Radiology Technology

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the role and application of radiation in medical imaging and treatment.
• identify the various specialties within a radiology department and understand their specific functions.
• differentiate between accreditation, certification, and representation roles of professional organizations in the radiologic field.
• describe the relationship between radiologists, physicists, and radiologic technologists, and their collaborative roles in healthcare.
• apply stress-reduction techniques and test-taking strategies tailored to the demands of radiologic science courses and professional exams.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• understand and apply assessment methods used to evaluate cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills in clinical education, ensuring effective learning outcomes.
• demonstrate knowledge of professional ethics and infection control practices, including their importance in ensuring patient safety and maintaining a high standard of professionalism in the clinical setting.
• identify key radiologic systems and factors that influence image quality, including understanding image receptor systems, exposure, contrast, and methods for reducing patient radiation exposure.
• recognize the importance of patient care principles such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, vital signs, and communication techniques to ensure compassionate and effective treatment for diverse patient populations.
• understand the regulatory and legal aspects of radiology, including the roles of governing agencies, HIPAA requirements, medical negligence, and ethical considerations in clinical practice.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify and describe the different types of energy, the basic structure of matter, and the elementary laws of electrostatics.
• explain the key principles of X-ray production, including the components and materials of the X-ray tube, the characteristics of anode targets, and photon production interactions.
• discuss the effects of different waveforms (single-phase, three-phase, and high-frequency) on generator output and state the characteristics of incoming-line current.
• understand the concepts of filtration (inherent, added, compound, compensating, and total), and calculate technical factors such as mAs, exposure time, and mA based on given variables.
• describe the interactions between X-rays and matter, including the relationship between X-ray interactions, technical factors, and patient dose reduction strategies.
• explain the importance of grids in radiology, including their purpose, the differences between parallel and focused grids, and their role in minimizing patient exposure.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the different types of motion control methods used in patient imaging and their impact on image quality.
• describe the use of markers and collimation in imaging and their role in improving image quality and reducing radiation exposure.
• identify and locate the body planes, body cavities, and the organs contained within each to enhance understanding of human anatomy in imaging.
• describe the skeletal divisions of the body, including the number and types of bones in each division, and their relevance to imaging procedures.
• identify the anatomy and basic structures of the thoracic cavity, abdomen, and upper extremity, and understand their relation to essential imaging projections.
• describe the correct positioning procedures required for obtaining essential projections of the chest, abdomen, and upper extremity, including special projections and procedural steps for accuracy.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain attire requirements for imaging examinations and demonstrate the proper use of accessory equipment, gonadal shielding, markers, collimation, and IR-part-CR alignment.
• discuss radiographic exposure factors, evaluate image quality, and identify errors in positioning and technique across essential projections.
• detail the anatomy of the lungs, the anterior neck, and the relevant anatomy demonstrated in essential chest, abdomen, and upper extremity projections.
• demonstrate proper positioning and technical procedures for chest and abdominal radiography, including breathing instructions and image evaluation.
• demonstrate positioning for upper extremity projections and differentiate common pathologic conditions, ensuring accurate anatomical identification and proper procedural steps.
• evaluate images of essential projections for errors, ensuring correct positioning, technique, and anatomical visualization for both chest and extremity radiographs.