Keeping Pediatric Imaging Safe with ALARA
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- 10 minutes
Ensures radiology and laboratory are prepared, aligned, and responsive to pediatric-specific needs within emergency department (ED) workflows.
Why it matters: Reduces delays, unnecessary radiation exposure, and inappropriate testing that can affect outcomes and length of stay.
Key focus areas: Pediatric protocols, turnaround times, and communication between services.
Who to engage: Radiology and laboratory leadership, ED leadership, PECCs, Quality teams.
Getting started: Review pediatric imaging and laboratory workflows and identify gaps in pediatric protocols or coordination.
Provides guidance on minimizing radiation exposure in clinical settings.
Provides evidence-based principles, guidelines, and tools to minimize radiation exposure and offers pediatric imaging safety resources, education, and practice standards for clinicians and radiology teams.
Evidence-based guidance for selecting appropriate pediatric imaging studies. Supports emergency department (ED) and radiology teams in reducing unnecessary imaging.
This professional organization is focused on pediatric radiology excellence and offers guidelines, educational resources, and updates in pediatric imaging.
An overview of laboratory quality programs and standards that focuses on accurate, safe, and reliable lab testing practices. Relevant for pediatric ED clinicians monitoring lab results.
Provides practical guidance on safe blood draw volumes for children and supports prevention of iatrogenic anemia and patient harm.
Discusses common difficulties and strategies in pediatric blood collection and provides tips for minimizing patient stress and procedural complications.