Areas of activity

1. Radiation oncology

The role of medical physicist in radiation oncology

Main task of a medical physicist in radiation oncology is a quality, responsible and safe use of ionizing radiation in terms of treating oncological patients. This is why a complete quality assurance programme for ionizing radiation use was developed and implemented, and as such is constantly applied and upgraded.

Physicists are directly involved in making of individualized optimized absorbed dose distributions (radiation treatment plans), with each patient being treated with high energy X-ray beams. More than 800 optimized dose distributions for high conformal radiotherapy are made on a yearly basis for patients treated in Clinic for Tumors.

Physicists are actively participating in implementing new methods as well as treatment procedures. By implementing extensive set of measures, computerized modeling for radiation beams and developing various methods of verification, required conditions were met for clinical implementation of one of the most complex radiotherapy techniques – Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). This method is in standard use at ‘Clinic for Tumors since 2016.

In their work, physicist use very sophisticate and expensive equipment. It includes an advanced system for optimized absorbed dose calculation, different types of electrometers and ionization chambers, relative dosimetry system, and different types of phantoms (from homogeneous to anthropomorphic).

2. Nuclear medicine

The role of medical physicist in nuclear medicine

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine in which radionuclides, i.e. unsealed ionizing radiation sources, are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Medical physicists implemented, regularly conduct and upgrade a comprehensive quality assurance program and periodically perform quality controls of devices to assure responsible and safe use of ionizing radiation.

Moreover, they are involved in the optimization of diagnostic and therapeutic processes performed with the of use ionizing radiation. They perform measurements on phantoms and Monte Carlo simulations, they implement and use artificial intelligence to enhance the quality of diagnostic information. Medical physicists are involved in all phases of the radionuclide therapeutic process, from calculation of therapeutic activity, internal dosimetry calculations to the measurements prior to patient discharge.

In every diagnostic procedure, in accordance with EU Council Directive EURATOM 59/2013, medical physicist can estimate absorbed dose to organs and effective dose. The radiation dose information is available to every patient upon request.
Important activity of medical physicist in nuclear medicine is radiation protection of patients, staff and wider population. Therefore, a physicist performs radiation containment check of working areas, hospital bedrooms, solid radiation waste and of collectors for liquid radioactive waste.

3. Diagnostic and interventional radiology

The role of medical physicist in diagnostic and interventional radiology

At Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, there are currently 35 X-ray units that are used for diagnostic and interventional procedures. Medical physicists in diagnostic and interventional radiology conduct a comprehensive quality assurance programme that involves periodically performing advanced quality control tests for these devices, thereby achieving safety when using the device, both for patients and staff. In addition to quality control, physicists are actively involved in optimizing diagnostic procedures, ensuring that the patient is exposed to the lowest possible radiation that is necessary to achieve satisfactory diagnostic information. They also participate in the development of mathematical patient dose calculation algorithms and thus allow each patient to get information about the received radiation dose during a diagnostic or interventional procedure involving the use of ionizing radiation. 

Department for diagnostic and interventional radiology of University Hospital Rijeka, currently uses two MRI scanners, which were included in the quality assurance programme established and managed by Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection. This programme assures that MRI scanners function in a safe and high quality manner.

Medical Physicists advise on topics and actions concerning patient and staff safety and protection in the MRI area.

The aim of Medical Physics Department is to initiate imaging sequence optimization programme which will ensure that the diagnostic information is optimal and obtained in the shortest imaging time possible.

4. Radiation protection

Radiation protection officer at Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka is a member of the Department for Medical Physics and Radiation Protection. Responsibilities of the RPO are prescribed within the Act on Radiological and Nuclear Safety (NN 141/13, 39/15, 130/17, 118/18,  21/22, 114/22).

RPO should monitor the application of radiological safety measures, the usage of protective equipment and the personal irradiation dosimetry, as well as the medical capability and professional competence to work with ionizing radiation for exposed workers. In addition, the responsible person attends the inspection supervision of the State Office and replies to the inspector’s findings.