Diagnostic Imaging Services

Student Questionnaire
____________ __________________________ ________________
Student Name Career Exploration Supervisor (s) Date

1. Define Diagnostic Imaging Services:

- Any visual display of structural or functional patterns of organs or tissues for diagnostic
evaluation. It includes measuring physiologic and metabolic  responses to physical and
chemical stimuli, as well as ultramicroscopy
2. Name the different practice areas or diagnostic specialties within Diagnostic Imaging Services:
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Ultrasound
3. Define Patient Confidentiality? Why is it important? How is it applied in Diagnostic Imaging
Services?
- Patient Confidentiality is a legal concept, related to medical confidentiality that
protects communications between a patient and his or her doctor from being used
against the patient in court. It is a part of the rules of evidence in many common law
jurisdictions. It is applied to Diagnostic Imaging Services because we cannot give away
patient’s x-rays.

Radiology
1. Define Radiology
- Radiology is the branch or specialty of medicine that deals with the study and
application of imaging technology like x-ray and radiation to diagnosing and treating
disease.
2. Who is responsible for reading the x-ray procedures or studies? What is their job title?
- Radiologic Technologist
3. Where are x-ray films kept and for how long are these films saved?
- X-ray films are kept in light proof cassettes on shelves and are saved for about 7 years.
4. What safety precautions does a Radiologic Technologist take to protect against the exposure to
radiation during an x-ray procedure?
- They wear anything with lead because lead is the most common shield against
radiation. They also wear radiation film badge to prevent exposure to radiation.
5. What is a radiation film badge?
- A radiation film badge is a pack of radiation-sensitive film used for the detection and
approximate measurement of radiation exposure for personnel-monitoring purposes;
the badge may contain two or three films of differing sensitivity, and it may contain a
filter that shields part of the film from certain types of radiation.
6. What is a mammogram?
- A mammogram is a x-ray film of the soft tissue of the breast. Mammograms identify
breast cancer in women.
7. Give, in your own words, an account of an x-ray procedure. Include in this account:
- How many people were involved with the procedure?
- What were their job titles?
- What equipment was used?
- How long did the procedure take?
- What was the physician looking for?
- Was the procedure uncomfortable for the patient at any time? When? What created
the discomfort?
8. Give the job responsibilities and educational requirements for each of the following workers
within the Radiology Division of Diagnostic Imaging:
- Radiologist:
a. Educational requirements: Four years of college are followed by four more of
medical school (some universities offer combined bachelor's and medical
degrees in six year programs that shave off two years). After graduating from
medical school, radiologists spend another five years in a residency
program. Radiologists must pass several tests along the way, including the
MCATS from college into medical school, and exams admininistered by the
National Boards or other testing agency from medical school into residency.
Radiologist must complete 4 years of undergraduate (Bachelor’s degree), 4
years of medical school (Medical degree), 4 years of residency training and 1
year of (optional) fellowship training for sub-specialization.
b. Job Responsibilities: Radiologists typically do not interact with patients. They
just read x-rays and put it in a report for the doctors.
- Radiologic Technologist
a. Educational Requirements: Take the most challenging science, math, and
English courses available in high school.  To become a registered radiologic
technologist, students must complete a two year training program in a
hospital or school.  A high school diploma or GED certificate is required for
entry into these programs.
b. Job Responsibilities: Radiologic Technologists perform x rays and place
nonradioactive matter into patients’ veins in order to diagnose problems.
There are some who are specialists in diagnostic imaging technologies,
including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized
tomography (CT).
9. What high school courses should you take if you want to work in the Radiology Division of
Diagnostic Imaging?
- Pathology
10. If you have taken one of the courses listed above, give one example of how something you
learned in the class was used in Diagnostic Imaging?
Nuclear Medicine
1. What kinds of computer technologies are used in this department?
- PET and SPET
2. Define Nuclear Medicine
- Nuclear Medicine is a branch of medicine that uses radioactive materials either to
image a patient’s body or to destroy diseased cells.
3. What is a Radionuclide?
- A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by
excess energy which is available to be imparted either to a newly-created radiation
particle within the nucleus, or else to an atomic electron
4. What is a radiopharmaceutical?
- Radiopharmaceutical is a drug containing a radioactive substance that is used in the
diagnosis and treatment of cancer and in pain management of bone metastases. Also
called a radioactive drug.
5. What is the purpose of a Nuclear Medicine study? How does it help the physician?
- The purpose of studying Nuclear Medicine is to help identify any diseased cells. Nuclear
Medicine helps the physician destroy diseased cells.
6. What universal precautions should be taken by a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?
- The Nuclear Medicine Technologist should avoid being exposed to radiation because it
can have harmful affects.
7. What is the different between universal precautions and radiation safety precautions in the
Nuclear Medicine laboratory?
- Radiation safety precautions NEED to be followed because it can hurt anyone that is
exposed to it. Universal precautions are other precautions that should be followed.
8. Give, in your own words, an account of a Nuclear Medicine Procedure. Include in this account:
- How many people were involved with the procedure?
- What were their job titles?
- What equipment was used?
- How long did the procedure take?
- What was the physician looking for?
- Was the procedure uncomfortable for the patient at any time? When? What created
the discomfort?
9. Give the job responsibilities and educational requirements for each of the following worker
within the Radiology Division of Diagnostic Imaging:

- Nuclear Medicine Technologist:

A. Job Responsibilities: Nuclear medicine technicians are trained to use

radiopharmaceuticals and medical imaging to help detect health issues.
 B. Educational Requirements: The field of nuclear medicine technology requires
specialized training from an associate's or bachelor's degree program. Graduates
must then gain certification before they can pursue a career as a nuclear
medicine technician.
- Registered Nurse license, Radiological Technologist or Medical Technologist
A. Job Responsibilities: medical technologists perform a variety of tasks including
everything from simple pre-marital blood tests, to more complex tests to
uncover diseases such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and cancer.
B. Educational Requirements: A medical technologist career requires at least a
bachelor’s degree, preferably in a scientific field. Additionally, the completion of an
accredited medical technologist program is also required. The program must be
accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Science (NAA-
CLS). You can major in a related subject to obtain a bachelor’s degree in an
applicable science such as biology, microbiology or biochemistry. After completion
of your undergraduate degree, the clinical and technical training in a medical
technology program will further prepare you for a successful lab career as a
medical technologist.
10. Are there any opportunities for careers in Nuclear Medicine Technology?
- Yes there are opportunities for careers in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
11. What high school courses should you take if you want to work in the Nuclear Medicine
Division of Diagnostic Imaging?
- To prepare for a career in medical technology, you can start in high school, by studying
hard to excel in key subjects such as biology, chemistry, math, and computer sciences.
12. If you have taken one of the courses listed above, give one example of how something you
learned in the class was used in Nuclear Medicine Division of Diagnostic Imaging?

Ultrasound
1. Define Ultrasonography
- Ultrasonography is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize
subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal
organs for possible pathology or lesions.
2. Why would a physician order a patient an x-ray, an ultrasound, or both?
- X-ray is used to view the bones while an Ultrasound is used to view internal organs.
3. When does someone need an Ultrasound instead of an X-ray?
- A patient will need an Ultrasound if their injuries affect the internal organs.
4. Who determines the need for an Ultrasound and an X-ray?
- The Radiologic Technologist determines if a patient needs an Ultrasound and an X-ray.
5. What is the difference between an Ultrasound and an X-ray?
- X-ray radiation is used to look at bones, sinus cavities in the head, lung tissue and the
intestinal tract (we can see the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines and
 rectum using barium). We can also use x-rays to visualize the Fallopian tubes, ureters
and urethra of the renal system and joint spaces if we add a contrast to that area.
- Ultrasound is used to visualize many things, but it cannot image air-filled structures,
such as the intestines or lungs. We can image the thyroid, salivary glands, carotid
arteries, breasts, heart, pancreas, aorta, vena cava, liver, gallbladder and common bile
duct, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, uterus, ovaries, testicles, palpable soft tissue
masses felt anywhere on the body, large vessels of the arms and legs
6. When a patient comes in for an Ultrasound, who looks at the patient medical record and
why is it important?
- The Ultrasound Technologist looks at the patient medical record.
7. In what diagnoses is an Ultrasound particularly useful or diagnostic?
- If a patient is pregnant an Ultrasound is very useful.
8. Give, in your own words, an account of a Nuclear Medicine Procedure. Include in this
account:
- How many people were involved with the procedure?
- What were their job titles?
- What equipment was used?
- How long did the procedure take?
- What was the physician looking for?
- Was the procedure uncomfortable for the patient at any time? When? What created
the discomfort?
9. What other procedures are done in Ultrasound that are unique to XYZ hospital?

10. Give the job responsibilities and educational requirements for each of the following
worker within the Radiology Division of Diagnostic Imaging:
- Ultrasound Technologist:
A. Job Responsibilities: An ultrasound technician is a specialist in the medical
field who performs the duty of checking the working of internal organs
through sound waves and imaging technology. The most common of this
work is monitoring the health of an expectant mother and the status of the
fetus in the womb. 
B. Educational Requirements: An associate degree or a bachelor’s degree with
one of the main topics being the ultrasound or sonography.
11. What high school courses should you take if you want to work in the Nuclear Medicine
Division of Diagnostic Imaging?
12. If you have taken one of the courses listed above, give one example of how something you
learned in the class was used in Nuclear Medicine Division of Diagnostic Imaging?