When bringing a patient back from the waiting room or receiving them from a hospital room, the first priority is ensuring you have the correct patient. Always double-check name, patient identifier, and date of birth to avoid performing an exam on the wrong person.
Ask the patient what happened and what’s bothering them. If their symptoms don’t match the exam order (e.g., pain in the right hand but an order for the left hand), follow up with the referring provider before proceeding.
Determine whether the patient can safely move into the positions required for the exam. The more you communicate and make them comfortable, the better they’ll be able to cooperate during positioning.
Patient history and effective communication are essential parts of the technologist’s role—both for accurate imaging and for building trust and comfort with patients.
