Radiology Technician Schools

Radiology technicians, also known as radiographers, play a key role in the health care field, working alongside physicians, surgeons and other medical personnel on a daily basis. Radiology technicians are specially trained to provide diagnostic imaging examinations to patients.

Skills

Radiology technicians typically perform this duty by using x-ray technology. Common imaging processes performed by radiology technicians include tomography, mammography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Tomography is the process by which a radiology technician uses x-ray technology to create 3-D, cross-sectional images of a patient’s internal organs, bones or tissues. Computed tomography (CT) may sound more familiar because of the use of CT scans (commonly referred to as CAT scans), which are used to detect tumors and other abnormalities.

Mammography is a similar process, only the diagnostic procedure is limited to the breast. With mammography, the radiology technician uses special equipment emitting a low level of radiation to perform a procedure that is credited for the early detection of breast cancer and other diseases of the breast.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another noninvasive way of producing images from within the body. Radiology technicians operate equipment that utilizes powerful magnets and radio waves to bounce back images of the abdominal, chest, cranial, heart and spinal areas.

Responsibilities

Part of a radiology technician’s technical duties is to effectively place imaging equipment over the appropriate part of the patient’s body and to program the equipment to the appropriate setting for the bodily area being examined.

Besides their technical duties, radiology technicians are responsible for preparing patients for various diagnostic procedures. They explain to them the procedure that is about to take place, instruct patients to take off items like jewelry or belts that might disrupt the x-ray process and arrange the patient in a way where a part of their body can be most effectively x-rayed.

Because too much exposure to radiation can be harmful, radiology technicians protect other areas of the patient’s body with a blocking device to keep radiation from penetrating areas that do not require imaging. Radiology technicians must also learn to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and other medical staffers from exposure to radiation.

Radiology technicians work under the direction of physicians and must learn to follow physicians’ directives very specifically. They are also responsible for accurately taking down patients’ records and noting any abnormalities for a physician to review.

Some radiology technicians, typically those in supervisory roles, bear the responsibility of making sure that the equipment they use every day is properly maintained, and if necessary, repaired. They may also recommend equipment and part purchases to medical administration.

Radiology technicians and radiology technologists perform many of the same duties. However, radiology technologists tend to handle some of the more complicated imaging methods. An example of a procedure a radiology technologist might conduct is a fluoroscopy, medical imaging in which the radiology technologist monitors a special dye as it passes through the intestinal tract or the bloodstream. The radiology technologist is responsible for preparing the dye mixture and administering it to the patient to drink.