Nuclear Cardiology: Nuclear Cardiology:

14 Nuclear Cardiology, The BasicsADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES• Caution Signs—Doors of areas in which radioactive materials are storedor handled, or imaging is performed must be marked with the standardNRC radiation caution sign: “Caution Radioactive Material. (Fig. 1-4.)• Dosimeters—Staff exposed to greater than 10% of occupational limitsfor radiation exposure must wear personal dosimeters, such as X-rayfilm badges, optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) or thermoluminescentdosimeters (TLD). These dosimeters should be read andchanged on a monthly basis.• Table and Pillow Covering—Compare cost of paper versus linen.• Gowns—Necessary for patients who wear clothing with metal buttons.• Intravenous (IV) supplies—Every patient who undergoes a stress testmust have IV access and a running IV during the test. This is needed forthe injection of the radiopharmaceutical at peak stress, and also forintravenous injection of pharmaceuticals in case of emergency. Patientswho have rest imaging also need IV access for radiopharmaceuticaladministration.• ECG Leads—Translucent chest leads are preferred for patients whowill have subsequent imaging.• ECG Paper—Sufficient amounts of ECG paper must be in stock.• Worksheets—Worksheets are very useful for documentation by technologistsand nurses of details and events during procedures. A separateworksheet may not be needed during treadmill exercise if the ECGcomputer generates a complete printable report. For pharmacologicalstress procedures, a chart is necessary on which one can record heartrate, blood pressure and ECG response, patient symptoms, and medicationgiven. A worksheet that documents the radiotracer dose administeredand time of administration, time imaging started, camera used,and other imaging parameters are important for QC. Additional notesby the technologist for the interpreting physician on patient height,weight, chest circumference, and bra size are also very useful. Samplestress worksheets are provided at the end of Chapter 5 and sampleimaging worksheets can be found at the end of Chapter 6.• Charts—Hard copy charts are still used for archiving purposes ofrecorded stress test parameters, ECGs, and images.LABORATORY STAFFThe staff of a nuclear cardiology imaging facility typically consists ofa medical director, a technical director, medical staff, technical staff,radiation safety officer, stress testing personnel, and clerical staff. Insmaller laboratories several functions may be fulfilled by one person.