Integrating Radiology Technologist Career Opportunities And ASRT Benefits

Introduction

ASRT is the world’s oldest and biggest membership association for radiological technologists and radiation therapists. It was founded in 1920, and it has more than 153,000 members. ASRT stands for American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Radiologic technologists are medical employees who perform the diagnosis of radiation therapy and imaging examinations. They are specialists in the area of radiological technology. Their primary responsibility is computed tomography, nuclear medicine, and mammography. A radiologic technologist is also called an x-ray tech and radiographer. They are responsible for providing high-level care to the patients and preparing and explaining the procedures. They are experts in anatomy, radiographic exposure, radiation protection, patient care, and imaging positioning. According to the report, there are approximately 200,000 radiologic technologists. There is a minimal risk factor associated with this field. However, there is a myth that these radiation and machines cause many fatal diseases. Many aspirants in this field have doubts that their field of choice is safe. It is one of the exciting professions. However, it is misunderstood. It is a fast-growing profession, and the salaries are good. There are more chances of career growth and promotions. According to the report of labour statistics, x-ray tech is a rapidly booming job market, and there is a 21 per cent growth projected from 2012 to 2021. Moreover, the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the median salary of radiologic and MRI technologists is 55,910 dollars per year. Radiography is considered the heart of modern health care. Here, we will discuss the scope of radiologic technologists, career opportunities, and benefits provided by ASRT.

Scope And Opportunities Of Radiologic Technologists

Radiologic technologists perform various types of imaging procedures, most commonly X-rays. They are also administering certain non-radioactive isotopes, which are also known as the contrast media, for the purpose of diagnosis.

They provide crucial healthcare services to the patients because the important decisions about diagnosis and treatment are taken on the basis of their services. They are the backbone of modern health services.

According to Parakh et al., (2016), Radiologic technologists follow the instructions provided by the physicians and respond to the regulations and precautions while using radiation for safety purposes of themselves, coworkers and patients.

Radiologic technologists also have expertise in MRI, CT scans, fluoroscopy, and other non-ionizing radio frequencies to develop images. They may also have a speciality in angiography, bone density, trauma, mammography, etc.

This field requires better stamina as there is a long period of standing and physical effort, lifting and turning the disabled and serious patients. They are responsible for moving the heavy machinery and types of equipment. Full-time employees work more than 40 hours a week, while there are some part-timers and shift staff as well (Bere, 2017).

In most cases, employers hire fully trained technologists and provide them with proper training before starting work. Radiographers are basically hired by hospitals to follow the instructions of physicians and work in medical laboratories and other government agencies. They often have expertise in multiple diagnostic imaging and have better job opportunities. According to the research of Shay et al. (2017), the average time a radiographer takes an X-ray is 6 minutes shorter with the involvement of radiologist assistants in the radiology room. They can increase efficiency and even enhance the satisfaction level of the patients.

ASRT Benefits

ASRT is a membership association for radiologic technologists’ professionals and students. Its member is a specialist in the specific field of radiology, specialising in different areas such as MRI, X-ray, mammography, angiography, and tomography. So, ASRT provided opportunities for the continuation of education and promoted this field as a sophisticated career. Moreover, it monitors legislation on both the state level and federal levels to protect the rights of this profession. It also works with other bodies and organizations to establish and implement standards of practice and develop educational syllabi and curricula.

ASRT is basically governed by the board of directors elected by the members and a house of delegates. It also has affiliation with 54 state-level and local societies. ASRT continuously conduct meetings on education and development in this field (Why Join ASRT, 2019).

ASRT is basically working for the purpose of education, research, advocacy, and innovation. These are the primary objectives of this membership association. It protects the rights of the profession on the federal and state levels and plays an active role in the meetings of top management of the hospitals to talk about the needs of radiographers. ASRT basically works as volunteers to promote and review the educational curricula, set standards of practices, research and adopt new knowledge to advance the scope of this profession. It is the only governing body that develops this field and encourages innovation and development in this field. According to the research of McKenney and Dodge (2018), there was no basic support for the development of CT scan protocols, and patients were frustrated because of the recent cases of injuries from CT scans. For safety measures, ASRT provided certain guidelines and conducted training for the radiographers to learn the safety protocols and reduce the chances of such incidents.

References

Bere, V. (2017). Challenges Radiography Students Face in a Small Midwest Technical College.

McKenney, S. E., & Dodge, C. T. (2018). Pediatric CT Protocols From the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Alliance for Quality CT. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 15(10), 1448-1449.

Parakh, A., Kortesniemi, M., & Schindera, S. T. (2016). CT radiation dose management: a comprehensive optimization process for improving patient safety. Radiology, 280(3), 663-673.

Shay, W., Silva, D., Mohabir, H., & Erinjeri, J. (2017). The Effect of Radiologist Assistants in an Interventional Radiology Department. Radiologic Technology, 88(3), 333-338.

Why Join ASRT. (2019). Asrt.org. Retrieved 26 July 2019, from https://www.asrt.org/membership/join-asrt/why-join-asrt