Advanced radiographic practice in adult chest imaging

Increasing cost and activity pressures on health systems worldwide has led to advanced radiographer practice models developing internationally. In the United Kingdom, radiographer reporting has evolved from the reporting of trauma skeletal x-rays by trained radiographers to include the interpretation of adult chest x-rays, CT head, MRI knee and lumbar spine, mammography, ultrasound and gastrointestinal examinations.

Advanced radiographer practice encompasses the entire spectrum of imaging, from justification of the referral, obtaining high quality images, initial image review and the provision of a definitive clinical report. The contribution that advanced practitioner radiographers make at patient, departmental and hospital levels will be highlighted. The positive influence on improved patient care and the service provided to referring clinicians will be illustrated through real case scenarios and departmental and hospital benefits explored though presentation of service review.

The Royal College of Radiologists and the College of Radiographers are united in their position that all radiographers who expand their scope of practice must perform at a level comparable to a consultant radiologist. The growing body of evidence supporting adult chest x-ray interpretation by trained radiographers will be explored, including performance at the end of accredited postgraduate training, audit of clinical radiographer chest x-ray reporting in clinical practice and agreement between expert consultant chest radiologists and clinical reports; both radiologist and radiographer.