Radiography

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850

Chicago, Illinois 60606-3182

312-704-5300

mail@jrcert.org

To review the JRCERT Standards and other pertinent accreditation information please visit www.jrcert.org.

Radiography Mission, Goals, Learning Outcomes

The mission of the Associate Degree Radiography Program complements, and is interwoven with, the mission of Lincoln Land Community College by serving patients and employers in the district’s health care institutions by graduating competent, entry-level radiographers. Students will integrate the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective components of medical radiography and achieve the primary goal of clinical excellence built on academic achievement.

Program Goals and Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate a firm foundation for the profession and the imaging process taking into account patient safety and interactions.
   • Students will demonstrate the value of radiation protection.
   • Students will summarize the importance of patient safety in regard to Standard Precautions.

2. Students will demonstrate competency in the clinical environment.
   • Students will demonstrate appropriate patient care skills.
   • Students will demonstrate accuracy in radiographic procedures, specifically for positioning, technique, and image evaluation.

3. Students will develop critical thinking skills.
   • Students will adapt standard procedures to non-routine cases.
   • Students will identify how to manipulate the primary x-ray beam in order to ensure radiographic protection for the patient.
   • Students will analyze images for diagnostic quality.

4. Students will demonstrate communication skills.
   • Students will demonstrate written communication.
   • Students will demonstrate oral communication.

5. Students will exemplify professionalism.
   • Students will demonstrate on-the-job responsibility and exemplify professionalism.
   • Students will identify with the importance of professional organizations and continuing education.
   • Students will apply ethical decision making to practice standards.

What is Radiologic Technology?

Radiologic Technology encompasses a number of imaging and therapeutic specialties used in the delivery of medical care. All use some form of energy or radiation to obtain diagnostic images or to perform treatment. They are:

• Radiography
• Nuclear Medicine Technology
• Radiation Therapy
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Mammography
• Computed Tomography
• Bone Densitometry
• Cardiac and/or Vascular Interventional Radiography

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists provides an excellent summation of the role of Radiologic Technologists in patient care and the services they provide. Visit http://www.asrt.org/main/careers/careers-in-radiologic-technology and explore all of the links provided.

Who are Radiographers?

Radiography is the art and science of using x-rays to produce diagnostic images of the human body. It is also used extensively in veterinary medicine and industry. X-rays are very similar to visible light, varying only in wavelength. The wavelength of x-rays permits them to penetrate objects easily and also renders them invisible to the human eye. Unfortunately, they also ionize atoms. The word “radiography” means making images (graph) with radiation (rad). Similarly, the word “photography” means making images (graph) with light (photo).

Health care professionals who perform radiography and provide patient care are called radiographers. They create radiographic images that are used to diagnose a wide range of pathologies and injuries. Most patients coming to a hospital or clinic will have an x-ray procedure of some kind to assist in the diagnosis of their problem. Radiographers work with patients as young as newborns and as old as centenarians. They must enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds who arrive with injuries or diseases that require swift and accurate diagnosis.

Radiographers work in a stressful environment requiring compassion, extensive problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and fellow health care professionals.

Radiographs are obtained using digital image acquisition systems including the latest technology and equipment. Radiographers must be fluent in understanding such technology, providing the best diagnostic images with the least amount of radiation. They must be prepared to recognize symptoms of life-threatening events and be able to take immediate action in the event of a patient emergency.

Obtaining excellent x-ray images requires the radiographer to master the knowledge base and skills required to properly position and align the patient, the anatomical part being radiographed, the x-ray tube, and the digital image receptor with pinpoint accuracy. Radiographers must then be able to assess the image that has been obtained and verify that the specific anatomy has been accurately demonstrated.

The field of radiography changes at a rapid pace. Radiographers are required to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills through continued professional development, including mandatory continuing education every two years and documentation of continued qualifications to practice every ten years.

Radiography is an exciting and fulfilling field in which to build a career for those special few who can blend working with technology with providing compassionate patient care.

Class size

The Associate Degree Radiography Program accepts up to 16 students per class.  This number is based on the following:

• the number of clinical slots available for clinical internship, which is determined by accreditation standards
• anticipated employment needs in the communities served
• space availability in program lab sections

Program Location and Clinical Sites

The Associate Degree Radiography Program classroom and lab are located in room L-1116 in Logan Hall, on the Springfield Campus.

Clinical Sites

Note: Clinical rotations are generally 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early morning portable rotations may necessitate arrival as early as 6:00 am for 2-4 weeks depending on the clinical site. Students also do one rotation on an evening shift for four weeks, second year. Clinical rotations may require the student to travel up to 50 miles one way, to an assigned clinical site for up to a year.

• Hillsboro Area Hospital, Hillsboro
• Memorial Medical Center, Springfield
• Memorial Medical Center ExpressCare at Koke Mill
• Memorial Medical Center ExpressCare at South Sixth Street
• Orthopedic Center of Illinois, Springfield
• Passavant Area Hospital, Jacksonville
• Springfield Clinic – Main Campus, Springfield (special modality rotations)
• Springfield Clinic – 1st, Springfield (special modality rotations)
• St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield
• St. John’s Hospital, Springfield
• Taylorville Memorial Hospital, Taylorville

Health and Safety

Radiation: Students will be exposed to low levels of scattered x-rays emanating from the patient and equipment during fluoroscopy, mobile radiography, and surgical procedures. A lead apron is required to be worn when performing these examinations.

Disinfectant: Students will be using powerful disinfectants to clean surfaces touched by patients. Gloves are required to be worn when using these chemicals.

Communicable diseases: Students will be exposed to a multitude of communicable diseases. Standard Precautions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, must be practiced at all times.

Costs

• EXPENSES Summer 2018

General Education Courses Effective Summer 2018*

Course	Credit Hours	Tuition and Feesfor Course*
EGL 101	3	$420.00
EGL 102 or CMN 104	3	$420.00
PSY 101	3	$420.00
BIO 175	4	$560.00
BIO 176	4	$560.00

ALL COSTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH EACH SEMESTER, please refer to LLCC’S Bookstore or LLCC registration office for changes each semester.

Transfer Student / Advanced Placement

The Associate Degree Radiography Program does not accept students attempting to transfer from another radiography program or seeking advanced placement. Students desiring to attend this program must meet with a student success coach and proceed through the normal application process.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

Program Effectiveness Data

• Program Effectiveness Data for the LLCC Associate Degree Radiography Program

Graduate Satisfaction with Program

• Graduate satisfaction with program statistics

Employer Satisfaction with Graduates

• Employer satisfaction statistics

Non-Cognitive Performance Standards

Individuals admitted to the Associate Degree Radiography Program at Lincoln Land Community College must possess the ability to complete all aspects of the classroom and clinical curriculum. Therefore, in addition to program prerequisites, all students admitted to the program must also possess the following abilities and meet the following expectations related to successful completion of clinical education and subsequent practice in the radiography profession.

Communication/Interactions: Be able to clearly communicate in English both verbally and in writing and interacting with all professionals connected with the program as it relates to:

• Obtaining and recording patient history.
• Explaining or discussing procedures and patient consent forms.
• Providing clear verbal instructions to patients either face-to-face or from the radiography control area, which is a distance away from the patient.
• Interacting and working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.
• Providing physical and emotional support to patients during radiographic procedures, being able to respond to situations requiring first aid, and providing appropriate emergency care to the patient until the appropriate assistance arrives.
• Responding professionally with precise, quick, and appropriate action in stressful and emergency situations.
• Having the ability to control emotions and maintain composure under stress.
• Being able to adjust to various personalities of patients and co-workers.
• Accepting criticism and adopting appropriate modifications in behavior.
• Possessing the perseverance, diligence, and consistency to complete the radiography program curriculum.
• Learning and performing routine radiographic procedures, using intellectual capacity to select proper technical exposure factors according to the individual needs of the patient and the requirements of the procedure’s standards of speed and accuracy.

Visual Acuity:  Be able to see fine lines and distinguish gradual changes in blacks, grays and whites as related to:

• Reading department protocols for imaging procedures, examination request, computer monitors, and any written directions or orders.
• Properly positioning a patient in relation to the x-ray tube and image receptor.
• Assessing the direction of the central ray to the anatomical part of being imaged.
• Reviewing and evaluating recorded images for the purpose of identifying proper patient positioning, accurate procedural sequencing, proper radiographic quality, and other appropriate and pertinent technical qualities, all under the conditions of dimmed lighting.

Hearing Ability:  Have the ability to hear sounds as related to:

• Responding to patient questions, concerns and needs.
• Hear faint or muffled sounds when the use of surgical masks are required.
• Hear faint or muffled sounds from the control panel or away from the radiographic room, which are separated from the x-ray table and patient.

Motor Functions Ability:  Good manual dexterity, motor skills and eye-hand coordination are necessary as related to:

• Have sufficient strength, motor coordination, and manual dexterity to transport, move, life and transfer patients from a wheelchair or cart to an x-ray table or a patient bed.
• Move, adjust, and manipulate a variety of radiographic equipment, including the physical transportation of mobile radiographic/fluoroscopic equipment, in order to arrange and align the equipment with respect to the patient and the image receptor according to established procedures and standards of speed and accuracy.
• Don surgical gloves, fill syringes, and handle sterile trays and equipment, including the ability to perform venipuncture.
• Stand unassisted for long periods of time.

The Radiography Practice Analysis compiled by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (arrt.org) will be used to answer questions regarding criteria not specifically addressed by this document.  In all cases, patient safety will be the primary determining factor related to the interpretation of non-academic criteria.

Required Computer Skills for Incoming Radiography Students

Upon starting the Associate Degree Radiography Program, it is assumed you possess the following skills:

• Check LLCC email and Blackboard daily
• Create and Use PowerPoint (second year)
• Have access to: computer, broadband service, printer
• Internet: searches, navigation
• Save and retrieve files with a flash drive
• Use email and be able to attach and open documents
• Use Microsoft Word

Other computer skills may be added during the program

Radiography Course Sequence

Radiography Course  Sequence (not including required general education courses):

View the college academic calendars.

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