Radiology Assistant

Radiologist Assistant (RA)

radiology assistants

Radiologist Assistant

A Registered Radiologist Assistant, is an experienced, advanced-level radiologic technologist who enhances patient care by extending the capacity of the radiologist in the diagnostic imaging environment. They have obtained additional education and certification that qualifies them to serve as radiologist extenders. Their role falls between the traditional roles of the radiologist and the radiographer. They work under the supervision of a radiologist to provide patient care in the diagnostic imaging environment.

The shortage of radiologists, along with growing demand for imaging services, motivated the American College of Radiology (ACR) to look for alternative ways of continuing to provide high quality patient care. The ASRT was looking for ways to extend the career path of radiologic technology in order to support recruiting and retention efforts. The two initiatives found a common solution in the radiologist assistant concept.

Responsibilities of a Radiologist Assistant

The RA has three major areas of responsibility:

First, the RA takes a leading role in patient management and assessment. Duties in this area might include determining whether a patient has been appropriately prepared for a procedure, obtaining patient consent prior to beginning the examination, answering questions from the patient and his or her family, and adapting exam protocols to improve diagnostic quality. The radiologist assistant also is expected to serve as a patient advocate, ensuring that each patient receives quality care while in the radiology department or clinic.
Second, the radiologist assistant performs selected radiology examinations and procedures under the supervision of a radiologist. The level of radiologist supervision varies, depending on the type of examination.
And third, the RA may be responsible for evaluating image quality, making initial image observations and forwarding those observations to the supervising radiologist. The supervising radiologist remains responsible for providing a final written report, an interpretation or a diagnosis. ( RA responsibilities defined by ASRT in their RA Advantage pamphlet)

How do I become a Radiology Assistant?

All educational programs for RAs are established at the baccalaureate degree or higher and include a radiologist directed clinical preceptorship. RAs must be certified as radiographers by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists before enrolling in an RA educational program. After graduating from an RA program, the individual must additionally pass the RA certification examination offered by the ARRT. Once certified, RAs must fulfill continuing education requirements to maintain ARRT registration. Educational Pathway 1. Be ARRT certified and registered in radiography;

Have one year of acceptable clinical experience;
Have successfully completed a radiologist assistant educational program recognized by ARRT;
Have earned a baccalaureate degree;
Be in compliance with the ARRT ethics requirements;
Complete didactic coursework addressing the topics listed in the ARRT Content Specifications for the Registered Radiologist Assistant Examination. These topics should be covered as a part of a nationally recognized curriculum such as the one published by the ASRT;

Complete the ARRT clinical requirements as defined in the ARRT Didactic and Clinical Portfolio Requirements for Certification as a Radiologist Assistant document.

Demand/Salary

The addition of RAs to the radiology team helps improve productivity and efficiency at a time when the demand for medical imaging services is soaring. You may want to visit one of the listed programs web-sites for salary information as the field is fairly new and salaries are widespread.

Comments from Author

This is a new and exciting area of radiology imaging education. It allows the experienced, educated and talented radiographers an upward career move. Since the field is new, there are still areas of question that need to be worked out. One of the biggest confusing areas is defining exactly what an RA can do and what can they bill for. The ASRT has many great resources regarding the RA field. At the University, we helped educate two RA’s through clinical education. One in fluoro/IR and the other in mammography. Both are an invaluable contribution to our department.

Links for further Information

Programs with students currently enrolled:

Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA

* 909-558-4931 ext 82368

lalipoon@llu.edu

Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX

* 866-575-4305 (toll free) 940-397-4615

donna.wright@mwsu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

* 804-828-9104

Web Site: www.sahp.vcu.edu/radsci jslegg@vcu.edu

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ