Ideally the diagnosis is made prior to the onset of symptoms through screening tests such as : Stool blood test. Sigmoidoscopy -  It examines the rectum and sigmoid colon with a flexible scope that has a camera to see the inside of the sigmoid colon This test has been largely replaced by colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy is similar to the sigmoidoscopy. A flexible scope has a camera to visualize the inside lining of the entire colorectum that can also remove polyps and cauterize other lesions.  Virtual colonoscopy is a CT test similar to it’s predecessor, the barium enema. During the test the colon is filled with air and a CT is done. Treatment for colorectal involves surgery, chemotherapy and or radiation. Screening should be a high priority to promote early detection. Age 50 or older should follow these screening guides. Annual fecal occoult blood testing. Flexible sigmoidoscopy should be done every 5 to 10 years or virtual colonscopy every 5 to 10 years and others with significant risk factors should be screened more often.  Lastly, prevention involves lifestyle changes inherent in healthy living which includes regular exercise, a diet low in saturated fat, limited alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking cessation.

This information is not meant to replace consultation with your physician regarding your individual circumstances. This article is to provide useful information, not medical advice. Always consult with your doctor if you think you may have related symptoms.

Computed tomography is just one of several imaging modalities used for detection of cancer.  If you are interested in learning more about how to become a radiologic technologist and programs with Computed Tomography certificates, learn more at the radiology technician schools page in this site.

Currently used equipment, known as real time scanners, take continuous pictures of the moving fetus which can be depicted on a monitor. They are emitted from a transducer placed in contact with the maternal abdomen and moved around to look at any content within the uterus. Repetitive arrays of ultrasound beams scan the fetus in thin slices and are reflected back onto the same transducer. The information is recomposed back into a picture on the monitor screen ( a sonogram, or ultrasonogram). Movements like fetal heart beat and malformations in the fetus can be assessed accurately on the screen. These measurements form the cornerstone in the assessment of gestational age, size and growth in the fetus. A full bladder is often required for the procedure when abdominal scanning is done in early pregnancy. There is no sensation at all from the ultrasound waves.

ULTRASOUND USED IN PREGNANCY

Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, accurate and cost effective. It plays an important role in the case of every pregnant woman. The main uses of ultrasonography are to diagnose and confirm early pregnancy or vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy. In the presence of first trimester bleeding, ultrasonography is also indispensable in the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and molar pregnancies. Determination of gestational age and assessment of fetal size is important. Fetal measurements  tell the age of the fetus. In patients with uncertain last menstrual periods, measurements must be made as early as possible to arrive at a correct dating for the patient.

Measurements are usually made of the crown-rump length and the bi parietal diameter. The bi parietal diameter is the diameter between the two sides of the head. Babies of the same weight can have different head size. Dating using the BPD should be done early. The abdominal circumference is the single most important measurement to make in late pregnancy. It tells of fetal size and weight. Serial measurements are useful in monitoring growth of the fetus.

Diagnosis of fetal malformation is important because the risk of having a baby with chromosonal abnormality increases with the mothers age. Abnormalities can be diagnosed by an ultrasound scan. Common abnormalities can be spina bifida, cleft lips/ palate, congenital cardiac abnormalities and many more. First trimester ultrasonic soft markers are now in common use to enable detection of Down Syndrome fetuses. Ultrasound can also be used in other diagnostic procedures, which are many.

Ultrasonography has become very imporant in localization of the site of the placenta and determining its lower edges, thus making a diagnosis  of placenta previa. Other placental abnormalities can also be assessed. In the situation of multiple pregnancies, ultrasonography is invaluable in knowing the number of fetuses, like twins. Hydramnios and oligohydramnios, excessive or decreased amniotic fluid can be clearly depicted by ultrasound. Both conditions can have adverse effects on the fetus.

Other areas of interest are confirmation of intrauterine death, confirmation of fetal presentation in uncertain cases. Also evaluating fetal movements, tone and breathing in the biophysical profile.

I’ve tried to provide a bit more detail in this post about obstetric sonography and its role in monitoring pregnancy. Obstetric ultrasound scans have become a vitally important part of being pregnant and taking good care of yourself and your baby. There’s a lot more to it than waving a wand around a pregnant belly and determining the sex of the fetus, like we tend to see on television. If you think you have what it takes to become an obstetric sonographer, start by getting information directly from ultrasonography schools.

To make a medical assistant career go smoothly you need a knowledge base which includes anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology and medical billing. They are highly versatile professionals in both clinical and administrative realms. You also communicate with a variety of people including doctors, nurses, patients, medical billing staff, insurance representatives and pharmacists.

A Typical Day as a Medical Assistant

In a typical day as a medical asssistant, your primary responsibility is to ensure everything is running smoothly. You are an extra set of hands for nurses and health administrators. You stock supplies, answer phones, set up EKG’s, draw blood or explain treatment procedures to patients. You’ll need to solve problems and be everywhere at once, while staying calm and professional. When a patient comes in, you’ll record their medical history, discuss symptoms and take their vital signs. Help make the patient feel comfortable as possible and prepare them to meet the doctor. A medical assistant career can be demanding both emotionally and physically. Skills to assist physicians by performing administrative and basic clinical duties in an office or medical center are essential.

There are also other assistant career specialties in health care like a Podiatric assistant who makes castings of feet, exposes and develops x-rays, and assists podiatrists in surgery. Another option is to assist ophthalmologists in providing medical eye care. There are many duties required like conducting diagnostic tests, measuring and recording vision and testing eye muscle function and many more tasks to perform. They may also assist in surgery.

Working with the patients may be one of the challenging parts of your job. You’re often the one dealing with upset patients and need to keep them calm and listen to their problems and complaints and find a solution for them. Make it clear that you’re not a nurse and have different licensing. A doctor or nurse must order everything you do. Being a caring, empathetic, and a non- judgemental person is important to the patient. Always remember it’s best to be highly organized and a good multi tasker which is crucial to the job.

Education Requirements for Medical Assisting

To get a certificate in medical assisting it will take about 10 months. A medical assistant career is definitely a rewarding one with room for growth. You must enjoy the versatility of medical assisting and contribute to the way the office operates. If you decide to move up, you can go to school to become a nurse or physicians assistant. Or you can move into a management or supervisory role. Remember, starting out as a medical assistant gives you the upper hand over people who are going straight into nursing from high school. The rewards in a medical assistant career are great and you will become a respectful member of the medical community if not just the community in general.

The figures mentioned above are national averages and can vary greatly depending on your level of experience, education, certification status, geographic location, and type of facility. For example, those who are certified through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) generally earn, on average, $10,000 more per year than those who are not certified. Once you are certified, you may take on the title of “technologist” rather than technician. Another factor to consider is the level of education you have earned. The most common route to becoming an X-Ray Technician is to complete an associates degree; however, those who have completed a four year bachelors degree, on average, make more per year. It is not necessary to pursue a bachelors degree to become an x-ray technician, but more education usually correlates to higher pay.

Geographic location is another major factor in determining salary. Those who live in metropolitan areas tend to be paid higher, as the cost of living is higher in these areas. Those who work in Los Angeles will be paid higher than someone working in Kansas. In fact, California and the New York and New England areas of the country are among the highest paying geographic regions.

Lastly, the type of facility you work in is another factor in determining your salary. Those who work in physician offices tend to be paid less than someone who works in a diagnostic medical imaging lab. The best way to project what level of compensation you will have is to look at job postings in your area. You can learn more about x-ray tech salary on this site and compare the salary to other related positions. The important thing to remember is that growth potential in the field of medical imaging is always great, so if you are motivated and enjoy the work, you can always acquire more and greater skill and improve your compensation along with it.

Those who specialize in invasive procedures are often called cardiology technologists. Invasive means that there is the need to utilize instruments such as catheters and to insert them into the body to perform procedures. Non-invasive procedures involve imaging without the need to insert instruments such as an echocardiography.

To become a cardiovascular technologist, you must first obtain formal education in a cardiovascular technology program. The most common route is an associates degree; however, it is not uncommon to also pursue a bachelors degree. Upon completion of a degree, you will need to decide if you want to become a certified cardiovascular tech. While certification is not always mandatory, it is fast becoming a requirement among employers. You can become certified through the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) and the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). To be eligible for these exams, you must have completed your education through an accredited school.

Many schools now offer Cardiovascular Tech associates, bachelors, and certificate programs. There are several opportunities for advancement in the field and becoming educated on multiple cardiovascular specialties such as EKG, echocardiography, and both invasive and non invasive vascular procedures will provide greater compensation and opportunity.

You can learn more about individual programs by requesting information from schools offering cardiovascular technology programs and getting the facts on program details.

The Joint Review Committee on Education for Radiologic Technologists (JRCERT) is the accrediting body for radiology schools across the country. In order to become a Rad Tech, you will want to choose a school that is on JRCERT’s list of accredited programs and institutions. If you complete a certificate or degree from a program not on the their list, you may be faced with denial of the ability to take the exam required to become a certified Rad Tech administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). So, picking radiology schools that are recognized by JRCERT is important if you want to be certified.

When picking a radiology school, take your time interviewing school representatives from multiple institutions. Sites such as this one allow you to request information by filling out simple forms. These forms are then sent to school representatives who will contact you and provide you with specific information about the nature and scope of their programs. Ask questions about the rate of students graduating who pass the ARRT exam. This is a good indication of whether or not the program sufficiently prepares their students for success after graduation. Also, find out who the instructors are and what their credentials consist of? Does the school provide an externship after the classroom work? Does the facility have actual radiology equipment that you will be able to practice with?

In general, be sure the radiology school you are about to enroll in is going to give you what you need to be successful and get into this rewarding career with your best foot forward.

First and foremost, you’ve got to find out what your state’s licensing requirements are to work with radiology and x-ray equipment. You will also need to determine if getting certified through the ARRT is required in your state. Many states utilize the exam administered by the ARRT as a licensing requirement. You can view contact information on the radiology certification and licensing pages within this site to get specific questions answered. Even if your state does not require that you become certified, it may be a good idea anyway in order to make yourself a competitive job applicant upon graduation.

If your state requires certification, you will want to be sure to choose a radiology degree that is accepted by the ARRT and that will sufficiently prepare you for the exam. The most common degree pursued is the radiology associates degree. It is a two year programs that will provide you with foundational knowledge about working in health care, core curriculum in radiology, and a hands on externship.

Another option is to pursue a radiology certificate which are shorter programs usually lasting between 9 to 12 months. This is a good option for those who will be working in states that have less stringent licensing and certification requirements. It is also a quicker, more efficient route to an entry level position.

A radiology bachelors degree is usually pursued by those who have already been working in the field and would like to attain supervisory or leadership positions. In addition, a bachelors degree in radiology is a good option for those seeking positions as radiology trainers and educators in hospitals and community colleges.

If in doubt, I always recommend that you look through some of the job postings at local hospitals and diagnostic imaging labs and read the education and certification requirements. Regardless of the degree you pursue, the good news is that you have set in motion a highly rewarding career with endless expansion and possibilities.

The associates degree usually takes two academic years to complete and has three main phases. The first phase is the general medical and health care knowledge you will need such as medical terminology, anatomy, patient records management, and medical ethics. The second phase consists of the core radiology courses which usually include subjects such as patient positioning, radiographic physics, medical imaging technology, sectional anatomy, and a set of courses designed to acquaint you with imaging major anatomical areas. The third phase is the clinical experience where you will work with an existing Rad Tech and work through a set of competencies, skills, and knowledge out in the field.

The certificate programs for radiography are quicker and usually take about one academic year to complete. Associates programs are more popular than the certificates because there are many more approved programs through JRCERT (Joint Review Committee for Education in Radiologic Technology), and they more thoroughly prepare you for the ARRT examination. The ARRT, known as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, is the national organization that administers tests and grants certification to Radiologic Technologists. Completing an associates degree is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for the exam.

Bachelor’s degrees are another option that will provide you with a much more robust education; however, this path is pursued less because it is not required unless you are planning on pursuing a supervisory role, becoming a trainer, or setting the foundation for a masters degree.

Radiology has become a popular career choice because it is getting the reputation as one of the highest paying and rewarding health care jobs you can get with a two year degree, which is why a radiology associates degree is a popular option.

To become an RA you must complete a radiology masters degree program and pass an ARRT exam designed specifically for the RA position. One of the schools that offers a Radiologist Assistant program is Quinnipiac University.

Radiologist Assistant Job Descriptions include working closely with a physician in a high level role, performing advanced techniques to diagnose illness. Radiologists have knowledge in multiple image modalities with an advanced level of knowledge of anatomy, technique, and radiographic physics. The Radiologist Assistant works under the supervision of a Radiologist M.D. by assisting the Radiologist in the diognostic imaging environment. The R.A. is a valuable addition to the radiology team by performing advanced level radilogical services under the supervision of a radiologist, freeing up the time of the physician.

Radiologist Assistants have the highest salaries of all the radiology positions with exception of the Radiologist M.D.’s. Radiologist Salary Outlook : Low-$90,076 Medium – $102,972 High – $112,615 .

There has been an ongoing shortage of Radiologist MD’s which has been of great concern. In order to alleviate the effects of the heavy work load the position of Radiologist Assistant had been added by the ARRT.

The demand for skilled R.A.’s is very high and will continue to be high untill the shortage of Radiologists can be filled. Their has never been a better time to find positions paying over 100k per year in the field of radiology. It is not only a rewarding experience, but one that will take your career and salary level to significantly greater heights.

Thank you Dave for recognizing us and for sharing our resource with members of the radiology community.