For National Health Education Week, we sat down with Ramon Li, Medical Health Physicist at CAMP, to discuss radiation safety, common misconceptions, and why he has dedicated his career to showing the world that radiation isn’t the villain it’s often made out to be.
When Ramon Li started his career with a master’s in nuclear engineering, he thought he’d be working in nuclear power plants. Instead, he found his calling in something equally important but often misunderstood: keeping healthcare workers safe from occupational radiation exposure.
“I see my purpose as promoting the beneficial uses of radiation,” Ramon says, and that passion comes through in everything he does.
As a medical health physicist at CAMP, he’s not focused on the radiation doses patients receive during treatment, which is the domain of therapeutic and diagnostic physicists. Instead, Ramon ensures that the people administering those treatments, including X-ray technologists, nuclear medicine technologists, and fluoroscopy operators, stay safe while performing their jobs.
The Reality Behind the Fear
Even professionals who work with radiation daily have concerns about their exposure. X-ray technologists who operate imaging equipment every hour of their workday worry about cancer risk. It’s a fear Ramon encounters regularly, and it’s one he addresses with both empathy and science.
“Radiation is all around us at any given point,” he explains. “The sun is radiation. But just like sunlight, it’s the dose that matters.”
This is where ALARA comes in, or “As Low As Reasonably Achievable”. It’s not just a regulatory principle; it’s a philosophy that guides everything Ramon and his colleagues do. They review imaging protocols, evaluate shielding designs in X-ray rooms, and ensure that every measure is taken to minimize occupational exposure.
The reality is that occupational radiation doses for healthcare workers are kept well below regulatory limits, and those limits exist with substantial margins from deterministic effects and limit stochastic effects to radiation workers.
The Tools of the Trade
Walk through any hospital’s radiology or nuclear medicine department, and you’ll see small badge-sized devices clipped to staff members’ clothing. These radiation monitoring badges are essential tools in Ramon’s work, though they’re often taken for granted.
“They’re about the size of an ID badge reel,” Ramon explains, holding up an example. These dosimeters continuously monitor radiation exposure, providing data that helps physicists like Ramon identify any concerning trends or needed improvements in radiation safety protocols.
But here’s where human nature complicates things: complacency. Some techs wear their badges religiously for years, seeing consistent low readings, then stop wearing them altogether. Others are new to a facility and don’t fully understand why monitoring matters. This is where continuing education becomes crucial.
“Things change,” Ramon says. “Machines get upgraded, protocols shift. Someone might suddenly show higher dose readings, and we need to investigate why. Or we’ll see zeros on someone’s badge report when there shouldn’t be—that’s often a sign they’ve stopped wearing it.”
Beyond the Hospital Walls
Ramon’s work extends beyond staff safety. When patients receive radioactive materials for imaging or therapy, like the newer Lutetium-177 based radiopharmaceuticals (Pluvicto and Lutathera) and Iodine-131 therapies, they remain radioactive for days afterward. Ramon helps develop patient release instructions, ensuring that people understand how to minimize exposure to family members without being unnecessarily alarmed.
“We’re educating them that yes, you’re going to be radioactive for a period of time, but this treatment is beneficial for your health,” he says.
It’s a delicate balance between conveying important safety information and not frightening people about something that’s helping them.
Some therapies require more hands-on support. When these newer radiotherapy programs first launched, Ramon helped nuclear medicine techs learn safer cleanup procedures for contaminated areas. It might be unglamorous work, but it’s essential for maintaining a safe healthcare environment.
Why Radiation Shouldn’t Scare Us
Ask Ramon what he wishes people understood about radiation, and his answer comes quickly: “It’s not as scary as what you read online.”
He points to a recent example of frozen shrimp recalled due to trace radioactivity, sparking panic and headlines about “radioactive food.” When you actually examine the data, Ramon notes, the radiation levels in those shrimp were minimal and posed negligible risk. But the damage was done: people stopped eating shrimp based on fear rather than facts.
“What I’ve seen in articles written about radiation is always negative,” Ramon reflects. “It’s never about nuclear medicine saving lives or small modular reactors providing clean energy. It’s always the scary narrative.”
This frustration drives his work. He’s seen radiation therapy give cancer patients a better quality of life. He’s witnessed how properly used medical imaging can detect diseases early when they’re most treatable. He knows that radiation, like water or sunlight, isn’t inherently dangerous, it’s all about dose and application.
“You can drink yourself to death with water if you really try,” he points out with a smile. “Dose matters for everything.”
A Story from the Highway
Ramon has one story that perfectly encapsulates both the public’s fear of radiation and why his work matters. A few years ago a moisture density gauge, which is a device containing radioactive material used in construction, fell off a truck on Interstate 25. The device was dragged for miles, scattering debris across a major highway.
“It shut down I-25 southbound for four or five hours,” Ramon recalls. “I remember responding to the site and driving by all those stopped cars filled with frustrated drivers.”
First responders called in a radiation safety team. They surveyed the area, located the source wedged in a crack in the highway, and safely contained it in a shielded container.
“If a paint can had spilled on I-25, everyone would have driven right over it without blinking,” Ramon muses. “But because it involved radiation, it became a huge emergency.”
Was it right to take precautions? Absolutely. But the incident highlighted how radiation triggers an outsized fear response compared to other hazards, even when experts are managing the situation and the actual risk is minimal.
Moving Forward
As National Health Education Week reminds us, education is ongoing work. For Ramon and his colleagues at CAMP, that means regular training sessions with hospital staff, monitoring badge reports, staying current with new therapies and technologies, and yes, occasionally addressing radiation emergencies.
It involves gradually shifting the narrative about radiation from fear to understanding, changing the perspective from “avoid at all costs” to “use responsibly and beneficially.”
“There are tons of beneficial uses for radiation,” Ramon emphasizes. “In medicine, in energy production, in research. My purpose is to promote the safe use of radiation overall.”
For the X-ray technologists, nuclear medicine technologists, and fluoroscopy operators working in hospitals across the Rocky Mountain region, that purpose translates to something concrete: peace of mind that someone is watching out for their safety, monitoring their exposure, and ensuring they can perform their life-saving work without unnecessary risk.
And for the rest of us? It’s a reminder that the world is more nuanced than scary headlines suggest. Radiation, properly understood and carefully managed, isn’t something to fear. It’s a tool that saves lives every single day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Radiation Safety in Colorado Healthcare
What does a medical health physicist do at hospitals?
Medical health physicists, like those at CAMP, ensure occupational radiation safety for healthcare workers. Unlike therapeutic or diagnostic physicists who focus on patient care, medical health physicists protect X-ray technologists, nuclear medicine techs, and other staff members from excessive occupational radiation exposure. They review imaging protocols, design shielding for X-ray rooms, monitor radiation badge data, and provide ongoing safety training at hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Are radiation monitoring badges required for healthcare workers?
Yes, healthcare workers who are occupationally exposed to radiation are required to wear radiation monitoring badges (dosimeters) under federal regulations enforced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and applicable state agencies. These badges track cumulative radiation exposure and are provided by hospitals when staff members are first hired. The data collected helps medical health physicists ensure workers stay well below federal and state regulatory limits.
What is ALARA and how is it applied in hospitals?
ALARA stands for “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” and is the fundamental principle guiding radiation safety practices at hospitals nationwide. Medical health physicists apply ALARA by implementing engineering controls (like improved shielding), reviewing and optimizing imaging protocols, training staff on best practices, and continuously monitoring occupational exposures through badge data. The goal is to minimize radiation exposure while maintaining the beneficial medical uses that save lives.
How does CAMP support radiation safety at healthcare facilities?
CAMP serves as the Radiation Safety Officer for hospitals and healthcare facilities across multiple regions. Services include on-site staff training, patient consultation for radiotherapy treatments, radiation badge monitoring, equipment safety reviews, protocol optimization, and emergency response support. Medical health physicists provide both general radiation safety education and specialized guidance for newer treatments like Lutetium-177 therapies (Pluvicto and Lutathera).
What should I do if I’m a patient receiving radiation therapy?
If you’re receiving radiation therapy or nuclear medicine treatment, your healthcare team and medical health physicist will provide specific patient release instructions. These guidelines help you understand how long you may emit low levels of radiation after treatment and how to minimize exposure to family members, particularly children and pregnant individuals. The radiation levels are carefully calculated to be safe, and the therapeutic benefits significantly outweigh the minimal risks. Don’t hesitate to ask your care team or facility’s medical health physicist if you have concerns.
Where can healthcare workers get radiation safety training?
Healthcare workers can receive radiation safety training through their facility’s Radiation Safety Officer or contracted medical health physics services like those provided by CAMP. Training covers proper use of radiation monitoring badges, understanding ALARA principles, safe operation of fluoroscopy and X-ray equipment, and facility-specific protocols. Both new hire orientations and continuing education sessions should be available. Healthcare facilities seeking radiation safety services or Radiation Safety Officer support can explore options through organizations like CAMP.
What are newer radiation therapies available at hospitals?
Many hospitals now offer advanced targeted radiotherapies like Lutetium-177-labeled drugs (Pluvicto for prostate cancer and Lutathera for neuroendocrine tumors). These treatments deliver radiation directly to cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Medical health physicists assist facilities in implementing these programs safely, including staff training, contamination control procedures, and patient release protocols. These therapies represent the beneficial use of radiation that’s expanding treatment options for patients nationwide.
Is occupational radiation exposure dangerous for X-ray techs and nuclear medicine technologists?
Occupational radiation exposure for properly monitored healthcare workers is maintained well below regulatory limits and poses minimal risk. Modern safety protocols, shielding, and continuous monitoring through dosimeter badges ensure that X-ray technologists, fluoroscopy operators, and nuclear medicine techs have exposure levels that are significantly lower than those associated with measurable health effects. Any potential cancer risk from occupational exposure at these levels would not manifest for decades, if at all, and the likelihood is extremely low when ALARA principles are followed.
What happens if there’s a radiation incident at a healthcare facility?
Healthcare facilities have established protocols for radiation incidents, involving facility radiation safety personnel, state health department officials, and medical health physicists. In such situations, trained professionals assess the area, contain any sources, and ensure staff and public safety. Most radiation incidents are minor and quickly resolved through proper emergency response procedures. Medical health physicists provide emergency response support and guidance to ensure incidents are managed safely and efficiently.
Do I need a radiation safety officer for my healthcare facility?
Healthcare facilities that use radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment (X-rays, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, etc.) are required to have a designated Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) under state and federal regulations. Many hospitals and clinics contract with organizations like CAMP rather than employing full-time RSOs. Contracted medical health physicists can serve as RSOs for multiple facilities, providing expertise, regulatory compliance support, training, and ongoing safety monitoring.
How often should healthcare workers receive radiation safety training?
Initial radiation safety training should occur when healthcare workers are first hired and begin working with radiation-producing equipment or radioactive materials. Continuing education is recommended annually at minimum, though many facilities provide more frequent refresher training. Training frequency may increase when new equipment is installed, protocols change, or when badge monitoring data indicates potential issues. Regular training ensures staff stay current with best practices and regulatory requirements.
What regulatory bodies oversee radiation safety in healthcare?
Radiation safety in healthcare is regulated at both federal and state levels. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sets federal standards for radioactive materials, while individual states may have their own regulatory agencies (Agreement States) that enforce comparable or more stringent requirements. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates radiation-producing equipment like X-ray machines. Healthcare facilities must comply with applicable federal and state regulations, which is where Radiation Safety Officers and medical health physicists provide essential guidance and compliance support.
Connect with CAMP
CAMP provides radiation safety services to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the Rocky Mountain region. For more information about medical health physics or radiation safety programs, visit campphysics.com.
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