5.7 Program: Medical Radiation Technology

Program Fit

What personal qualities should someone interested in the career have?

• A sense of responsibility and a high degree of integrity
• The ability to maintain a high level of accuracy in their duties
• Patience and adaptability
• An interest in science and technology
• Good problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Empathic
• Handle situations involving blood/graphic and traumatic cases
• Sensitivity to the needs of ill and injured people
• Good communication skills and the ability to put people at ease
• The ability to work well in a team environment
• Maintain poise and composure in stressful situations
• Be a people person
• Work with people in vulnerable situations
• Willingness to keep skills and knowledge up to date
• Good organizational skills

What kind of work could I do when I graduate?

Graduates of this program may go on to become a Radiologic Technologist MRT (R); or work in technical support/administration; or be an application specialist/sales.

Places you may find yourself employed include:

Hospitals, community clinics, doctors’ offices, government agencies, public health agencies, industrial medical service units, military bases, or private or public Medical Imaging Departments.

Typical working conditions for this kind of work:

• Those employed in community clinics work regular office hours but may be required to work some evenings and weekends
• This is a physically demanding occupation. Medical Radiation Technologists are on their feet for most of their shift. They handle very heavy equipment, move equipment positioned at heights of about 2 metres, lift accessory equipment weighing up to 10 kilograms, and help patients move.
• Medical Radiation Technologists must follow strict radiation safety precautions for themselves and their patients, and be prepared to respond to and manage emergency situations
• Working with new technologies, there is a need for continual study to keep informed
• Working with doctors, nurses, radiologists and other medical staff

Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace

The profession of radiological technologist involves a broad variety of procedures and covers a number of specialties, including: Plain film radiological technology, i.e., x-rays of the chest, bones, joints, gastrointestinal studies, spine; Mammography to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages; Angiography to examine the heart, blood vessels and blood flow; Fluoroscopy, i.e., real-time images that show movement; Computerized tomography (CT scans), i.e., detailed cross-sectional images of the body.

• Explain procedures to patients and answer questions
• Help patients prepare for procedures, when necessary
• Monitor patients during procedures
• Provide primary patient care while patients are in the diagnostic imaging department
• Ensure patient comfort and privacy
• Interpret physicians’ requests for radiological examinations
• Use appropriate techniques and positioning for different pathological conditions
• Correctly position patients and equipment
• Inject contrast media when required
• Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce quality images that assist in diagnosis
• Recognize various anatomical structures radiographed
• Critique images to ensure high quality results
• Follow radiation protection practices, regulations and philosophy to reduce risk to patients, staff and visitors

Becoming a Medical Radiation Technologist

The Medical Radiation Technology program at Fanshawe College is a 7 term, 104 week Ontario College Advanced Diploma program starting in September each year. The program workload is considered to be heavy with:

• Seven courses in your first semester
• 2 – 3 hours of study required for each hour in class
• 25 -28 hours of class (70 hour/week commitment minimum)

Students spend the third year of the program in a hospital placement.

The program does go through the summer during the placement terms. Students are encouraged to research the placement locations as they may be required to travel or relocate.

Program terms are as follows:

• Level 1 – September to December
• Level 2 – January to April
  (summer break)
• Level 3 September to December
• Level 4 –7 Clinical
  • Level 4 -January to April
  • Level 5 May to August
  • Level 6 September to December
  • Level 7 January to April

The courses you would take at Fanshawe College can be found on the Medical Radiation Technology page.

Opportunities for further development or education

Graduates may apply for the Medical Resonance Imaging graduate certificate
Course work may be used as a basis of university admission or credits may transfer to a university degree at many different schools. Pathways & Credit Transfer

Fanshawe Pathfinder: Medical Radiation Technology © Fanshawe College used with permission, All Rights Reserved