RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST
Job Definition:
Job Description:
- Take X-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient’s blood stream for diagnostic purposes. Includes technologists who specialize in other modalities, such as computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance.
Duties and Tasks:
- 1) Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
2) Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
- 3) Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
4) Operate or oversee operation of radiologic and magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
5) Position and immobilize patient on examining table.
- 6) Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
7) Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
8) Monitor video display of area being scanned and adjust density or contrast to improve picture quality.
- 9) Monitor patients’ conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
10) Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
11) Prepare and administer oral or injected contrast media to patients.
- 12) Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
13) Remove and process film.
14) Record, process and maintain patient data and treatment records, and prepare reports.
- 15) Coordinate work with clerical personnel and other technologists.
16) Demonstrate new equipment, procedures, and techniques to staff, and provide technical assistance.
17) Provide assistance with such tasks as dressing and changing to seriously ill, injured, or disabled patients.
18) Move ultrasound scanner over patient’s body and watch pattern produced on video screen.
19) Measure thickness of section to be radiographed, using instruments similar to measuring tapes.
20) Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
21) Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
22) Collaborate with other medical team members, such as physicians and nurses, to conduct angiography or special vascular procedures.
23) Perform administrative duties such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies and equipment and preparing work schedules.
24) Perform scheduled maintenance and minor emergency repairs on radiographic equipment.
Activities:
- 1) Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- 2) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
3) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
4) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
5) Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- 6) Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
7) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
8) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
9) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- 10) Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
11) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- 12) Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
13) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- 14) Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
15) Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
16) Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
17) Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
18) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
19) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Abilities:
- 1) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- 2) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
3) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
4) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
5) Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- 6) Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
7) Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
8) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
9) Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- 10) Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
11) Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- 12) Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
13) Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- 14) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
15) Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
16) Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
17) Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
18) Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
19) Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
Knowledge
- 1) Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- 2) Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
3) Physics — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
4) Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
5) English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.