Health Care Team (HCT)

Radiologic Technologists are the medical personnel who perform diagnostic imaging examinations and administer radiation therapy treatments.

Students follow many paths into radiologic technology. Some attend two-year programs based in hospitals, which issue certificates to graduates. Others enroll in two-year programs at community colleges or technical schools, which award associate’s degrees. Others choose to attend four-year programs at universities and colleges, graduating with bachelor’s degrees. There are also Radiologist Assistants. Radiologist Assistants are experienced, registered Radiologic Technologists who have obtained additional education and certification that qualifies them to work under the supervision of a radiologist to provide patient care in the diagnostic imaging environment. The addition of Radiologist Assistants to the radiology team helps improve productivity and efficiency.

Supervision of the Radiologic Technologist depends on the facility and specialty area. Radiologic Technologists may be supervised by other Radiologic Technologists, physicians, managers with no medical education or clinical experience, or health care workers with training outside radiology, such as pharmacists or nurses.

Radiologic Technologists prepare patients for imaging studies by appropriately draping, shielding, and positioning them and explain the procedures that are about to be performed. As they do so, they also monitor the condition of patients, some of whom may be unstable, and are prepared to call for emergency medical assistance if necessary. They also process images appropriately for electronic or other storage for review by Radiologists or other team members.

For patients receiving radiation therapy, they position the patient and deliver appropriate doses of radiation as prescribed by the Radiation Oncologist.

Each state has different licensure or certification requirements for Radiologic Technologists. Some states do not require licensure. The American Society of Radiologic Technologists is working with other organizations to pass federal legislation that would require basic educational and certification standards for Radiologic Technologists in every state.

Radiologic Technologists work closely with physicians in a variety of medical settings, ranging from imaging departments and cardiac catheterization labs in hospitals to outpatient x-ray clinics and cancer treatment facilities. In the diagnostic setting, the images that Radiologic Technologists produce can be the best tool a physician has to diagnose disease and detect injury. In the oncology setting, Radiation Therapists work closely with other members of the oncology team to treat and cure cancer. All patients undergoing any kind of diagnostic imaging or receiving radiation therapy can benefit from the care of a Radiologic Technologist.

Physicians refer patients to Radiologic Technologists for diagnostic imaging or radiation therapy. This is usually done in the radiology department but sometimes their services are needed in emergency departments or operating rooms where they use portable equipment to take x-rays or perform other imaging studies.