Dear AuntMinnie member,
The shortage of radiologic technologists (RTs) remains a challenging issue for radiology practices. Given the current state of the profession, the time is now for RTs and radiation therapy professionals to raise their profile and be recognized for their contributions, according to Brandon Smith, president of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).
To accomplish this goal, the organization is working on changes to professional pathways and practice standards, as well as pursuing other initiatives. How else can RTs elevate their profile? Learn more in this edition’s featured article.
We’ve also got an update on federal and state legislation that could have a significant impact on RTs and radiologist assistants. Click here for that report.
Meanwhile, a team of researchers from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently shared findings from an analysis of occupational doses to RTs during fluoroscopically-guided interventional procedures. The group found that although these doses are generally low, they need to be carefully monitored. Click here for more results from their study.
Burnout remains a significant problem for all medical imaging professionals. At the recent UltraCon conference in Orlando, several presentations explored issues related to burnout among sonographers. One study reported that work-related musculoskeletal disorders were tied to burnout. In addition, a machine-learning algorithm was found to be effective at predicting sonographer burnout.
Stay tuned for more RT-oriented content in the coming months.
