Technologist Education - Careers and Academics
Technologist education refers to the educational opportunities that prepare a student for a career in the Imaging or Radiology field. The term “Radiology” has adopted an umbrella meaning that will refer to all types if modalities that create diagnostic images. However, creating images does not always require the use of radiation therefore, “Imaging” is a more appropriate term used today. Technologist education is also referred to as Health Sciences, Allied Health Professions and Health Occupations. The career choices explained on this website are limited to the Health Professions that produce images of the patient’s body to aid in diagnosis or a profession that assists in treatment of a patient’s disease. There are many other types of health professions available for students besides those described below.
Technologist
A technologist is a professional that has been educated and trained to perform procedures in their area of specialty. The level of education required for each area is dependent on the profession. Technologists will attain a Bachelors degree, Associate of Science degree (A.S.), Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S), a Certificate of Completion, or a Diploma when completing their education. Master’s or PHD technologists are professionals who have attained a certification in their area of specialization and have furthered their education to work in administration, education, research or other advanced positions.
Radiologist vs. Radiographer
The term Radiologist is often confused with Radiographer or Radiologic Technologist when in fact they are very different. A radiologist is a physician (MD) that has completed a residency in radiology and has become board certified. After medical school they complete a 4 year residency program and often continue with a fellowship in their area of expertise, for example neuroradiology. The combined educational level for a Radiologist is approximately 13 – 14 post secondary years where a radiographer is 2 – 4 years beyond high school.
Radiologists and Radiographers work closely together to complete diagnostic procedures on patients. Radiologists perform invasive medical procedures on patients and determine their diagnosis with the images that a radiographer produces. A radiographer does NOT diagnose patient diseases. If you are interested in becoming a radiologist, then you will need to explore medical school requirements and residency programs. The University of Utah, Department of Radiology offers the finest of residency programs for qualified MD’s. Technical and physical expectations of Technologist Imaging.
Careers
Each area of specialization will require a different physical emphasis. For example, sonographers extensively utilize their hands and wrists whereas radiographers are required to perform a great deal of reaching, standing and moving of equipment. To understand the physical requirements of the area you are interested in, it is best to arrange for an observation of a technologist in action. In general, the overall expectations of all technologist imaging careers requires the following physical expectations:
- Lift more than 50 pounds routinely
- Push and pull routinely
- Bend and stoop routinely
- Have full use of extremities
- Distinguish audible sounds
- Adequately view computer images
- Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick and injured
- Assist patients with physical and emotional needs
- Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals
- Organize and accurately perform individual steps in a procedure
- Performance of venipuncture procedures and other tasks requiring the handling of small delicate and often sterile instruments.
- Effectively recognizing and adjusting to patient’s cultural differences.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to multi-task and work in stressful situations.
- Function as an effective decision maker and have the ability to problem solve.
- Effectively use computers and other technical equipment.