Page 323 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Chapter 16 Diagnostic Imaging and Endoscopy 307

Cassette Routine the radiographs for a single patient are filed in one

Maintenance envelope. If the animal is radiographed again, place
the new films in front of the old films. The front of the
envelope is the side with the writing on it. Hold the
Ideally, the exterior is disinfected between patients by envelope so the writing faces you and place the new films
spraying with a dilute disinfectant and drying off with in front of the old. Write the information for these new
paper towels. Monthly they can be wiped off thoroughly films under the last entry. This will facilitate looking for
using a mild soap and water and then dried thoroughly specific radiographs.
with towels. A third system requires filing radiographs using a
The intensifying screens on the interior of the cas- combination of date and patient name or number. In
sette also requires monthly maintenance. Screen this circumstance, only the radiographs taken on a
cleaning solutions are used by applying a small amount specific date for a patient are filed together. The
of solution to a 4 × 4 gauze sponge and wiping the sur- advantage to this system is that location of a specific
face of the screens, a second sponge is used to dry the radiograph is more rapid. The disadvantage is that more
screen. Leave the cassette open to air dry thoroughly, envelopes are used, resulting in more cost and more
overnight if possible. Clean cassettes at the end of the space needed for filing. Likewise, the more items
day so they are not out of commission during business requiring filing increases the chance for misfiling and
hours. Refill the cassette first thing the next morning. To more personnel time.
maintain a record of cleaning, place a small sticker on The fourth system is filing by date. All films taken on
the back of the cassette with the date cleaned. Replace a date are filed together. This requires less filing and
the sticker after each cleaning. A quick check of the fewer envelopes but makes locating all the films of a
sticker each time the cassette is used will remind per- particular patient for comparison purposes difficult,
sonnel it is time to care for the cassette. because they might have been taken on different dates.
If many films are taken on a particular date, locating a
Patient Film Filing specific film becomes time‐consuming.
Use an out‐guide whenever a filed radiograph
envelope is removed. This is usually a large card placed
Once a film has been read, the diagnosis, film quality, in the spot where the radiographs were filed. This makes
and comments are entered into the radiology log. The it easier to return the file or alert personnel that it has
assistant can do this from the entry in the patient’s been removed.
record, as the veterinarian will have entered the diag- Accurate filing and quick retrieval are essential!
nosis. At this point, the film is ready for filing and Accurate filing makes radiographs readily available and
storage. The film or films are placed in a large paper increases their usefulness. “Lost” or misplaced files
envelope specifically designed for radiograph storage. require a lot of time to locate the films. Filing radio-
On the exterior of the envelope write the patient’s graphs is a daily task for the assistant. Remember these
name, owner’s name, veterinarian’s name, and the radiographs are legal documents just like the medical
dates the radiographs were taken. Some veterinarians record and should be treated with the same care.
also like to put the type of study and the diagnosis after
each date.
Radiographs must be filed in such a way that they are
easily retrieved. Special storage systems are used to file Learning Exercise
films as they are too large to file with the patient’s paper
medical record. The radiograph envelopes are placed in Find out where and how the radiographs are
open filing cabinets sized to hold the envelopes in an stored in your school or clinic.
upright position. There are several methods utilized to
file radiographs and they usually follow the same method
used to file the patient’s medical records. One method is
to file them alphabetically under the patient/owner’s Darkroom Maintenance
name. The owner’s last name is used first, followed by
the first name. This can get a bit confusing with common The darkroom itself can become a source of poor film
last names like Smith. Then a middle initial comes into quality if it is not properly maintained. Potential dark-
play. If misfiled, these radiographs are difficult and time‐ room sources for loss of quality include light leaks,
consuming to find. improper chemical balance, and artifacts due to chemi-
If medical records are filed numerically, the radio- cals or materials on and in cassettes or on hands.
graph envelopes are numbered with the patient’s file Preparation of a maintenance schedule and strict adher-
number and filed in numeric order. In either system, all ence to it will improve radiographic images.