As medical imaging exams have replaced more invasive procedures, benefiting patients and revolutionizing medicine, people's exposure to medical radiation has increased. Imaging providers are concerned that radiation exposure over time could have adverse effects for patients. They continue to act to ensure that patients receive only necessary scans and to reduce radiation dose used in these exams.

Image Wisely a collaborative initiative of the American College of Radiology (ACR), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), encourages imaging providers to: Optimize imaging examinations to use only the radiation necessary to produce diagnostic quality images. Convey the principles of the Image Wisely Program to the imaging team in order to ensure that the facility optimizes its use of radiation when imaging patients. Communicate optimal patient imaging strategies to referring physicians, and be available for consultation. Routinely review imaging protocols to ensure the use of the least amount of radiation necessary to acquire a diagnostic quality image for each exam

Image Wisely also urges providers to demonstrate to patients that they "image wisely" by: taking the Image Wisely pledge, getting accredited by the ACR or equivalent accrediting organization, participating in a dose index registry.

"As the stewards of nearly 100 years of radiology safety knowledge, radiologists are committed to ensuring that patients receive safe, necessary imaging care," said John A. Patti, M.D., FACR, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors. "The Image Wisely campaign is an important opportunity for radiologists to help referring physicians and medical imaging professionals understand which exams may be most appropriate and how these exams may be carried out in a safe, effective manner."

The Image Wisely campaign will initially focus on Computed Tomography (CT) scans. There were approximately 87 million CT scans performed in 2009 as rapidly evolving CT technology replaced.