BACKGROUND: Lehurutshe Hospital is a district hospital situated in rural North West Province of South Africa. The Hospital offers basic radiological services such as X-rays of the chest, abdomen, extremities and skull according to the norms and standards set by the National Department of Health for a level one hospital. According to 2008/2009 data from the Hospital, it is evident that the number of patients requiring radiology services is increasing. However, no systematic study has been done to determine the reasons and effects of this increasing caseload on the Radiology Unit of the Hospital. This study seeks to establish the caseload and the resources utilised for the services rendered by the Radiology Unit in Lehurutshe Hospital with specific focus on the patient profile and material and human resources utilisation. AIM: To assess the utilization of the Radiology Unit at Lehurutshe Hospital in terms of caseload, profile of patients, and resource utilization from 01 January to 31 December 2009 METHODOLOGY: This was a cross sectional study. The setting was the Radiology Unit of the Lehurutshe Hospital in Zeerust town, Ngaka Modiri Molema District in the North West Province. A retrospective record review was done and information was extracted from the Hospital information system on various variables that are relevant to the functions and resource utilization of the Radiology Unit, including caseload, profile of patients, resource utilization and workload of staff. No primary data was collected. RESULTS: The study found that more than 5000 patients were seen and radiological examinations were done during this period with a total number of public patients being significantly higher than private patients. Nearly 500 radiological examinations were done per month. The wide variation in the number of examinations done per month was probably due to seasonality, which may affect operational planning and inventory management at the Unit. Almost 50% of the radiological examinations were chest X-rays. Other examinations include X-ray of the upper and lower extremities and ultrasound examination for obstetrics and gynaecology. These examinations were done based on various clinical indications. A significant number of public patients seen at the Unit were infants, children and teenagers. The private patients were from an older age group. The majority of patient were unemployed and indigent. The material resources used in the Unit includes X-ray films, chemicals (developers and fixers) and ultrasound gel. The Unit has two radiographer and one radiographer assistant. In addition, a medical doctor read the X-rays as and when necessary. The direct costs incurred at the unit include use of material resources, maintenance of equipments (service contract) and compensation of employees. Total direct cost during the study period was R 650 803.89, most of which were incurred due to compensation of employees and maintenance of radiological equipments. Patient to staff ratio at the unit was quiet low and it shows there is spare capacity at the Unit, which could easily be used for income generation by the provision of services to private patients. CONCLUSION: This is probably the first study conducted at a radiology unit of a district hospital in South Africa. This study documented important information, which was not published before.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1957.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1957.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1959.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1971.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1959.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1971.

Bakgrund: Yrket röntgensjuksköterska är under ständig utveckling i Sverige gällande kompetensutveckling. Internationellt sett finns det många vägar att gå för röntgensjuksköterskor. Man kan till exempel vidareutbilda sig beskrivande radiograf. Utbildningarna har uteslutande gett positiva resultat. På grund av förändringar bland patienter måste vården utvecklas, detta gäller även röntgenverksamheten. I Sverige har man, trots den internationella utvecklingen, ännu inte fullt ut sett behovet. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att ta reda på vilket behov samt vilka förutsättningar till kompetensutveckling det finns på olika sjukhus för röntgensjuksköterskor. Metod: Studien är en kvalitativ intervjustudie med semi-strukturerade frågor. Ett strategiskt urval gjordes med inklusions- och exklusionskriterier. De kvalitativa intervjuerna utfördes per telefon eller i direkta möten och samtalen spelades in för att sedan analyseras med kvalitativ manifest innehållsanalys. Resultat: Det har varit omväxlande svar från deltagarna. De deltagande har varierande haft stora och små behov av kompetensutveckling för sina röntgensjuksköterskor. Bristen på personal är påtaglig. Alla deltagare uttryckte att de hade möjligheter och förutsättningar för att deras röntgensjuksköterskor skulle få kompetensutveckling även om utbudet varierade. Resultatet visar att kompetensutveckling behövs inom alla områden. Trots detta uttrycker inte alla sjukhus att kompetensutveckling är viktigt för deras verksamhet. Slutsats: Kompetensutveckling för röntgensjuksköterskor är ett stort ämne. Det finns mer att ta reda på och det finns många utvecklingsmöjligheter. Det finns ett behov att kompetensutveckla anställda röntgensjuksköterskor för att få en förbättring i sin profession, vilket leder till utveckling både individuellt som röntgensjuksköterska och tillsammans som röntgenavdelning. / Background: Profession as radiographer is constantly developing in Sweden valid skills development. There are many different ways in order to improve the profession internationally. One can, for example, take advanced practicing to become a reporting radiographer. The advanced practicing has exclusively showed positive results. Nowadays the patients are changing in conditions rapidly that the healthcare industry needs to adapt itself. Even the international development for radiographers seems bright, the need is yet fully realized in Sweden. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out which needs and possibilities are available for Swedish radiographers to improve and develop their own professional skills. Method: A qualitative interview study with semi-structured questions. The participants were selected by inclusions and exclusions. The interviews were conducted by telephone or physical meetings and the interviews were recorded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis manifest. Results: The responses from the participants have been varied. Lack of radiographers is palpable. All participants expressed that they had opportunities and possibilities for their radiographers to receive an advanced practicing in skills development even though the supply varied. The result shows that skills development is needed in all areas. Despite this, all hospitals do not express that skill development is important for their radiology department. Conclusion: Advanced skills development for radiographers is an interesting topic. There are more to figure out valid skill development. There is a need to develop radiographers in order to improve individually and together as X-ray department.