Chapter 7: Imaging and Diagnostics
Overview
Archie is currently exploring healthcare careers after working in the banking industry for the past 15 years. He enjoys working with the general public but is hoping to find a career that will also allow him to help others in a more meaningful way. Archie would like to work directly with patients and feels drawn to a career that allows him to interact with a variety of patients throughout the day. He has a friend who works as a radiologic technologist, and this profession sparked his interest.
This chapter will explore healthcare careers that involve imaging and diagnostics. Many of the careers highlighted here involve patient interaction and the use of diagnostic medical equipment and technology. These roles play an important part in helping the care team determine a patient’s diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. The careers discussed in this chapter include:
- Cardiovascular technologist
- CT technologist
- Diagnostic medical sonographer
- Mammography technologist
- Medical laboratory technician
- MRI technologist
- Nuclear medicine technologist
- Phlebotomist
- Radiologic technologist
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, the learner will be able to:
- Explain the role of imaging and diagnostics professionals in patient care
- Understand the academic requirements for each career covered in the chapter
- Understand the career pathways for each profession discussed
- Describe what each of the professionals do and the settings in which they work
Key Terms
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostics
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Imaging
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Mammogram
- Nuclear medicine
- Phlebotomy
- Sonography
- Ultrasound imaging
- Venipuncture
- X-ray
Attributions
- Chapter opening image: Altstätten Hospital by Kecko is released under CC BY 2.0
