Chapter 7: Imaging and Diagnostics
Overview
Archie is currently exploring healthcare careers after working in the banking industry for the last 15-years. He enjoys working with the general public, but is hoping to find a career that will allow him to also help others in a meaningful way. Archie would like to work directly with patients and likes the idea of a career that allows him to interact with a variety of patients throughout the day. Archie 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 in this chapter have some degree of patient interaction along with the use of diagnostic medical equipment and technology. These careers play an important role in helping a care team determine a patient’s diagnosis and create a plan.The careers in this chapter include the following:
- Cardiovascular Technologist
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Nuclear Medicine Technician
- Phlebotomist
- Radiology Technician
- CT Tech
- Mammography Tech
- MRI Tech
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, the learner will be able to:
- Explain the role of imaging and diagnostics professionals in caring for patients.
- Understand the academic requirements for each of the careers covered in the chapter.
- Understand the career pathway for each of the careers covered in the chapter.
- Describe what each of the professionals do and the settings that they work in.
Key Terms
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostics
- Imaging
- Sonography
- Venipuncture
- Phlebotomy
- Mammogram
- Nuclear medicine
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Computed tomography (CT)
- X-ray
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound imaging
Attributions
- Chapter opening image: Altstätten Hospital by Kecko is released under CC BY 2.0
