A heart scan evaluates the health of your blood vessels. It tells your doctor how much calcified plaque is in your coronary arteries and your risk of developing heart disease or a heart attack in the near future. It is a CT scan that takes 10 minutes to perform, requires no needles, dyes, or medications, but understanding your heart scan results might save your life.
Category: Radiologist
When To Get An MRI for A Knee Injury
Got knee pain? Even if you haven’t been seriously injured of late, an MRI may diagnose why your knee hurts all the time or why it still hurts even after knee surgery. Let’s find out all the reasons when to get an MRI for a knee injury.
What Injuries Can An X-ray Detect?
An X-ray is one of the earliest imaging tools doctors have for diagnosing many medical issues. It is a form of electromagnetic radiation and was discovered in 1895 by the German physicist Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen. Little did he know how useful this would be for the next century and beyond. So, exactly what injuries can an X-ray detect?
A Guide To Imaging Scans For Those Who Are Claustrophobic
If you begin to sweat and find your heart pounding when you enter an elevator full of people, you may have claustrophobia. Those who are even mildly claustrophobic find it uncomfortable to fly or even go through a tunnel when traveling.
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What Is the Difference Between a CT Scan and MRI?
A CT scan and MRI are both non invasive and low risk tools used by doctors to diagnose specific conditions. They both produce images of the inside of our body, but what are the differences between a CT scan and MRI, and when are they used?
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When to have a Bone Density Test to Detect Osteoporosis
A bone scan is the only way to diagnose osteoporosis before a broken bone happens. A bone density test, or DEXA scan, may be done on your hip or spine to estimate your bone density and determine if treatment is necessary.
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4 Myths About Diagnostic Imaging
Many people believe radiology services, that includes x-rays, MRIs, mammograms, and ultrasounds, can be harmful to patients, but the majority of these beliefs are myths. Here are a few common radiology myths discussed.
A Brief History of Radiology
In 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen wrote a paper called “On a New Kind of Ray”. This was the beginning of Radiology as we know it today. In his paper, he detailed the basics of x-rays and the technology behind it.
What is a Radiology Technician?
Radiologic technicians are professionals who perform radiologic procedures. Some technicians provide common procedures such as X-rays, MRI scans and CT Scans. However, others might choose to specialize in specific procedures including mammography and radiography.
Education for Radiologic Technicians
There are three options if you’re considering a career as a radiology technician:
- Radiology Technician Certification – Certification programs are available for people who are interested in becoming a radiology technician. Certifications take one to two years to complete and often require clinical observations and local colleges.
- Associate’s Degree – This is the most common pathway for radiology technicians. A majority of accredited community colleges offer programs.
- Four-year Bachelor’s Degree – Some universities will offer a Radiology Technician degree.
In addition to in-class lectures and exams, most courses require a portion of the program to be hands-on to give students the necessary experience to be successful in their careers. Following the training to become a radiology technician, they must complete a licensing exam and will then be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Working as a Radiology Technician
Radiology technicians typically work around 40 hours a week. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Society of Radiologic Technicians, the average national wage for radiology technicians is around $62,763. However, entry-level technician jobs are typically around $45,878.
Interested in joining Southwest Diagnostic Imaging Center as a Radiology Technician? Contact us to learn more.
What Makes SWDIC Different?
Find out what Dr. David Kilogre, a neuroradiologist at Southwest Diagnostic Imaging Center has to say about radiology and what sets SWDIC apart from other radiology groups in Dallas, TX.