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?
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?
This is how I tape my markers as well. Reverse taped so the sticky side is out. when it gets used or un-sticky, I just peel off a layer. I still keep mine on a slip of film which comes off the MRI printer, but I like the Card idea in-case film is ever un-available. Because I keep my markers in my pocket on the piece of film rather than sticking them to my badge, I lose way fewer of them than my counterparts at work.
ReplyDeleteWe use poster putty.....only shows on the first few images after putty spreads out, it's pretty radiolucent. We pay good money for cool markers, may as well show them off
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting that with all the cutting edge technologies we use daily, sticky tape still holds our hospitals together!??!
ReplyDeleteSince most places have digital xrays, are xray markers still even needed? I was taught film markers were for legal reasons to track who performed the xray. But films are tracked in the computer and initials are put in with the scanned paperwork. Has anyone done away with markers?
ReplyDeleteI find your last point the most interesting, “why use my markers when i can annotate the final image”. with respect to infection control and the rise of resistant bacteria , are radiographic markers relevant to the digital age ?
ReplyDeletex ray tech
I find your last point the most interesting, “why use my markers when i can annotate the final image”. with respect to infection control and the rise of resistant bacteria , are radiographic markers relevant to the digital age ?
ReplyDeletex ray tech
Anonymous "Since most places have digital xrays, are xray markers still even needed? I was taught film markers were for legal reasons to track who performed the xray. But films are tracked in the computer and initials are put in with the scanned paperwork. Has anyone done away with markers?"
ReplyDeleteNot only do they identify the technologist, markers are necessary to confirm the patient's left vs. right side in the event that there is an anomaly with a patient's anatomy or with severe trauma or pathological processes when it is difficult to determine right vs. left radiographically.
I can remember one case in particular where a lead marker was not used for a portable chest x-ray. The tech viewed the image and annotated a digital marker. The patient had a tension pneumothorax on the left which pushed the heart to the opposide side of midline. The tech assumed the heart was on the left, marked the side with the heart as left (actually right due to the ptx) and the physician placed a chest tube in the good lung (the right). This turned into a much more serious condition rather quickly. If the lead marker was used by the tech when at the bedside, confirming the correct side was marked, this could have been avoided... just one example though.
Anonymous "Since most places have digital xrays, are xray markers still even needed? I was taught film markers were for legal reasons to track who performed the xray. But films are tracked in the computer and initials are put in with the scanned paperwork. Has anyone done away with markers?"
ReplyDeleteNot only do they identify the technologist, markers are necessary to confirm the patient's left vs. right side in the event that there is an anomaly with a patient's anatomy or with severe trauma or pathological processes when it is difficult to determine right vs. left radiographically.
I can remember one case in particular where a lead marker was not used for a portable chest x-ray. The tech viewed the image and annotated a digital marker. The patient had a tension pneumothorax on the left which pushed the heart to the opposide side of midline. The tech assumed the heart was on the left, marked the side with the heart as left (actually right due to the ptx) and the physician placed a chest tube in the good lung (the right). This turned into a much more serious condition rather quickly. If the lead marker was used by the tech when at the bedside, confirming the correct side was marked, this could have been avoided... just one example though.
emartllc - I fully support the use of radiographic markers. There is no other way to confirm right vs. left on a radiograph (legally speaking). In a court of law, if a radiograph is hung that does not have a marker on it, no expert will be able to confirm right vs. left due to conditions like situs inversus and dextracardia. The expertise of any technologist will be discredited if a marker is not used because we are taught it is the law to place markers. In other words, how can one confirm right vs. left if they were not actually present with the patient in the exam room?
ReplyDeleteInfection control is an issue... especially with lazy technologists. You can disinfect your markers, use protective bags on portables, and/or use universal precautions. You shouldn't be placing your marker on the patient. All of these things should prevent bacteria from being transferred to your patient from the markers.
emartllc - I fully support the use of radiographic markers. There is no other way to confirm right vs. left on a radiograph (legally speaking). In a court of law, if a radiograph is hung that does not have a marker on it, no expert will be able to confirm right vs. left due to conditions like situs inversus and dextracardia. The expertise of any technologist will be discredited if a marker is not used because we are taught it is the law to place markers. In other words, how can one confirm right vs. left if they were not actually present with the patient in the exam room?
ReplyDeleteInfection control is an issue... especially with lazy technologists. You can disinfect your markers, use protective bags on portables, and/or use universal precautions. You shouldn't be placing your marker on the patient. All of these things should prevent bacteria from being transferred to your patient from the markers.