Assessment of an imaging is an important aspect of an OAHKS clinician as it assists in differential diagnosis, classifying the severity of knee osteoarthritis and obtaining important information about the patient’s condition.
This page was created to give you an understanding of imaging, risks and benefits associated with it, how to read X-rays and MRIs of the knee.
There is also a case study presentation at the end to put everything you have learned into practical situations.
X-ray and radiation
As you know, x-rays contain radiation and hence there is an element of risk which needs to be considered. Understanding the process involved in obtaining an x-ray image is therefore important for an OAHKS clinician.
The Diagnostic Imaging Pathway website has developed a module that is compulsory for advanced practice clinicians to complete (on behalf of WA Health Department and the WA Teaching Hospitals). The aim of this module is to ensure the clinician has an understanding of risks associated with medical radiation, and that they are equipped with the knowledge to communicate the benefits and risks of diagnostic imaging to their patients. It is also to ensure patients are not exposed to ionising radiation unnecessarily and that diagnostic medical radiation use is justified.
Click on the logo on the right to take you to this module.
Once you have finished the module, you will need to complete an assessment quiz that you can access by clicking here