A method for obtaining an X-ray image of a subject on a flexible information carrier plate (62,60;65,70) for computed radiography. A memory (600,620) is affixed to a surface of the plate, wherein the affixed memory stores information about the plate and is in wireless communication (74) with a computer (PAS). A first scan date is stored in the affixed memory. Obtaining the X-ray image uses steps of storing at least a job identifier and a scan status for the plate in the affixed memory; acquiring (68) image data from a scan of the plate following exposure to X-rays, acquiring (72) at least the job identifier from the affixed memory, and associating the acquired image data with the acquired job identifier; incrementing a scan count value and updating the scan status in the affixed memory; erasing image content from the plate; and storing the acquired image data in a second, computer-accessible memory (PAS) according to the acquired job identifier.