Journal of radiological science and technology (대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학)

Korean Society of Radiological Science (대한방사선과학회)
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Estimation of Appropriate Number of Radiologic Technologist Based on Analysis of Time Required for Computed Tomography

전산화단층촬영의 소요시간 분석에 기반한 방사선사의 적정인력 산정에 관한 연구

  • Lee, Ki-Baek (Department of Radiologic Technology, Chungbuk Health & Science University) ;
  • Kim, Yung-Kyoon (Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Eun-Hye (Department of Health Safety Convergence Science, Korea University) ;
  • Kim, Yon-Min (Department of Radiotechnology, Wonkwang Health Science University)
  • 이기백 (충북보건과학대학교 방사선과) ;
  • 김영균 (삼성서울병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 김은혜 (고려대학교 보건융합과학과) ;
  • 김연민 (원광보건대학교 방사선과)
  • Received : 2022.04.27
  • Accepted : 2022.05.23
  • Published : 2022.06.30
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Abstract

Although the number of computed tomography(CT) is increasing every year, it is insufficient to establish appropriate workload calculation standards of radiologic technologist to provide optimal medical services to patients, such as patient safety management and infection management. The purpose of this study is to present guidelines for calculating the appropriate workload of radiologic technologist by analyzing the work flow of CT procedures and the time required for CT examination in major hospitals. As for the study subjects and methods, the appropriate process for each step of CT examination was investigated to systematically present the process and time required for the actual examination, and the CT procedure time of 104,105 adult patients and 465 pediatric patients under the age of 6 were analyzed. For the time required, data according to the use of contrast medium, procedure type, and adult/child were collected and compared. The test time of CT examination using contrast medium took about 13 minutes when one radiologic technologist worked and about 9 minutes when two radiologic technologists worked. The time required for the procedures were statistically significant depending on the presence or absence of contrast medium, multi-phase procedure, and patient age (considering pediatric patients). As a result, in order to thoroughly perform patient safety and infection management, the appropriate workload increased by about 40% when there were two radiologic technologists. The limit workload was an average of 32 people per day with one radiologic technologist per 15 minutes, and 48 people per day with two radiologic technologist per 10 minutes. This is a marginal workload, and in the case of procedures that require more time to acquire radiographic images, the interval between reservations should be widened.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This paper was supported by Korean Radiological Technologists Association in 2020

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