Case Study
You have just accepted a position in a large oral health care clinic at a university-based dental school, where your primary role will be to process, mount, and prepare a preliminary interpretation of full mouth series of radiographs taken on incoming
Patients. You know how valuable it is to follow a systematic order when mounting films, so you decide to apply an orderly system to interpreting the radiographs as well. Design a form that will guide you and other radiographers through the interpretive process. Your form should include the following:
1. A place to record basic information (the patient’s name, date the radiographs were exposed, name of the person interpreting the radiographs, date of interpretation, etc.).
2. A step-by-step guide for where to begin and end the interpretive process.
3. A list of common conditions or deviations from normal that you will be looking for. (Organize the conditions you will be interpreting logically.)
4. Organize the conditions according to what you will examine the radiographs for first, second, third, etc.
5. Prepare columns, rows of boxes, or whatever your design requires as a place to record or list the condition.
6. Label the columns, rows of boxes, or whatever your design uses, with the appropriate headings.
7. Prepare a place to document that the condition needs a referral to the dentist.
8. Prepare your form in such a manner that other professionals may be able to utilize the form. Prepare written instructions for utilizing the form as needed.