FINAL DRAFT 9/6/95
UPDATED NOV. 1996
Narrative
Functional Considerations
Operations:
Record distribution, storage, and retrieval
usually occur locally and may be consolidated
Nuclear Medicine is a referral-based
with patient registration and reception
diagnostic and therapeutic service, usually
functions.
organized as a separate department,
depending upon the medical utility of the
specialized
properties
of
various
Diagnostic Lab Process:
radionuclides.
Referring physicians send work orders to
In addition to diagnostic nuclear imaging
the diagnostic lab.
and treatment, other services may include
Specimens, possibly including biopsies,
immunoassay,
specimen
analysis,
and
are received and/or collected from remote
cardiac stress-testing..
drawing areas within the department.
Therapeutic
Services
include
Specimen
receiving,
holding,
prep,
radiopharmacy, and usually exclude all
examination,
interpretation,
consultation,
external beam forms of radiation therapy.
record distribution, storage and retrieval all
occur in the RIA Lab.
Imaging Process:
Patient Care Concept:
Referring physicians send requests with
Because of the scope of care provided,
clinical findings.
the high cost of the technology and the highly
The Imaging Process begins with patient
specialized staff, Nuclear Medicine's location
reception, record initiation, and outpatient
should be accessible to both inpatients and
waiting or inpatient holding.
outpatients.
Also,
telecommunication
Prior to imaging, patients may gown and
networks provide the opportunity for the
then go to the Radiopharmacy/Injection Area,
patient imaging to occur in one location and
where dose administration occurs.
the physician to
interpret the computer-
generated image at another site. This may be
A separate waiting area holds dosed
possible and/or desirable under certain
patients awaiting their procedure.
criteria.
Patient examination and imaging occur in
Most imaging equipment tends to be free-
the procedure areas. Patients are usually
standing or rail- mounted as criteria often do
retained until the quality of the image is
not dictate permanent installations in lead-
ensured.
shielded rooms. PET scanning equipment
Electronic and/or video images are viewed
(cyclotrons) may be an exception.
and enhanced at imaging consoles within the
Ancillary specialized units, for specialties
procedure rooms and within the adjoining
such as endocrinology and/or nuclear
computer work room.
cardiology, may be established at a remote
Film
image
processing,
record
location from the main department. However,
identification and quality assurance take place
this is less desirable and patient safety
in the film work area.
criteria must be met.
Mobile equipment
allows limited imaging procedures in inpatient
After the patient has been discharged,
and ambulatory care settings that are outside
interpretation and consultation occur in the
the main department.
computer image and film reading work areas.
VA DESIGN GUIDE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE SERVICE
PAGE 2-2
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