Semester Kickoff Contest

To kick off the new semester, I'm giving away a 5th edition pocket radiography guide by Balinger/Frank ($40.00 value)... must have a twitter account and you may enter as many times as you want before Sunday, 8/26 at noon... visit this link for details:  http://tweetsw.in/1726/

Taping your X-Ray Markers

I have seen a few ways to tape x-ray markers, and you may even be required to tape them a particular way when in school, but this is the way I prefer to tape mine... I know, it's a basic post, but every once in a while, I find someone asking me how I tape mine, seasoned tech and new:

Supplies Needed:  Markers, tape and a credit card or hotel card (we used to use x-ray film, but these are more sturdy and x-ray film isn't just laying around these days):

Step 1:  Place strip of tape over face of marker starting at one end and stop at the other (left to right) with sticky side down.

Step 2:  Fold tape back over itself so that the sticky side is up, making sure the original sticky side down portion stays in place.

Step 3:  Wrap the marker twice with the sticky side up and tear the first piece of tape so that the edge aligns with a side border (left to right).

Step 4:  Start a new strip of tape (sticky side down) that covers the side of the marker and the colored top portion.  You want to tear the tape so that the opposite side is covered, but the bottom of the marker remains sticky.

Step 5:  Place marker on your card and repeat for your other marker.

I typically have to replace the tape about once every week or so, depending on how busy we are and how many times I am sticking and un-sticking my markers from a bucky or image receptor.  As I said, this is only my preference, and there are many ways to tape your markers... what methods do you prefer?

Top 5 Free Apps for Radiography Students

Everyone knows radiography students are on a tight budget, and some of the apps and tools available can be quite expensive.  Since we're in the season for new radiography program sessions, I thought I would chime in with some helpful tips.  Here are my top 5 FREE picks for you:

Evernote

Evernote has many features that I would consider must-haves for students.  Aside from simply taking notes with text, you can also record audio from your phone or computer, clip images and articles from websites with one click, and easily organize your notes and notebooks.  It also allows you to sync all of your devices so you can access material anywhere.  They are constantly adding new features and supplemental applications that are also free.

 

Biodigital Human

 Biodigital Human is excellent for studying.  There are may features that this powerful app utilizes like the ability to view different organ systems or combinations of organ systems while excluding others, labeling, x-ray view, pan and zoom, and notations on each piece of anatomy you are reviewing.  You can also pin and annotate selected body parts, and take a jpg snapshot of any particular area of interest to export to a report or powerpoint slide if you wish.  This is another tool that is constantly being updated with new features.

Dropbox

 Dropbox is a very simple, yet powerful app.  It allows you to store photos, videos and documents into their cloud storage so you have all your files accessible from your PC, laptop, smart phone or pad at any time.  If your computer crashes, no problem!  Dog ate your homework or your smartphone... no problem!  All files are accessible from the dropbox website so even if you don't have your own device with you, files are retrievable with internet access.  The interface is easy to use because it looks just like any old folder you would open on your computer and interacts the same way.  You don't have to email multiple files anymore; just simply share a dropbox folder with someone to give them access.  My dropbox account started with 1GB of free storage space, but has been upgraded to 20GB of storage for free.  You can also gain an additional 3GB of storage just by using their camera feature.

gFlash+ Flashcards and Tests

  I recently came about gFlash+ and wish I had it when I was in school.  It's a basic flashcard system that can operate on IOS and Android systems.  You can "create, download and manipulate" flashcards in just about any subject.  I would recommend this for classes that require memorization of new terms or lots of detail like medical terminology and radiographic positioning.

PicMonkey

 My wife actually turned me onto this resource.  PicMonkey is a web-based photo editor, similar to photoshop.  You may be interested in some of the filters like the ones on instagram, but this offers so much more.  You can annotate with tons of font variations, adjust color quality, insert objects place borders around images, and the list keeps going and going.  I would recommend using this for any reports or presentations that require you to display radiographs.  It will allow you to remove patient demographics by painting over it (if you haven't removed it already), label anatomy, magnify, and other imperative needs.  It is very simple to use and it does not require an account of any kind.  Simply visit the website and choose "upload an image" to edit, and you're on your way!

Have any additional suggestions?  I would love to hear about them.  Please feel free to comment and tell us how you use any apps for student success!

Radiograph of the Week

Taking you back a while... this radiograph was taken by me when I was a student in 1998.  It is a digital photo of a film/screen image hanging on a view box, hence the low resolution.  What still remains interesting about this xray to me is the story behind it.  This person accidentally discharged a nail gun he was carrying while walking.  The nail went in straight, but as the patient felt the nail impale him, he dropped to the ground in pain.  The nail bent along with his knee, and he was unable to straighten it.

Lesson learned:  If you ever shoot yourself in the knee with a nail-gun, don't bend your knee.

Orbits for MRI Clearance

It is still very common to receive orders for patients who need MRI exams, but require radiographic clearance to ensure there are no metal fragments in the eyes.  Routines vary from place to place, but reasons for performing this exam include metal/machine shop workers, history of foreign body removal from the eyes, or shrapnel injuries.  Our hospital only requires a water's view to include the orbits.  Here is a good example of what to look for, as well as what to do if the reading may be positive:

I didn't notice anything in the orbits at first, but when viewed on the high resolution screen of a Radiologist, you may see a small speck at the superiolateral aspect of the left orbit:

I thought this would be too far above the orbital rim to be considered a metal fragment in the eyeball, however due diligence should prevail because it may be metal regardless of where it's located.  When this happens, here's what you do:

1. Use a different cassette.  Dust and dirt may collect on the image plate and prevent light spread during processing for the affected area.
2. Clean your cassettes.  Most manufacturers recommend monthly cleaning of image plates, however, I may start cleaning them additionally before I perform any orbits for MRI clearance based on the repeat image:

As you can see on the magnified image, the white spot is no longer there, which means it was most likely dust... and the patient gets the MRI!