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Real-world advice to help you keep lead aprons cleaner, staff safer, and your facility compliant.

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Article featured image discussing ergonomics of personal protective equipment, supporting RadCare Services guidance on comfort, safety, and proper PPE use in healthcare.

The Ergonomics of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Choosing PPE To Reduce Physical Strain

Wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential in healthcare for any workers regularly exposed to radiation during procedures. However, a common concern is the weight of garments, such as lead aprons. Healthcare workers consistently wearing heavy aprons that hang from the shoulders can cause physical strain and discomfort. Therefore, it’s important to consider […]

Healthcare facility visual used in RadCare Services educational content, reinforcing radiation safety awareness, professional compliance standards, and best practices within regulated clinical environments.

Case Study

The Annual Cost of X-ray Garment Management

A new RCS hospital was previously performing in-house integrity scanning, cleaning, and documentation for 508 lead pieces across nine departments.

Healthcare environment image supporting RadCare Services educational messaging on radiation awareness, professional compliance, and clinical best practices.

Case Study

Garment Repairs & Replacement Costs

After the Covid-19 pandemic, a midwestern level-one teaching hospital was struggling with staff shortages and fell behind on the cleaning and maintenance of their radiation protection equipment.

Healthcare environment image supporting RadCare Services educational content on radiation awareness, compliance practices, and professional clinical operations.

Blog Post 10/31/24

Buyer’s Guide: Maternity Lead Aprons

Are you trying to find a safe, comfortable lead apron that will grow with you throughout your pregnancy while limiting radiation exposure? Here’s our list of the best maternity lead aprons. To shop, visit our Maternity Lead Apron page. Key Considerations for Maternity Lead Aprons When choosing a maternity lead apron, several factors healthcare professionals […]

Clinical environment visual used by RadCare Services to support educational messaging on radiation safety, healthcare compliance requirements, and professional medical facility standards.

Blog Post 8/27/24

The Joint Commission Lead Apron Inspection Requirements Explained

The Joint Commission (TJC) provides healthcare organizations with accreditation and helps them create an environment of zero harm by conducting onsite audits about every 36 months. TJC requires healthcare facilities to inspect medical equipment annually, including lead aprons, and document the inspection findings. Our customers report that during audits, TJC will often pick up a […]

Featured image addressing appropriate PPE for radiation exposure, reinforcing RadCare Services guidance on healthcare worker safety.

Blog Post 8/24/24

Popular Lead Apron Brands: Traditional, Lightweight, & Lead-Free Options

Choosing the right lead apron is crucial for healthcare professionals. This guide explores leading brands, styles, and materials to help you find the perfect fit—including essential accessories like Mobile Lead Barriers that offer added protection in procedural areas. Here, we’ll discuss lead apron options from Techno-Aide, Burlington Medical, and INFAB. Techno-Aide Founded in Nashville in […]

Blog Post 8/13/24

RadCare Services earns spot on Inc. list of 5,000 fastest-growing companies

Indianapolis-based X-ray garment solutions provider ranks No. 3,107 INDIANAPOLIS – Inc. revealed today that RadCare Services (RCS) ranks No. 3,107 on the 2024 Inc. 5000, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment – its […]

Supporting healthcare visual asset reinforcing RadCare Services educational messaging on radiation awareness, clinical environments, and professional safety standards.

Blog Post 8/8/24

Lead Apron Inspection Checklist | Tips for X-ray Garment Care – RCS

Lead apron inspections should start as soon as you receive the garment, even before using it. Why is this necessary? Unfortunately, we occasionally find harmful damage when performing radiographic inspections on new pieces directly from the manufacturers. Relying solely on palpation or visual inspections for lead apron safety is insufficient. Annual radiographic inspections are essential […]

Blog Post 6/25/24

Why Lead Aprons Need Annual Radiographic Inspections (X-ray Scans)

We began conducting integrity checks on lead aprons for customers in 2017, and it quickly became clear why aprons should be X-ray scanned annually. Radiographic inspection using X-ray equipment finds otherwise undetectable damage in protective X-ray garments (such as micro holes) that can compromise the safety of your staff or patients by leading to unwanted […]

Photo of healthcare professional wearing protective gown, illustrating proper PPE use and reinforcing radiation and infection control safety.

Blog Post 6/24/24

Average Lead Apron Lifespans (and Signs It’s Time for Replacement)

Based on our observations and studies, the average lifespan of a lead apron is typically five to six years. It depends on many factors. ● Protective Material: We’ve seen lightweight lead and lead-free aprons (thinner) last three to five years, whereas traditional lead aprons (thicker) last six to ten years. ● Frequency of Use: Daily […]

Before and after comparison image demonstrating cleaning effectiveness, supporting RadCare Services validation of sanitation results.

Blog Post 6/21/24

Signs of Lead Apron Wear and Tear

From lead aprons being held together with duct tape to attenuation holes the size of baseballs, after servicing over a million X-ray garments, we’ve seen it all. How can you tell that your apron needs repairs or even replacement? Some signs of wear and tear are obvious, while others are not. Most imperfections that can […]

Healthcare related visual asset supporting RadCare Services educational messaging on radiation protection, professional compliance standards, and best practices in medical environments.

Blog Post 5/24/24

How to Maintain Lead Aprons (The Dos and Don’ts)

We’ve seen some interesting maintenance practices over the years, from physicians washing lead aprons in a car wash to soaking thyroid collars in the scrub sink outside the OR. Proper maintenance of X-ray garments extends their lifespan and keeps them working well, ensuring patient and staff safety. Improper maintenance can mean replacing aprons sooner or […]

Healthcare related visual supporting RadCare Services educational content on radiation safety, professional compliance, and clinical best practices.

Blog Post 5/17/24

How to Manage Your Lead Apron Inventory

Properly managing your lead aprons helps with garment longevity, supports compliance and safety standards, and ensures they adequately protect staff from scatter radiation and HAIs. However, keeping track of your lead apron inventory can become a low priority when juggling staffing challenges and caring for patients. Unfortunately, poor lead apron management can cause garments to fall […]

Blog Post 5/15/24

Lead Apron Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right X-ray Protective Garments

A well-fitting lead apron is essential to protect healthcare professionals and patients from harmful X-ray radiation. Choosing the appropriate X-ray garment for your staff and patients can be overwhelming, given the many different styles, weights, thicknesses, and brands available. Over the past decade, we’ve cleaned and repaired over a million X-ray garments and have firsthand […]

Healthcare environment visual supporting RadCare Services educational content, reinforcing radiation safety awareness, regulatory compliance, and professional best practices in clinical settings.

Blog Post 5/8/24

How to Clean Lead Aprons & Prevent Hospital Acquired Infections

Most lead apron cleaning guides or policies will recommend wipes and sprays, but if you’re not cleaning your garments with both regular wipe-downs and quarterly deep cleaning and disinfection, you could be putting your staff and patients at risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Regular garment cleaning maintains the integrity of personal protective equipment, such as […]

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