A radiology technician is also commonly referred to as a radiographer or a radiologic technologist.
While the terms radiology technician and radiologic technologist are commonly used interchangeably, there is a distinct difference between the two.
These two different jobs are often confused because they have many similarities.
Radiology Technician vs Radiologic Technologist
Both the radiology technician and the radiologic technologist duties and responsibilities will include taking images of patients’ bodies using imaging equipment, preparing patients to have images taken, preparing the imaging machines, developing the film and keeping patient records.
These two types of medical professionals will be found in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, diagnostic centers and radiology service providers.
The main difference between a radiology tech and a radiologic technologist is the type of education they receive. A radiology tech usually attends a vocation school or community college for a period of about two years.
They can take either a certificate course or an associate degree. Radiology technicians are usually trained in using x-ray technology only.
Radiologic technologists receive more intensive training. They usually hold an associate or a bachelor’s degree.
They may also choose to specialize in particular areas such as sonography, diagnostic radiography, radiotherapy, MRI, CT, mammography, angiography, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine.
Therefore you can say that radiologic technicians carry out more complex tasks than radiology technicians.
Radiology Technician Responsibilities
A hospital or a huge medical facility will typically have a radiologist, a radiologic technologist and a radiology technician.
In such a set up, the radiology technician will be responsible talking to the patient, explaining how he is going to carry out the procedure.
He will get the patient ready for the procedure by having them remove any jewelry or objects that may be in the way of the imaging machine.
He will prepare the specific part of the body that is to be x-rayed and cover the other parts with shielding material.
He will then position the imaging equipment over the body part that is to be x-rayed. The radiology tech is also responsible for calibrating the imaging equipment.
He will also be responsible for simple maintenance of the imaging equipment.
The radiologic technologist will be the radiology technician’s supervisor. He will carry out more complex tasks.
For example, in a procedure like a fluoroscopy, the radiologic technologist will prepare the solution that the patient is required to drink before the procedure. Then the radiology tech may then perform the imaging procedure.
The radiology technician’s job is crucial as the images he takes play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
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