When a patient has symptoms that may involve an internal body part, doctors let the patient undergo a medical imaging procedure depending on which part of the body is affected. The patient is then led into a private room with a huge equipment which is used to take visual images of a person’s body without the need for surgery. The person who preps the patient and administers the imaging process is called a Radiologic Technologist. Although usually unknown to most patients, these medical workers are trained to perform imaging procedures or examinations on patients with the intention of helping doctors establish a diagnosis.
Radiologic Technologists are not as visible as other health professionals but they are a crucial part of the medical industry. Just like most professionals within this industry, these type of technologists require great skill and expertise. Also, they earn quite a good amount of salary. Those who are interested in working in the medical world may want to consider this type of career. Here are more information with regards to pursuing a profession in Radiologic Technology.
Radiologic Technologist Salary Information:
As mentioned earlier, the Radiologic Technologist salary is something to look forward to. In May of the year 2010, the average Radiologic Technologist wage rate was $54,340 per year. The Radiologic Technologist salary, however, may still be higher or lower than that depending on various factors. The amount of education and experience, the type of employer and work setting, the location, as well as the work schedule all play a role in affecting the Radiologic Technologist income that an individual may receive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest Radiologic Technologist salary recorded in 2010 reached more than $76,850 while the lowest was less than $36,510. The most common factor that makes a Radiologic Technologist pay go higher or lower is the work schedule. Just like most jobs, these Radiologic Technologists work full-time. However, since imaging procedures are usually needed to be done on a patient immediately, some technologists work overtime, evenings, as well as during the weekends. Some, who are on-call, come to work whenever they are needed.
Radiologic Technologist Education Requirements:
Although Bachelor’s Degree courses in Radiography are available, aspirants usually opt for an Associate’s Degree or a certificate instead. The reason behind this is that these types of training programs only last 6 months to a year. Each program involves training within a classroom as well as in a clinical setting. Aside from studying coursework in pathology and anatomy, Radiologic Technologists are also trained on how to take care of a patient during an imaging procedure, the physics of radiation, how to protect oneself and the patient during a session, and how to evaluate or assess an image. In order to become a licensed Radiologic Technologist, one must make sure that they complete a Radiography program from an accredited school. To know if the school is accredited, there should be a certification from Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or the JRCERT. The majority of states require licensed Radiologic Technologists. To get a license, one must take the examination provided by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or ARRT. Prior to taking the exam, certain requirements need to be prepared. The requirements may vary depending on which state you prefer to operate so it is a must to inquire the local health board first. It is also worth mentioning that a Radiologic Technologist should consider continuing education in order to maintain their license.
Radiologic Technologist Job Description:
The Radiologic Technologist job description basically involves performing imaging procedures on patients for treatment and diagnosis. In detail, the job of a Radiologic Technologist involves a lot of tasks. It is the responsibility of a technologist to operate and maintain any imaging equipment they work with, such as an x-ray machine, computed tomography or CT scan, or a Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment or MRI. A doctor’s imaging request usually come with a set of instructions with regards to which body part needs to be imaged. The Radiologic Technologist must be able to follow these instructions and provide images that will be useful to the requesting doctor. It is also the job of this type of technologist to prepare the patient for the procedure and to safeguard any part of their bodies that does not require imaging. The results can then be discussed with the patient or the doctor as well as recorded as part of the patient’s records.
Those who are interested in becoming a Radiologic Technologist is encouraged to pursue it especially because a 28 percent increase in employment rate is expected in the coming years. More and more people will require imaging procedures because of the increase of medical conditions and illnesses. Also, the demand for outpatient medical care is increasing and so is the demand for Radiologic Technologists.