Radiologists can find broken bones, tumors and other anomalies.
Radiologists use imaging technology such as X-rays, sound waves and magnetic resonance to produce images of the inside of the human body. These images are used to help pinpoint problems with a patient quickly and painlessly. Radiologists make from $42,000 to $164,000 annually, according to Payscale.com. Like all doctors, they must complete a training period as a resident to perform their job.
Counsel Patients
Patients who are in the radiology department may be suffering from a serious illness. Others may be worried that they have an undiagnosed disease. As a result, they may be highly nervous or even agitated. The radiology resident talks with these patients to help keep them calm. The patients will receive a consent questionnaire that will ask them if they have any concerns about their procedure. The resident will review this questionnaire with the patient and discuss any problems with the patient. This responsibility can include working with a clinician to obtain any medications the patient may need. Having a calm patient helps ensure the procedure goes smoothly.
Maintain Safety
The radiology resident must make sure that the patient is safe while in the radiology department and that all safety procedures are followed and maintained during all scanning procedures. Safety procedures include putting a protective lead apron on the areas of the patient's body that are not being scanned. Goggles may also be necessary for some procedures. All complications that arise must be addressed by the radiology resident. Complications may include a patient complaining about pain, anxiety or an allergic reaction; a machine malfunction; or a sudden interruption in the procedure. If the patient seems to be suffering from a serious medical condition, the radiologist resident must contact a doctor, as radiologist residents are not qualified to treat such conditions. The resident is responsible for obtaining the correct doctor for the situation.
Perform Limited Procedures
The radiology resident will not perform the full duties of a radiologist. However, she will have some limited medical procedure duties that can help prepare her for her job as a radiologist. Performing these minor procedures frees the radiologists to perform more complex duties, such as analyzing scan readings to determine the problem. The resident also has an opportunity to analyze scan readings. The radiologist may seek the resident's opinion on the scans to test the resident's knowledge. However, the radiologist is responsible for the official reading.
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