Novel Imaging Techniques

Details

Title

Novel Imaging Techniques

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HPE119

Requirement

Optional

Module objective

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to understand and critically evaluate the clinical use of novel imaging techniques in their own area of Medical Physics practice. They will be able to critically apply their knowledge, understanding and judgement to develop and evaluate investigative strategies/procedures/processes that take account of relevant clinical and scientific evidence and other sources of information, and prioritise patient safety. A key role will be to provide advice to colleagues and patients. The Clinical Scientist in HSST will also be expected to critically evaluating their own response to both normal and complex situations, consistently demonstrating the professional attributes and insights required of a Consultant Clinical Scientist.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will analyse, synthesise, evaluate and critically apply their expert knowledge of novel imaging techniques in their own area of Medical Physics practice, including:

• Image formation and clinical opportunities:
  • the underlying physics of image formation;
  • the design of the imaging equipment;
  • mathematical techniques used in image reconstruction and image processing;
  • potential clinical imaging and quantisation techniques.
• Parameters used to describe imaging performance:
  • definition of subjective and objective image quality parameters appropriate to the novel technologies;
  • the measurement of image quality parameters.
• Radiation dose and risk to patients from ionising radiation and other physical agents arising from novel imaging techniques.
• The process and practical implementation of patient dose and risk assessments.
• The role of novel imaging techniques in the patient pathway.
• Normal and pathological appearances.
• The role of novel imaging techniques in diagnosis, in the selection and guidance of treatment, and in the evaluation of treatment response.
• Use of mathematical techniques to derive quantitative indices from images, if applicable.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to critically apply their knowledge, understanding and judgement to develop and evaluate investigative strategies/procedures/processes that take account of relevant clinical and scientific evidence and other sources of information. The Clinical Scientist in HSST will:

• Critically apply their knowledge and understanding of the measurement of image quality and patient dose measurements through:
  • making quantifiable measurements of image quality using test objects and techniques appropriate to the novel imaging techniques in their area of Medical Physics practice;
  • making estimates of patient dose and exposure to physical agents using appropriate measurement and calculation techniques.
• Critically apply their knowledge and understanding of novel imaging equipment and clinical techniques and:
  • determine how image quality is affected by the selection of exposure settings for potential clinical tasks;
  • determine how patient dose is affected by the selection of exposure settings for potential clinical tasks;
  • establish the balance between image quality and radiation dose for potential clinical tasks.

• Critically apply their knowledge and understanding of radiobiology and radiation risk to patient protection and:
  • use radiobiological dose-effect relationships relevant to estimate patient risk (including adverse incidents involving high exposures);
  • apply the concepts of justification, optimisation and diagnostic reference levels to patient

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will critically reflect and put into practice their scientific skills and clinical knowledge to advise relevant clinicians and other healthcare professionals about the scientific merits and potential risks of novel imaging techniques and will:

• Work with and communicate effectively with relevant clinicians and other healthcare professionals.
• Advise and communicate effectively with the patient and the public as determined by the scope of practice.

Attitudes and behaviours

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to evaluate their own response to both normal and complex situations. They will consistently demonstrate the professional attributes and insights required of a Consultant Clinical Scientist working within the limits of professional competence, referring as appropriate to senior staff, and will:

• Consider the needs of patients, clinicians and other stakeholders.
• Promote the importance of innovation in medical imaging, including the contribution from research imaging techniques.
• Recognise the importance of the multidisciplinary clinical team in making decisions about novel imaging technologies.
• Identify and perform thorough and objective collection and consideration of all relevant evidence.
• Consider attitudes, behaviours, sensitivities and barriers to change when communicating with different groups of healthcare professionals and with patients about novel imaging techniques.