It is possible to use storage phosphor radiography (SR) devices in a manner that results in excess exposure to the patient without the operators knowledge. Because these SR systems have an automatic correction for the final optical density (OD) of the image, the technologist and radiologist will not be able to use excessive blackness of the image as a sign of overexposure. Tests reported here demonstrate that it is possible to obtain images of a chest phantom that appear acceptable with a 32 times difference in exposure (maximal exposure .86 R). It is possible to obtain exposures of a pelvis phantom that appear acceptable up to the tube limit of our machine (4.8R). Tests of the Fuji AC-i demonstrate that it will accept a much wider range of exposures than the AGFA ADC prototype which permits only a 7 times difference in exposure before The image is degraded.Exposure estimates, based on the dosimetry of the phantom, of the exposures actually used by our technologist when they obtain bedside chest radiographs initially demonstrated a range of estimated exposure of 8.5 TO 289 mR with an average exposure of 33 mR. When the exposure data was evaluated by the exposure techniques used by each individual technologist, the average exposure estimated to be used by each technologist ranged from 10 TO 289 mR, a 29 times difference in exposure. Based on this data, an educational program was commenced. Six months after the conclusion of the educational program, the range of average exposures used by the technologists on bedside chest radiographs varied from 24 to 121 mR, a 5 times range, with a mean of 55 mR. The 5 fold range of variation in exposure of beside chest radiographs is similar to that expected in conventional bedside chest radiographs.

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