Monument Health takes steps to protect physicians and caregivers from radiation

RAPID CITY, S.D. (July 17, 2023) — Monument Health Rapid City Hospital installed a radiation protection system to protect their interventional staff from dangerous ionizing radiation.

Many interventional procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory use X-Ray fluoroscopy, which requires a continuous X-ray beam to be directed at the patient’s heart. The image is then transmitted to a monitor so the physician can see the structures and function of the heart during the procedure. 

Although this imaging method provides significant diagnostic and therapeutic benefits, scatter radiation from the X-Ray beam may pose a safety hazard to cath lab personnel. Radiation exposure is one of the most dangerous occupational hazards for Cath lab workers, with interventional teams having the highest radiation exposure of any profession. This can pose significant health risks, such as an increased risk of cancer, cataracts and cardiovascular disorders.

Now, cath lab personnel have additional protection from radiation exposure with a scatter radiation protection system called EggNest. This system reduces radiation exposure by up to 97 percent. 

“Long-term radiation exposure is well associated with an increased risk of serious adverse events on the performing physician and interventional teams including three times the risk of skin carcinoma, thyroid cancer and brain cancer,” said Bhaskar Purushottam, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, FSVMB. “It is an absolute breath of fresh air to have the protection of effective radiation shields like EggNest.”

EggNest works by adding built-in arm boards and shields around the procedure table which reduce radiation exposure for cath lab staff without compromising their workflow or patient access.

“We want to do everything we can to protect our staff from the dangers of radiation exposure in our hospital,” said Mike Tilles, Monument Health Vice President of Operations. “We believe one of the most effective ways to minimize radiation exposure in our interventional suites is by installing this scatter radiation system.”

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About Monument Health

Headquartered in Rapid City, S.D., Monument Health is a community-based health care system with a mission to make a difference, every day. The system offers care in 31 medical specialties and serves 14 communities across western South Dakota and in eastern Wyoming. With over 5,000 physicians and caregivers, Monument Health is composed of 5 hospitals and 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

About EggNest

The EggNest System was developed by Dr. Robert Wilson, Founder and CEO of Minnesota-based Egg Medical, Inc. Dr. Wilson is a practicing Interventional Cardiologist at the University of Minnesota, where he has been on staff since 1986. More information on the EggNest Radiation Protection System can be found at: www.eggmedical.com.