Working in the Radiology department requires a highly skilled, professional staff and adherence to an accurate and concise schedule.

The Radiology department provides diagnostic studies and radiation therapy for scheduled, urgent and emergency patients. Working in the Radiology department requires a highly skilled, professional staff and adherence to an accurate and concise schedule.

Radiology departments perform non-invasive and invasive diagnostic studies and procedures under the direction of a licensed radiologist who is a medical physician. There are numerous radiology specialties such as Nuclear Medicine, Interventional Radiology and Radiation Oncology. Some of the more commonly performed radiology studies include: radiograph or traditional x-ray, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mammography, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy and sonography or ultrasound.

The Radiology staff's goal is to obtain diagnostic information, deliver a radiologic treatment and/or perform an interventional procedure to advance the health and wellness of a patient population.

The main responsibility of the Radiology staff is to execute all radiology orders while keeping the patient informed, safe and comfortable for the duration of the procedure. It is then the responsibility of the radiologist to interpret the studies, after which the study results are sent to the ordering or attending physician.

Who is Treated in Radiology?

Patients present in the Radiology department with routine physician orders and urgent orders for a variety of studies. Some patients are transported to the department directly from the Emergency Room for radiologic evaluation while others have x-rays done directly within the Emergency Room. The remaining patient population is comprised of inpatients who cannot be transported to the department and necessitate bedside studies; portable chest x-rays commonly fall into this category.

Trauma patients, routine annual mammography evaluations and patients with physical symptoms that are yet to be diagnosed are examples of the Radiology department patient population. Simple radiographs (x-rays), CT scan, MRI, mammography, nuclear scans including cardiac stress testing, fluoroscopy, radiation oncology treatments and interventional radiology procedures are some of the procedures done in the Radiology department.

What is the Work Environment Like in Radiology?

Radiology is a 24-hour department. The staff does an abundance of patient teaching and expertly explains procedures to patients. Patients are anxious about impending procedures so they often need detailed information and reassurance.

Work-related challenges in Radiology include some of the following:

• Keeping the scheduled procedures on time. With unplanned physician orders and emergency cases added to the workload on an hour-by-hour basis, it is important that the staff maintain the pre-set schedule as closely as possible.
• Exposure to radiation is a prime risk for the staff. The staff must follow the regulations for protecting themselves, their patients and their peers from unnecessary radiation exposure. All staff members wear dosimeters, a badge which measures radiation levels. A lifetime exposure record is maintained.

What Kind of Training is Needed to Work in Radiology?

After successfully completing medical school, internship and residency, a radiologist completes a specialty fellowship in radiology. This licensed physician is usually board certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Radiology technicians earn an Associates or Bachelors degree in a program specifically focused on CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and sonography or ultrasound education. The successful graduate of an accredited program works as a technician in their radiology specialty. Radiology technicians are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

A radiology assistant successfully completes a specific program that earns a Bachelors or Masters degree. The program includes a clinical internship directly supervised by a licensed radiologist.

The nurse working in the radiology department is usually a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared registered nurse (RN) with special training in radiology procedures.

What Does the Radiology Staff Do?

There are many different roles and responsibilities in the Radiology department such as:

Radiologist: This board certified physician specializes in coordinating and interpreting radiologic images, whether traditional radiographs or x-rays, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine or another diagnostic mode. They also treat patients with radiation oncology and nuclear medicine. According to the American Medical Association, 1.2 percent of physicians in the United States are radiologists.

• Interventional Radiologist: This licensed, board certified radiologist performs minimally invasive, image guided procedures such as drain placement, biopsy and stent placement.

Radiology Technician: This technician performs the imaging procedures on a variety of patients by skillfully operating the radiology equipment to attain the required images.

• CT Technician: A CT technician specifically works on obtaining CT scan images.
• MRI Technician: These trained technicians skillfully obtain MRI images.
• Sonographer: This technician operates the ultrasound equipment to attain the ordered diagnostic images.

Radiology Assistant: This staff member is an advanced or high-level radiology technician position working under the direct supervision of a licensed radiologist. The Radiology Assistant assists the radiologist in performing complex radiologic procedures.

Radiology Nurse: This registered nurse (RN) provides support for patients undergoing radiology testing or treatment. This RN administers medication and provides both physical and emotional support to the patient.

Physician Assistant (PA-C): A licensed PA, working under the direct supervision of a physician, performs any and all medical duties parallel with a physician. PAs perform physical exams, write medical orders and prescriptions and diagnose and treat illness and disease. The “C” after the title represents Physician Assistant-“Certified”.