Contents
Radiology technicians are medical professionals who use imaging technology to diagnose and treat patients.
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Job Description
A Radiology Technician, also known as a Radiographer, is a medical professional who uses imaging techniques, such as X-rays, to diagnose and treat patients. Radiology Technicians are an important part of the healthcare team and often work closely with Doctors and Nurses. They are responsible for operating the imaging equipment, preparing patients for procedures, and providing them with instructions.
Duties
The radiographer or radiology technician is responsible for carrying out diagnostic examinations using X-ray and other imaging modalities. They work in close collaboration with radiologists, who are doctors specializing in medical imaging.
Radiographers prepare patients for examinations and explain the procedure to them. They position patients and equipment and make sure that the images are of high quality. In some cases, they may also administer contrast agents, which help to improve the clarity of the images.
Radiographers work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private clinics, and diagnostic imaging centers. Some radiographers specialize in a particular modality, such as computed tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Qualifications
Radiology technicians must have formal training and certification in order to work in most settings. Formal training programs vary in length, but most take at least two years to complete. Some hospitals and other healthcare facilities offer on-the-job training programs for those who have completed a formal training program.
Most states require certification or licensure for radiologic technologists. Certification is earned through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The ARRT offers certification in radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and interventional radiology (IR). In order to be eligible for certification, candidates must graduate from an accredited radiography program and pass the ARRT examination.
Many states also require continuing education for radiologic technologists to maintain their certification or licensure.
Work Environment
Radiologic technologists held about 210,000 jobs in 2016. Most worked in hospitals, but Standing or sitting for long periods may cause discomfort.ourns, clinics, and physician’s offices. They typically work full time, although overtime and night and weekend shifts are common. Some radiologic technologists are employed in medical and diagnostic laboratories.
Locations
Most radiology techs work in hospitals. Some work in private physician offices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
A few radiology techs travel to patients’ homes to provide mobile diagnostic imaging services.
Hours
The hours that a radiology technician works depend on where they work. A radiology technician that works in a hospital will most likely have to work different hours than one who works in an outpatient facility. Most full-time radiology technicians work about 40 hours per week, but some may have to work nights, weekends, or holidays.
Schedule
The work schedule for a radiology tech can be very demanding. They are typically expected to work long hours, often including weekends and holidays. There may also be times when they are required to work overnight shifts. In addition, they may be on call, which means they are available to come into work at any time if needed.
Salary and job outlook
A radiology technician is a professional who use medical imaging technologies to help physicians detect, diagnose and treat diseases. The average salary for a radiology technician is $52,330 per year. The job outlook for this career is positive, with a projected 9% growth in employment from 2018 to 2028.
Salary
The BLS reports that the median annual salary for radiology technicians was $60,070 in May 2019. The lowest 10% earned less than $39,850 and the highest 10% earned more than $84,610.
Job growth for radiology techs is expected to be much faster than average at 7% from 2019-2029. An aging population and the continued advancement of medical technology will be the main drivers of this demand.
Job Outlook
The number of jobs for X-ray technicians is projected to grow by 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The demand for diagnostic imaging services is expected to increase as the baby-boom population ages and becomes more susceptible to injuries and illnesses that require imaging diagnosis.
