The Role of the Radiologic Technologist
With technology evolving day-by day, the amount of exams the technologist can perform might diminish because of other modalities making it easier to make a diagnosis for certain anatomy. For instance a technologist may see less exams that pertain to the skull because of the advancement of cat scans. With those same advancements of technology the role of the technologist is also being increased. There are certain things that a technologist now can assume responsibility for if it is within their scope of practice to do so. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or HIPPA was a result by the Clinton administration and had four primary objectives. The one that pertains most to …show more content…
For example in chapter 1 of “Pharmacology and Drug Administration” there was a scenario where the technologist started the injection and contrast on a young patient went into a coma because of the drug. The physician did not stay with the technologist and the patient the entire time to make sure there was not an adverse reaction. In this instance if I were to be asked to start the IV and contrast as long as I have had the proper training, I would have done so if and only if the physician was to stay throughout the injection and the waiting period in case there is a reaction by the patient to the drug. The scope of practice has shifted to the imaging professional to maybe starting contrast intravenously but what to do in case there is a negative reaction to the drug from the patient has not, that scope of practice remains still with the physician (Jensen). In an RT’s scope of practice there are several things they are responsible for including performing venipuncture prescribed by a licensed practitioner (ASRT). If I was not allowed to do some because of a policy in place then I would talk to the physician and I would have apologized and reiterate that I am not able to administer drugs by venipuncture at this …show more content…
Being negligent in this situation would be if the exam called for non-iodinated contrast and the technologist accidentally grabs an iodinated contrast for the exam. Malpractice in this scenario would be the technologist starting the IV because the physician asked you but the imaging professional has not received the proper training to start the IV but chooses to do so
With technology evolving day-by day, the amount of exams the technologist can perform might diminish because of other modalities making it easier to make a diagnosis for certain anatomy. For instance a technologist may see less exams that pertain to the skull because of the advancement of cat scans. With those same advancements of technology the role of the technologist is also being increased. There are certain things that a technologist now can assume responsibility for if it is within their scope of practice to do so. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or HIPPA was a result by the Clinton administration and had four primary objectives. The one that pertains most to …show more content…
For example in chapter 1 of “Pharmacology and Drug Administration” there was a scenario where the technologist started the injection and contrast on a young patient went into a coma because of the drug. The physician did not stay with the technologist and the patient the entire time to make sure there was not an adverse reaction. In this instance if I were to be asked to start the IV and contrast as long as I have had the proper training, I would have done so if and only if the physician was to stay throughout the injection and the waiting period in case there is a reaction by the patient to the drug. The scope of practice has shifted to the imaging professional to maybe starting contrast intravenously but what to do in case there is a negative reaction to the drug from the patient has not, that scope of practice remains still with the physician (Jensen). In an RT’s scope of practice there are several things they are responsible for including performing venipuncture prescribed by a licensed practitioner (ASRT). If I was not allowed to do some because of a policy in place then I would talk to the physician and I would have apologized and reiterate that I am not able to administer drugs by venipuncture at this …show more content…
Being negligent in this situation would be if the exam called for non-iodinated contrast and the technologist accidentally grabs an iodinated contrast for the exam. Malpractice in this scenario would be the technologist starting the IV because the physician asked you but the imaging professional has not received the proper training to start the IV but chooses to do so