Nuclear Medicine Clinical Practice in the United States During the COVID-19 Era and Beyond

• Published in: Journal of nuclear medicine technology Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 218 - 226
• Main Authors: McFarland, Gail A, Johnson, Sara G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; COVID-19; Hand Hygiene; Health Services - supply & distribution; Hospital Departments - organization & administration; Hospital Departments - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Molecular Imaging; Nuclear Medicine - organization & administration; Nuclear Medicine - statistics & numerical data; Pandemics; Patient Discharge; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Resource Allocation; United States - epidemiology; United States; COVID-19; nuclear medicine; safety
• ISSN: 0091-4916; 1535-5675
• DOI: 10.2967/jnmt.120.253245

Traditionally, practice in nuclear medicine has involved strong emphasis on radiation safety principles. Nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) focus on practices that keep patients, the public, and the technologist safe from potentially harmful effects of unnecessary radiation exposure using concepts of time, distance, and shielding as well as ALARA (As low as reasonably achievable) principles. The current COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the need to apply focus on infection prevention in practice and update knowledge and procedures on such measures. In this article, the authors outline the need for NMTs to develop practices and values focused on infection prevention measures.