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6 A ‘snapshot’ of the Clinical Photography Service We thought that the Clinical Photography Service was a bit ‘underexposed’ and we decided that the service deserved a ‘close-up’ feature to bring it into ‘sharp focus’… right that’s enough of the puns. There are six clinical photographers, who are professionally qualified healthcare scientists, working across Ninewells Hospital, Perth Royal Infirmary and Dundee Dental Hospital. The team photographs over 11,000 patients per year in purpose-built photography studios, clinic rooms, wards and theatres. Photographs can be taken in three or four locations at any time depending on clinical need and the team must also maintain a constant daily presence in the studios at Ninewells and PRI. The chances are if you or someone you know has been in hospital they will have come into contact with the Clinical Photography Service. The service assists clinicians in diagnosis and monitoring of patient conditions and disease. In many conditions clinical photographs are vital as they provide accurate images and record important details which are then discussed by the patient and the clinician. With specific patient consent, these photographs can also be used for teaching, publication, patient information and research purposes. The role of a clinical photographer can be diverse. The team delivers a continuous drop-in service for outpatients and provides immediate inpatient, theatre and emergency coverage as and when required. Early mornings may be spent on a variety of wards photographing conditions for urgent referral or monitoring. By mid-morning staff can be found in the studio photographing skin-related issues. After lunch they may be involved in a clinical study before spending the afternoon in theatre capturing new surgical techniques and practices or undertaking thermal imaging of patients in the Dermatology Photobiology Unit. They are also kept busy at Dundee Dental Hospital, photographing patients whilst they are in the dental chairs. In addition, the service manages clinical images captured in community settings and other sites such as Stracathro Hospital, Arbroath Infirmary and St Andrews Community Hospital. Clinical Photography is constantly changing and moving with current technology and the team embrace new ways of working to ensure they deliver a high quality service at all times. Clinical Photography Spotlight on...

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