Radiography and Radiologic Technology Overview

Introduction to Radiography

• Radiologic Technology is a healthcare profession.
• Includes Diagnostic Imaging technologists and radiation therapists.
• Radiographers administer ionizing radiation to perform procedures.
• Radiologic technologists are both artists and professionals.

Role and Responsibilities

• Administer ionizing radiation for radiographic procedures.
• Produce images as requested by medical practitioners.
• Require technical skills and knowledge of physics, anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
• Important to understand pathology for identifying conditions like fractures or pneumothorax.

Practice Standards and Ethics

• Governed by ASRT (American Society of Radiologic Technologies).
• ASRT defines practice, education, certification, and scope of practice.
• ARRt (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) licenses professionals.
• ARRT maintains standards of ethics including a code of ethics and rules.
• Ethics involve moral responsibilities and appropriate conduct.

Advanced Clinical Roles

• Advanced roles include radiologist assistant and radiology practitioner assistant.
• Radiographers can extend roles to assist in diagnosis and patient care.

Exam Room Care

• Keep the room clean, tidy, and organized to prevent infection and instill patient confidence.
• Prepare the room before patient arrival with necessary equipment and clean sheets.

Infection Control

• Follow CDC guidelines for infection control.
• Standard precautions include hand hygiene, use of PPE, and proper cleaning.
• Take additional precautions for known or suspected infections.

Patient Care and Communication

• Critical to obtain patient clinical history and verify procedure accuracy.
• Use effective communication to explain procedures and ensure patient comfort.

Image Quality and Motion Control

• Motion control is crucial for image quality.
• Types of motion: Involuntary, Voluntary, and Equipment-related.
• Use short exposure times and proper positioning to minimize motion effects.

Technical Factors and Imaging Equipment

• Image receptors (IR) receive X-ray energy to form images.
• Types of IR: Solid-state digital detectors, PSPs, fluoro image receptors, and cassette.
• Technical factors include mA, kVp, and exposure time.
• Technique charts provide guidelines for exposure settings.

Radiation Safety and Collimation

• Collimation restricts radiation exposure field to minimize exposure and scatter.
• Discussed ethical and legal guidelines for collimation and shielding.

Working with Obese Patients

• Consider equipment weight limits and positioning adaptations.
• Use appropriate communication and assistance for patient transfer.

Conclusion

• Importance of understanding patient care, ethics, technical skills, and communication.
• Encouraged to visit ASRT and ARRT websites for detailed guidelines and standards.