A radiologic technologist or radiographer, is a medical professional who applies doses of ionizing radiation or radioactive materials to patients in order to reduce or eradicate tumors and cancer cells and create medical images of the human anatomy to aid radiologists and other doctors diagnose and treat illness and injury. They work in hospitals, clinics, medical laboratories, nursing homes, and in private practice.
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The allied medical professions include many branches such as, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, surgical technologist, nursing, laboratory technologists, radiologic technologist and others. The branch of the allied health field known as Radiologic Technology also has its own fields or specialties. The term radiologic technologist is an all encompassing term relating to all the different modalities within this allied health profession. Specifically, there are other titles used to describe the nature of the work, such as nuclear medicine technologist, radiographer, sonographer, radiation therapist, etc.
The term "technician" is reserved for vocational workers who fix medical equipments and is not related with the allied medical professionals known as "Radiologic Technologists".
Radiologic technologists employ a wide range of sophisticated equipment to produce medical images with the least amount of radiation to the patient, so that doctors and other medical professionals may better diagnose and treat injury or disease. Radiologic Technologists use their expertise and knowledge of physics, anatomy, physiology and pathology to assess the patient, develop optimal radiographic technique and evaluate resulting radiographic images to determine if additional procedures are warranted. They care for the patient even when acutely ill or traumatised. Or if they get eaten alive by a rabid deer.
The practice of radiologic technology includes the following modalities (or specialties):
Education requirements slightly vary worldwide because of common references. Formal training programs in radiography range in length from eighteen months to four years and leads to certificate, an associate's degree, or a bachelor’s degree. Prior to this profession's liberalization program towards a mandatory four-year bachelor's degree, one to two-year certificate or associate degree programs are most prevalent in, Canada and the United States. Since these professionals use ionizing radiation, which is potentially harmful to the living cells, most countries have strict regulations, certifications and registration process regarding the practice of this profession.
The educational curriculum conforms in different countries. Usually during their formal education they must learn human anatomy and physiology, general and nuclear physics, mathematics, radiation physics, plane and spherical trigonometry, electromagnetism, radiopharmacology, pathology, biology, biostatistics, logic, philosophy, research, genetics, nursing procedures, medical imaging science and diagnosis, radiologic instrumentation, radio diagnosis, emergency medical procedures, medical imaging techniques, general psychology, computer programming, patient care and management, medical ethics and general chemistry.
In the Philippines, radiologic technology qualifications earned thru distance education or online learning, limited licenses, or mere vocational certification is not acceptable. The practice and title of Radiologic Technology in the Philippines requires a license, a four and a half years bachelor's degree and is regulated and protected by law.[1]
In the past, a full time three-year associate's degree in radiologic technology program was offered but bachelor's degree holders are prevalent. Associate's degree holders find it hard to secure better employment prospects because of academic discrimination among employers prompting them to eventually upgrade their qualification towards a bachelor's degree. The associate's degree program was discontinued and is now phased out. Educational institutions nationwide no longer offer the program. Master's degree in Science, administration and education is available in various prestigious universities such as the University of Santo Tomas.
Currently, a four and a half year post secondary schooling, gyuthesis presentation, passing the licensure examination administered every June and November in Manila by the Professional Regulation Commission, active membership with the Philippine Association of Radiologic Technologists and mandatory compliance with Continuing Professional Development are required to practice Radiologic Technology in the Philippines. The Bachelors Degree in Radiologic Technology program in the Philippines covers a wide selection of subjects that includes: Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, General Physics, Genetics, Medical Ethics, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ultrasonography, Interventional Radiology, Mammography, Pathology, Nursing procedures in Radiology, Picture archiving and communication system and General Radiography are all based and in accordance with the existing standards of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.[2]
English, being one of the Philippines' official languages, is the nationwide medium of instruction for education. References for radiologic technology education in the Philippines are from the United States and other English-speaking western countries. References include but are not limited to authors such as: Ballinger, Bushong, Charboneau, Wilson, Rumack, Saunders, Yochun, Thompson and Saia.
Situations: Because of low salary, heavy workloads, technologists leaving the profession, lack of compensation, skilled migration, workplace safety issues, fewer students entering the profession and issues such as the proposed measures to address the loopholes of R.A. 7431[3], the Philippines, like the rest of industrialized countries, now faces a critical nationwide shortage of Radiologic Technologists.
Radiologic technologists in the U.K are known as diagnostic radiographers or therapeutic radiographers. Training in England & Wales and Northern Ireland is a three-year university degree whilst in Scotland it is a four-year degree. Once qualified the candidate is required to register with the Health Professions Council (HPC) before they are allowed to practice. To maintain their registration with the HPC, radiographers are required to continue their education, known as CPD (continuing professional development).
Radiographers can specialize by undertaking postgraduate courses at master's level (M), usually a postgraduate diploma is required to practice in the field of Ultrasound /MRI / CT / Nuclear Medicine / formal reporting etc. Some radiographers proceed to gain their full Master's Degree and PhD to work as Consultant Radiographers in the UK.
Radiographers are eligible for membership of the Society of Radiographers.
In the NHS, radiographers are now undertaking many of the roles historically undertaken by radiologists (doctors specialising in medical imaging) and radiation oncologists (doctors specialising in using radiation to treat cancer). This includes the reporting of plain films and CT scans,[4] and performing of procedures such as barium enemas[5] IVUs and nerve root injections.[citation needed]
A radiologic technologist is trained in programs of various lengths lasting from 18 months to attain a certificate or associate's degree to a 4 year program and graduating with a bachelor's degree. All radiologic technologist programs must be accredited by The Joint Review Committee on Education of Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). After completion of any of these programs, the graduate technologist would sit for their board exam. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification (or board) exam is the gold standard in the United States. However, some states will allow for the practice called "limited scope" radiography, in which case individuals are permitted to attend classes for several weeks with a focus on a specific body part, sometimes followed by the ARRT exam, but this may be optional as long as the state they practice in has issued them a "limited scope" to practice.
In 2005, 38 states certified radiologic technologists. Certification, which is voluntary, is offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Many employers prefer to hire certified radiographers. Certified radiographers have the most career flexibility to practice, as the ARRT credentials are accepted everywhere in the USA (although some states do require a state license to practice too). Those not credentialed by the ARRT and only licensed in their state may not be able to practice outside that state.
Radiologic technologists certified by the ARRT are expected to re-certify every two years. To be recertified, radiologic technologists must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years. Failure to complete this continuing education can result in a radiologic technologist needing to re-take their ARRT board exam in order to be credentialed again.
Advanced practice and midlevel radiology practitioners are Radiology Practitioner Assistants (RPAs) and Registered Radiologist Assistants (RRAs).
The current educational organization for RPAs is the Society of Radiology Physician Extenders (SRPE), who's current president is Wade Carrington and VP is David Hardwick.
While radiologic technologists in the United States work in trauma, operating room, critical care, fluoroscopy, CT scanning, MRI and angiography and other areas; there are many other available options for career advancement. RT's can attain continuing education in Mammography, CR, MRI , angiography, and become ARRT certified in these areas. Or they may pursue additional education in the areas of ultrasound (sonography), and nuclear medicine. (the results of a pilot study on using sonography as a primary certification was published by the ARRT in 2005).[1]
Those with a preference towards leadership may seek positions in an administrative capacity such as shift supervisor, chief (sometimes called a "lead") radiologic technologist, or department manager, administrator or director. Depending on the institution, courses or a master’s degree in business or health administration may be necessary for administrative positions.
There is also a career path in radiologic technology education for those who desire to have a hand in the future of the profession. Even this career path contains several directions including, clinical instructor, didactic (course) instructor, and the more administrative positions of clinical coordinator and program director.
In the United States, some sonographers and MRI technologists are not radiologic technologists. However, they should be credentialed by some ARRT equivalent agency to assure the educational preparation was adequate. They are able to perform exams specifically and solely in the areas of MRI & sonography because these modalities don't use ionizing radiation and therefore are not held to the same protective standards as radiologic technology areas that do.
In Canada (excluding Quebec), the salary of x-ray technologists ranges from $19.5-28.5/hour ($40,000-$56,000, calculated as full time base) for new graduates and up to $42.5/hour ($85,000, calculated as full time base) for top level x-ray technologists working in Alberta. The mean annual wage of radiography technologists nationally in 2005 was around $50,000 according to Statistics Canada.
Salaries are based on the National Health Service (NHS) Agenda for Change pay scale: Newly qualified Radiographer, Band 5: £20,710 - £26,839 (salary data collected Jan '10). Range of senior radiographer salaries, Band 6: £24,831 - £33,436 (salary data collected Jan '10). Range of lead or superintendent grade salaries, Band 7: £29,789 - £39,273 (salary data collected Jan '10). Managers or consultant radiographers can earn up to £65,657, Band 8c (salary data collected Jan '10) [6].
In Italy a Radiologic technologist has a salary of only 20000/22000 euro (approximately).
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists salary survey had the median earnings nationwide at $58,673 per year. Mean full-time compensation was reported highest in California ($75,873), Massachusetts ($71,574), Washington, D.C. ($68,585), Connecticut ($66,471) and Oregon ($66,152). Mean full-time compensation was reported lowest in West Virginia ($45,627), South Dakota ($48,902), Alabama ($49,131), Arkansas ($50,244) and North Dakota ($50,601). The disciplines/specialties yielding the highest compensation were medical dosimetry ($87,188)and radiation therapy ($71,461). Radiography ($52,336) was least lucrative, followed by mammography ($56,605). The survey is computed by information provided by the technologists themselves. As in most fields, wages increase commensurately with the amount of experience, responsibility levels and various modality capabilities.
As with many occupations in the United States, there is a shortage of available positions for the Radiologic Technology professionals in 2010. This is probably due, in part, to the large number of unfilled job openings a few years ago. This vacancy in the profession was the impitus for many interested parties flocking into radiologic technology programs. Many educational facilities took advantage of this demand and expanded their educational programs. By accepting more and more students, the ratio of graduates to available positions eventually balanced out. In some areas of the USA, this situation eventually tipped the scales and graduates began to have a difficult time obtaining the "perfect job".
Another factor that may have influenced the availability of postiions is the economy. Many people are valuing job security over salary and location - so many RT's are staying in their positions instead of moving around, as they have done in the past. Longevity means stability in many facilities, so human resource departments are not motivated to seek new graduates.
In addition, employers are trying to cut down on expenses so full time positions are not being renewed (to save cost on benefits), but rather they are replaced by per diem positions. Many graduates are primary breadwinners and therefore seek positions with benefits. When questioned in graduate surveys, these individuals often report that they do not have the job position they sought after graduation. This can be mis-interpreted to indicate that graduates are not attaining positions in the career of study, when in reality they just do not have their "dream position". However, with the baby boomers approaching retirement age, there should again be an increase in the number of jobs available in this career. The largest vacancy will be in Radiologic Technology Education, so plan your careers now! Many graduates find, that if they are willing to relocate there are jobs to be had in many rural as well as metropolitan areas of the USA.
To make themselves more marketable, radiologic technology professionals are cross training in several modalities. Starting as a Radiographer and moving into Computed Tomography, Mammography or MRI are just some of the career enriching moves that have been made. Many experienced RT's are jumping back into the educational arena for advanced education in Radiation Therapy, Special Procedures (aka. Interventional Radiology) or Nuclear Medicine. This is often not something that a new graduate is willing to do, right after grauduating and their eagerness to begin their new careers can sometimes limit their job prospects in their hometown area.
1. Exploring Heatlth Care Careers Third Edition Volume 2. New York: Infobase. 2006. pp. 796–797. ISBN 0-8160-6448-2. http://wwwfegpubco.com.
   | American Society of Radiologic Technologists - American Society of Radiologic Technologists |
| | American Registry of Radiologic Technologists - ARRT Home Page |
| | The British Society of Radiographers - Welcome to the Society of Radiographers |
| | Health Professions council in the UK - HPC - Health Professions Council - Radiographers |
| | British Nuclear Medicine Society - Nuclear Medicine Radiographer - BNMS - Thinking of a career as a nuclear medicine technologist? |
| | British Medical Ultrasound Society - British Medical Ultrasound Society - BMUS Home Page |
| | British Association of MRI Radiographers - British Association of MR Radiographers |
| | Society for Radiological Protection - The Society for Radiological Protection - radiation protection Home Page |
| | ISRRT - ISRRT - International Society of Radiographers & Radiological Technologists |
| | UK Radiography careers website - Welcome to Radiography Careers |
| | US X-ray Martyrs - The Trail of Light: The Medical Museum: University of Iowa Health Care: A Century of Medical Imaging |
| | X-ray Martyrs - The History of Medicine |
| | Radiology Search - Search Radiology: Radiology Search engine for searching radiology and radiology education, images, teaching files, books, journals, news, information |
| | eRADIMAGING - ERADIMAGING.COM: RT CE, FIND JOBS! |
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