LESSON 4
RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION
4-1.
INTRODUCTION
The organization of the radiology department is determined by the roles and
functions of the hospital and the community it serves. While there is no typical or
average radiology department, there are certain characteristics common to most
departments. The organization of a radiology department affects the disposition and
management of personnel and physical resources. Management aims to arrange
employees into working groups according to their functions. The administration directs
the efforts and skills of employees toward reaching departmental objectives in a
cohesive and efficient manner.
4-2.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHIEF RADIOLOGIST AND
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE
Within the radiology department, many responsibilities will be overseen by the
chief radiologist and the NCOIC. To begin with, they must establish effective working
relationships with the medical staff, administration, and other departments and services.
Jointly, they develop and approve all policies and procedures for the department. They
verify qualifications and capabilities of all radiology staff technical personnel. They
develop comprehensive safety rules in cooperation with the Hospital Safety Committee
and a comprehensive in-service training program for the whole of the radiology
department. They review and evaluate the quality of services. They also determine
equipment needs, equipment modification, and usage.
4-3.
THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Every well-managed department will have an organizational chart, which
establishes clear lines of authority, responsibility, and accountability. Having a clear
sense of organizational components together with the accepted lines of communication
on paper will help to ensure proper control of operations and define record-keeping
responsibilities. (See previous lesson, figure 3-2.)
4-4.
THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
a. The Need for a Standard Operating Procedure. To ensure effectiveness,
every aspect of departmental operation must have a standard operating procedure
(SOP), a set of instructions, which covers operational features and provides
standardized procedures. Each SOP is generally designed to meet joint accreditation
standards and hospital policies. Standard operating procedures are an effective way to
make available to all personnel the policies of the organization and pertinent general
information relating to specific assignments. Standard operating procedures generally
take the form of manuals.
MD0064
4-2