minimum. Despite many years of performing MR examinations (for about 40 years), no significant negative effects have been reported for the personnel operating the MR apparatus.
However, there are still some risks?
The greatest risk concerns a relatively small group of doctors who perform procedures using X-rays in real time, “watching” the course of the examination on the monitor (usually vessels with intra-arterial or intravenous contrast administration) or a procedure performed under the control of, for example, a computer tomograph (the so-called interventional radiology ).
What about standards developed by the EU? Has Poland already caught up with other countries?
Yes, in the last dozen or so years in Poland there has been a replacement, as well as a significant expansion of the apparatus base (ultrasound, CT, MRI machines). There were several ministerial programs, so the equipment is completely different today than it used to be – modern and safe. CT devices are now equipped with techniques that allow for even a few times reduction of the radiation dose compared to devices from several years ago. In addition, in justified cases, individual radiation shields are used – both for patients and for staff, especially for doctors performing interventional radiology examinations and procedures.
- Also read: Radiology- types of research, contraindications
Since so much has changed, what is the work of a radiologist at the moment?
The introduction of telemedicine, and teleradiology in particular, made it possible to describe tests such as CT or MRI outside the place where they were performed. Radiologists can even download and annotate descriptive stations installed in their homes. In view of the almost rapidly increasing number of imaging examinations, radiologists are currently not complaining about the lack of employment. It can be said that it is a profession with a very strong position on the medical services market.
The systematically growing number of imaging examinations is a huge challenge for modern radiology. In addition, these studies consist of an increasing number of pictures, as a result of which the overall time devoted to their evaluation is extended. The inevitable solution will be – in the future – artificial intelligence systems. Certainly – at least in the coming years – they will not replace radiologists, but they may facilitate and accelerate the evaluation of the examination, for example by both selecting “suspect” organs and marking normal areas. By generating an initial report with such information, the time needed for the examination by a radiologist will be significantly reduced.
Is the health of employees working with modern equipment still monitored?
Despite the relatively low exposure of most of the personnel, employees use individual dosimeters recording ionizing radiation and undergo periodic health checks.
Young doctors want to be radiologists?
The profession of a radiologist has become very attractive in recent years – there are more applicants than training places. The choice of this specialization is encouraged by modern diagnostics with the use of devices that allow looking into the depths of the human body. People with computer and IT interests are at home in it. And technology is constantly evolving. The rates for radiologists are also favorable at the moment, especially in private institutions.
How many radiologists do we currently have in Poland? Has this group of doctors also been affected by staff shortages?
We have over 3 in Poland radiologists. However, the needs are increasing.
According to this year’s data from the Watch Health Care Foundation, the average waiting time for a health service in radiology and imaging diagnostics is 2,6 months. Why do you have to wait so long? Is it the shortage of staff to blame?
Yes, this is largely due to the lack of radiologists. In addition, imaging tests have now become something so basic that clinicians cannot imagine diagnostics without them. This year, the government met the expectations of doctors and patients and introduced the so-called unlimited tests for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The number of referrals for such research is constantly growing. The number of cameras is also greater, but apparently still insufficient.
The editorial board recommends:
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- Ultrasound, EKG, X-ray. What other tests do Poles most often do?
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