The Health Care Science Project: Radiographer By: Khady Diack Andrea Enriquez

Career Overview  Use x-rays to show organs  Done for diagnostic problems  Prepare patients for x- rays  Explain the examination  Prepare patients for procedure

Career opportunities  High demand so excellent opportunities  Work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics  More than 180,000 radiographers nationwide  Excellent career mobility

Earning Potential  Starting salary is between $30,000 to $35,000  Starting salary is $40,000 at large hospitals  Those in specialty areas can earn up to $55,000

Nature of the Work  Diagnostic Radiography – to look through tissue to examine bones, cavities and foreign objectsRadiography  Sonography – uses high frequency ultrasound and is increasingly used due to its economy, safety, and versatility in obstetrics Sonography  Fluoroscopy – live motion X-ray (constant radiation) usually used to image the digestive system Fluoroscopy  CT (computed tomography) – which provides cross-sectional views (slices) of the body CTcomputed tomography  MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – builds a 2-D or 3-D map of different tissue types within the body MRImagnetic resonance imaging  Nuclear medicine – this uses radioactive tracers which can be administered to examine how the body and organs function, for example the kidneys or heart Nuclear medicine  Radiotherapy (Radiation Therapy)- uses radiation to shrink, and sometimes eradicate, cancerous cells/growths in and on the body. RadiotherapyRadiation Therapy  Mammography - uses x-ray to image the breast tissues. Mammography

Education in the U.S.  Take classes that expand communication skills  Possess critical thinking skills  Must be in a two or four year program  In addition, they should be patient and compassionate

Advancement  Staff technologists may become specialists  Technologists may advance to become a radiologist assistant  Experienced technologists also may be promoted to supervisor, chief radiologic technologist, and, ultimately, department administrator or director  Technologists may progress by becoming directors in radio technology programs

Related Occupations  cardiovascular technologists and technicians,  clinical laboratory technologists and technicians,  diagnostic medical sonographers,  nuclear medicine technologists,  radiation therapists,

Skills You Must Possess  Professional competence  Honesty with patients  Patient confidentiality  Maintenance of appropriate relations with patients  Sensitivity to patients of diverse backgrounds  Improvement of quality of care  Improvement of access to care  Just distribution of finite resources  Scientific knowledge  Maintenance of trust by managing conflicts of interest  Maintenance of appropriate relations with other physicians and healthcare professionals

Radiologic Technologist on the Medical Imaging Team  Accurately position patients  ensuring that a quality diagnostic image is produced  Work closely with radiologists  often specialize in a particular diagnostic imaging area

Eric O.Montague: Famous Radiographer  5+ years experience  Listed in Texas as a radiography trainer  Worked overseas  Worked in PetroChem, Powerplants, Pipelines and Refinery shutdown Turnaround enviroments  Holds a Texas Red Card for Gamma

Cites  Clinic, Mayo (2003). Radiography Career Overview. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from Mayo School of Health Sciences Web site:  Wikepedia, the free encyclopedia (2009). Radiologic Technologist. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from Wikepedia Web site: st  United States Department of Labor, Brueau of Labor Statistics (2007). Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site: