What is Radiation?
Radiation is the emission (sending out) of energy from any source. Two examples are the heat that is constantly coming off our bodies and light from the sun. Ionizing radiation is high frequency energy that is able to penetrate cells and can cause changes to the cell's molecules. Ionizing radiation has many uses, including sterilization of food and medical equipment, creating medical images and treatment of some cancers. The most common source of ionizing radiation comes from the sun and earth (as radon gas), as well as our own bodies. The second most common source is medical imaging (x-rays, fluoroscopy, plain films and CT scans). Ionizing radiation is associated with increased risk of some types of cancer. The probability of radiation-induced cancer is related to the total amount of radiation accumulated by a person.
Measuring Radiation Exposure
The mili-Sievert is a unit of measurement used to determine a quantity called "effective dose." An effective dose uses both the amount of ionizing radiation absorbed in the body and the potential biological damage of the radiation. Not all ionizing radiation has the same biological effect - some types are more damaging based on where the exposure takes place on the body or the type of procedure being done. National Imaging Associates (NIA) has developed a way of calculating a patient's equivalent dose using data provided by the health care provider and Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliated companies.*
What Does My Score Mean?
It is important to talk with your doctor about medical imaging choices and this score is simply additional information you can use to make informed health care decisions. He or she can explain to you the need for a medical imaging procedure based on the benefits and potential risks involved. As an example, screening mammograms have been proven to decrease mortality from breast cancer by 30%. The risk of getting cancer from the mammogram itself is negligible. Therefore, the American Cancer Society recommends regular screenings for women over the age of 40.
What Can I Do?
Always remember that a great effort is made throughout the health care industry to ensure quality care that monitors patient safety very closely. If, after discussing this information with your doctor, he/she orders an individual exam, the patient should feel comfortable that the health benefits will outweigh any potential risks.
* Claim data is provided to National Imaging Associate (NIA) from Arkansas Blue Cross, BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas and Health Advantage. Based on that claim information, NIA returns measurement data two times per year. If a claim has not been filed, was not paid, or has not yet been sent to NIA, or if the patient has had a lapse in coverage or the employer group has opted not to participate in this program, there may be information on exposure to ionized radiation that is not factored into this calculation. If you see that recent medical imaging has not been factored into your score, please check the date provided in the alert to determine if your service dates are included in the latest measures.
For more information on radiation measurement and safety go to: