Radiology

The Radiology Team

Who are the members of the radiology team?

The quality performance of radiology examinations and procedures, along with accurate and timely interpretation of radiology procedure results, is accomplished by a team of various healthcare professionals. The radiology team includes physicians, technologists, and nurses.

What do the radiology team members do?

physicians
The radiology team is led by one or more radiologists, who are physicians specializing in the field of radiology. Radiologists are responsible for interpreting the results of examinations, performing certain procedures, such as interventional radiology procedures or therapeutic procedures, conferring and consulting with other physicians in other specialties, and ensuring the overall quality performance of the entire radiology team.
technologists
Radiology technologists are responsible for performing many of the various types of radiology examinations, including x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, mammograms, and ultrasound procedures.

Technologists receive formal training in various types of educational programs, lasting from one to four years. In addition to training in the various radiology modalities, radiology technology students also study human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and other pertinent subjects.

Once a radiology technology student completes training in an approved training program, he/she may undergo additional study or training in order to specialize in a particular modality, such as CT scans or MRIs.

Radiology technologists are certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
nurses
Nurses are often used for more complex radiology procedures, such as interventional procedures requiring sedation of the patient, or procedures requiring intravenous (IV) administration of medications, contrast, and/or nuclear substances. Nurses may be responsible for assessing and documenting patient status, conferring with the radiologist for specific patient care needs, and providing educational information to patients related to their radiology procedure.

This page was last updated on: November 8, 2006.

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