Technologists - an essential part of the health care system

Medical Imaging and imaging related procedures are an integral part of diagnostic health care today. Whether doctors need X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, angiography or MRI to make a clinical diagnosis, the technologists are there to perform the broad variety of examinations using advanced technology in abdominal, breast, cardiothoracic, and Neuro radiology, and musculoskeletal imaging.

November 6th to 12th is Medical Radiation Technologists Week. It is an annual celebration of the essential role of technologists in the health care system and a unique opportunity to learn more about them.

“In Quebec, to become a technologist, you must follow a three-year Cégep program in Diagnostic Imaging, which includes a one-year internship. Upon completion of the program and a qualifying exam, you become a registered technologist. However, you will need additional training to work in specialized imaging such as MRI, Ultrasound and CT scan,” says Laurian Rohoman, Coordinator of the MRI department at the MGH.

“An essential part of a technologist’s job is also to keep up with continuing education in our field. The imaging equipment and techniques are constantly evolving, and it is important that we remain up to date. Working in a high tech specialty such as MRI, we do have a good basis of clinical knowledge and work closely with the radiologists that interpret the imaging.”

“Personally, I chose to specialize in ultrasound, because it allows me to work close to my patients,” says Lise Alary, Technologist in general ultrasound at the Lachine Campus. “Also, because I work in a smaller hospital, I have the opportunity to train on most of our medical imaging equipment. Since we are a small team, we must know how to operate all the equipment in case one of our colleagues falls ill or has to be absent.”

“When I graduated from radiology, there wasn’t much more than X-rays in medical imaging. We didn’t do many ultrasounds, CT scanning was new and MRI didn’t exist”, says Jody Ceccarelli, Technical coordinator at the RVH breast clinic. “During my career, my job allowed me to evolve as a technologist and today, there are so many specialties to choose from! Although my profession has changed a lot during the years, some things never change: the patients. We keep learning new techniques with new equipment but in the end, we are all here for our patients. They are at the center of everything we do”, she concludes.