Page 22 - IMPRESSION Newsletter March19

IMAGING BASICS

Lead Marker Use in the Digital Age

Writen By: Stacey Bickling, MEHP, RT(R)

A common struggle Radiography students
have early in the program is where to place
their lead marker, which indicates left or right
and who took the image. This is particularly
challenging now because many digital systems

are not cassette based. When I was in school, I
was taught the best place to put my marker on
the cassette and avoiding the bopper. As a
student, I was so proud when I put my maker

on an 8x10 cassette and placed it in the tray in
the NICU bed and it ended up in the perfect
place on the image. Marker placement is
harder now than ever because many digital
systems do not use cassettes. There is a trend

to place electronic markers during post-
processing rather than use a lead marker, but it
is so important that we maintain the standard.

We are professionals, technologists not technicians. We have worked hard to get RT(R)
behind our name and it is important to prove to all other healthcare workers that we deserve
the title. One aspect of being a professional is following the professional guidelines and
standard of practice. ACR, in their published guidelines, and the ASRT, in their white paper
“Best Practices in Digital Radiography,” support using lead markers consistently. Post

process marking using digital markers should be the exception, not the rule. Plus, we are
proud of our work and we should want everyone to know who took those images.

Marker use has long been a priority for technologists for a few reasons. Lead markers will

tell the radiologist if the image is an AP or PA projection. Every lead maker has initials or
numbers on them, so it’s quick and easy for a radiologist or manager to find the technologist
to ask follow up questions. This may happen if the order doesn’t match the images or the
comments in the order don’t match the order. We have all had a requisition with a right-side
injury and the left side ordered. Using your anatomic markers in the room would ensure that
you don’t look at the image later, compare it to the req and digitally add the incorrect marker.

We work in a field with constant distractions; using your lead marker in this way may prevent
errors.