Creating a global radiography resource during coronavirus outbreak

The University has led the creation of a web resource helping radiographers across the world take mobile chest x-rays of Covid-19 patients consistently and safely.

The Problem

On Saturday 4th April 2020, with the UK lockdown in its second week, Professor of Radiography, Peter Hogg performed a literature search and discovered information about mobile chest X-ray imaging on potential or actual Covid-19 patients was missing. 

Our Solution

Realising that radiographers would need upskilling or reskilling to undertake imaging and interpretation tasks correctly and safely, Professor Hogg began to co-ordinate an international effort to ensure that radiographers took a consistent approach to their practice during this unprecedented time.

Peter brought Ken Holmes of the University of Cumbria in to work alongside him as project lead and within 24 hours two international societies and two national societies were fully on board. With over 50 people worldwide working on the the development, the project took 18 days to ‘go live’ and was completed in five weeks.

Working in isolation between several time zones across a short development period created several challenges but the team were accommodating, creative and worked at speed. Where new photographs and videos were required appropriate measures were put in place to protect contributors from catching COVID-19 while good leadership and communication allowed numerous sub-teams to work simultaneously.

Web resources were created and hosted on the following platforms.

UK e-learning for Health

  1. Minimising risk during mobile radiography
  2. Mobile chest radiography
  3. Image evaluation for the diagnostic quality of chest radiographs including COVID-19 cases
  4. Radiographic procedure

ISRRT e-Learning

  1. What is a virus? What is Coronavirus and why is it different? 
  2. Measures radiographers can take to minimise risk to themselves during professional working and their families
  3. Effective communication 
  4. Mobile X-ray equipment 
  5. Radiographic procedure 
  6. Radiation protection 
  7. Image review and reporting 
  8. Patient informatics
  9. Audit and learning

During the first three weeks after launch the web resources had been accessed thousands of times from 123 countries. Our BSc Diagnostic Radiography students also used the materials noting that they were comprehensive and highly valuable to their learning and practice.

“You have managed to accomplish an outstanding job, worth globally to all radiographers, which can protect lives and improve patient's health care services! A big thank you on your humanitarian offer!” 

Dimitris Katsifarakis, CEO, International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists