What Do You Learn in a Radiologic Technology Program?

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In a radiologic technology program, you learn how to be a radiologic technician, using techniques and best practices to take proper diagnostic images. You learn how to capture images of patients’ bones and internal organs via X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, so doctors can diagnose, treat, and monitor their health conditions. A training program can provide you with foundational knowledge about the human body and teach you how to position patients, take images, and protect your patients and you from dangerous radiation.

What is a Radiologic Technologist?

Radiologic technologists, or radiographers, operate advanced imaging equipment that help doctors diagnosis diseases and illnesses. To perform this job, you need to be well-trained on how to prepare patients for procedures, perform and evaluate the imaging, and maintain the equipment. You need a combination of technical, clinical, and personal skills, in addition to proper certification. And you can learn what you need to know in a radiologic technology program.

You Learn About Anatomy and Physiology in Rad Tech Programs

Understanding the different parts of the body, how they function, and where they are located is critical to your success as a radiologic technician. The images you capture should depict a specific area of the body, but you won’t be able to capture the images accurately if you don’t know where they’re supposed to be and what they’re supposed to look like.

Healthcare Delivery and Patient Care

When you enter a healthcare profession, you need to understand the lay of the land. In a radiologic technology program, you learn about the healthcare delivery system and the laws that govern medical professionals. You also learn about patient assessment and interaction, and about the importance of infection control procedures. And you learn about patient care and empathy. What are they going through and how can you help?

Radiologic Technology Programs Introduce Medical Terminology

To travel in the world of healthcare, you need to speak the language. A rad tech program will introduce you to medical vocabulary and terms. You learn the scientific words for parts of the body, diseases, and medications so you can decode the language that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals speak and can communicate with them effectively. Understanding complex medical terms also allows you to translate the language into something your patients will better understand.

Safety Measures for Radiologic Technology

Radiologic technology, such as MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans, all use radiation to scan the body and capture diagnostic images. But radiation can be dangerous, so it’s important to know how to work with it properly. Your program will teach you how to protect your patients and yourself from unnecessary exposure. You also learn how to monitor and measure radiation exposure and what to do if you are exposed.

Proper Procedures and Positioning in Radiologic Technology

Before you begin imaging, you need to confirm patient identity, explain the procedure to them, and have them remove any metal objects. Then you properly position the patient. Make them as comfortable as possible and focus on the assigned anatomical area. Use lead shielding and follow ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) principles to reduce radiation exposure. As you progress through your program, you take several classes that teach you the techniques to position patients for various diagnostic exams. You also get to practice these techniques in a laboratory setting that mimics a real-world hospital exam room.

Radiologic Technology Programs Teach Proper Imaging and Exposure

If a radiographic image is not accurate, the doctor can’t make a correct diagnosis, which may result in calling the patient back in for additional exams. In your radiologic technology program, you learn how to take precise diagnostic images of the intended area and how to check the images for quality. Important components to good image quality include:

Set exposure based on patient size and the area being imaged to minimize radiation dose.
Ensure that the patient is still to avoid motion artifacts.
Evaluate the image for quality and retake if necessary.
Document the procedure, including details about exposure settings and anything specific to the patient.

Radiographic Pathology

Your program should also introduce you to different diseases and how they appear on medical images. You learn about the classification of illnesses and how diseases evolve and progress in the body. And you discover how doctors diagnose disease and how it can appear on medical images.

Hands-On Training from Your Radiologic Technology Program

You can’t learn the procedures and processes of performing radiologic techniques from books and theories. You need to actually carry them out! That’s why your program should provide plenty of lab time and a clinical practicum where you will put the lessons you’ve learned into practice in a healthcare setting. You will work under the supervision of medical professionals who can give you tips on how to improve your techniques and provide insights on what it’s like to work in the industry.

Are you ready to start a career in radiologic technology? Charter College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology that can prepare you for entry-level work in the field. Our faculty have years of experience in healthcare are dedicated to your success. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.

888.200.9942