RT Documentation Standards 4

Question 1

A daily cone-beam CT shows a 4 mm shift that is applied before treatment. What should the therapist document?

Accepted Answer

The shift values in each direction, the approval, and that the correction was applied

Answer

Recording shift magnitudes and actions lets the team spot systematic errors and confirms the corrections are traceable.

Question 2

Which correctly documents a dose per fraction according to safe-documentation standards?

Accepted Answer

2 Gy

Answer

Trailing zeros are on the Joint Commission 'Do Not Use' list because '2.0' could be misread as '20'.

Question 3

What is the purpose of documenting a 'time-out' before a special procedure such as HDR brachytherapy?

Accepted Answer

To confirm the correct patient, procedure, and site before starting

Answer

The Universal Protocol time-out is a final documented check that the team agrees on patient, procedure, and site.

Question 4

For a female patient of childbearing age, what should be documented before simulation and treatment?

Accepted Answer

Pregnancy status

Answer

Fetal radiation exposure is a serious risk, so pregnancy status must be checked and recorded before imaging or treatment.

Question 5

A near miss is caught before treatment, so no radiation reaches the patient. How should it be handled?

Accepted Answer

Report it through the department's incident learning system

Answer

Reporting near misses, for example to RO-ILS, helps find system weaknesses before harm occurs.

RT - Radiation Therapist Certification Practice Test