About this course
Dental staff in the UK are required by law to be "IRMER Trained". This law applies to everyone involved in taking and/or processing radiographs, not just GDC registrants. This course covers the essential role of quality assurance, including clinical audit in dental radiology and radiography, knowledge required by The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.
This course is a GDC Highly Recommended CPD Topic (Radiography and radiation protection).
This course is relevant to the whole dental team.
This course provides training for the roles of Operator, Practitioner, Referrer, Legal Person, and Radiation Protection Advisor.
CPD Time: 1 hours (1 CE Credit)
Customer feedback on this course
- I liked this short and easy way of learning about quality assurance.
- This CPD was highly informative and beneficial.
- Simple and reassuring approach to clinical audit in the field of xrays.
- Very interesting and helpful course.
- It's a top quality course and I learnt enormous amount of knowledge. Many thanks.
Assessment: 12 MCQs. Pass mark 75%. more…
On passing the assessment you will immediately receive a GDC-recognised Enhanced CPD IRMER Certificate.
Access: You will have access for 12 months, and can take the course as often as you wish in this period.
Aim
The aim of the learning and teaching materials in this course is to allow learners to develop their professional knowledge, understanding and competence in Radiological Quality Assurance in line with their identified personal development requirements.
Course objective
• to teach the principles and practice of quality assurance, in line with the theoretical knowledge requirements of the IRR and IR(ME)R laws and current professional recommendations.
Anticipated learning outcomes:
The learner will:
• know how to effectively apply Quality Assurance principles and interventions to dental diagnostic radiology.
• understand diagnostic reference levels.
• learn how to routinely monitor radiograph quality
• know how and when to implement a multi-cycle clinical audit of dental radiographs.
• through achieving these outcomes, provide an improved level of service to their patients.
GDC Development Outcomes
C D
Learning content:
The Quality Assurance Process | Equipment Performance: The X-ray Set | Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL) | Processing QA | Quality Monitoring | Monitoring and Auditing Radiographs | Multi-cycle Clinical Audit | Stages of Clinical Audit – The First Cycle | Stages of Clinical Audit – The Second Cycle | Course Completion
View full course description
IRMER Quality Assurance in Radiography
Course Description
The Quality Assurance Process
Quality Assurance (QA) in radiography ensures that diagnostic images are of high quality while minimising patient exposure to radiation. This section covers the systematic monitoring of radiography standards, including equipment performance and image quality assessment, as required by UK regulations.
Equipment Performance: The X-ray Set
X-ray equipment must undergo regular testing to ensure it is operating correctly. This section explains the phases of testing, from very important examination during installation to routine performance checks every three years, to maintain safety standards.
Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL)
DRLs are set as benchmarks for the maximum allowable dose of radiation. This section explains the importance of comparing actual radiation doses to DRLs to ensure patients receive the lowest possible dose while achieving diagnostic image quality.
Processing QA
Poor image processing can lead to errors, whether using digital or chemical methods. This section covers routine testing, such as step wedge tests, and maintaining equipment like phosphor plates and chemical processors to ensure high-quality images.
Quality Monitoring
All radiographs must be monitored and graded based on their diagnostic acceptability. This section outlines the grading process and the importance of recording any issues with radiographs to identify areas for improvement.
Monitoring and Auditing Radiographs
Regular auditing of radiographs helps identify common issues and improve the overall quality of imaging. This section explains the process of monitoring radiographs for diagnostic acceptability and how to implement changes when too many unacceptable images are recorded.
Multi-cycle Clinical Audit
Clinical audits help identify recurring issues with radiographs and improve image quality through systematic changes. This section covers the steps involved in conducting a multi-cycle audit, from setting standards to implementing and reviewing improvements.
Stages of Clinical Audit – The First Cycle
The first cycle of a clinical audit involves reviewing radiographs, setting reasonable standards, and identifying areas for improvement. This section provides guidelines for conducting the first cycle, including how to gather data and analyse results.
Stages of Clinical Audit – The Second Cycle
After implementing changes, the second cycle of the audit measures the effectiveness of those changes. This section covers the importance of re-assessing performance and documenting improvements to ensure compliance with radiography standards.
Course Completion
Participants will complete a feedback survey and take a multiple-choice exam. Upon passing, they will receive a GDC-compliant CPD certificate. This course emphasises practical application of quality assurance principles to improve patient safety and diagnostic outcomes in dental radiography.
You can copy and adapt this example PDP entry for your own needs and circumstances. The format complies with GDC guidance on PDP structure.
| PDP Learning or Maintenance need |
| IRMER training compliance in quality assurance |
| How does this relate to my field of practice? |
| I am involved in dental radiography/radiology |
| Which development outcome(s) does it link to? |
| C D |
| What benefit will this have to my work? |
| Perform tasks that are required for my daily role/duties. |
| How will I meet this learning or maintenance need? |
| Take the Verified Learning IRMER quality assurance course |
| When will I complete the activity? |