A career in the radiology field is wide-ranging, expanding and profitable. Any radiology job description lists a wide-range of specialists including radiologists, radiology technicians, or radiographers, and radiology administrators.
At the top of the field you will find the radiology physician most commonly referred to as radiologists. These doctors are highly trained in the medical specialty of radiology; the practice of diagnosing and interpreting diseases using various medical images.
Radiologists evaluate patients’ current health status and possible risk factors to determine which radiology procedure would benefit the patient and be useful in disease diagnosis. Radiologists work closely with other doctors and with other healthcare experts who assist with radiology technologies.
Summary Of Radiology Jobs
Much of the equipment used in radiology emit a small amount of radiation to create the image. Consequently safety is an important component in radiology, so caution must be used in determining the necessity and frequency of the procedure. This is why an important element of any radiology job description includes safety information regarding uses of imaging techniques.
In healthcare today the standard x-ray is the most used radiology tool administered. Officially called electromagnetic radiation, the x-ray is distinguished by short wavelength. MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is a technique which can create a detailed internal diagram. A CT scan, computed tomography, produces a three-dimensional image aiding radiologists and other physicians with comprehensive views of patients. ?
Radiologists must complete a basic undergraduate pre-med degree before four years in medical school and a two to six-year residency.
Salaries for radiologists are generally on the high-end in the medical field. ?A recent survey completed in June 2010 showed the median annual salary for radiologists at $389,000. The lower range showed a median salary of $268,000. At the top-end of the field, the salary can be close to $500,000 annually.
A career in radiology spans more than a doctor of radiology. Any comprehensive radiology job description includes radiological technologists commonly called rad techs or radiographers.
Techs are medical healthcare professionals trained to use the varied types of radiology equipment. An option for radiology techs is to focus on certain parts of the body such as breast illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, or health conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and stomach. Radiology techs follow test orders sent from radiologists and other physicians and provide for the health and safety of the patient. They administer a wide variety of x-ray procedures including but not limited to CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and mammograms.
Radiology techs are crucial to the radiology field and can work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics or imaging centers. Earning a certification in radiology technology can take from one to four years, but usually require a two-year associates degree.
Depending on the speciality radiology technicians salaries can range from 45,000 to 60,000 annually.
Radiology administrators run the business end of a radiology unit and generally have experience in healthcare as well as in business practices.
The exciting opportunities included in any radiology job description are varied and can provide a rewarding, well-compensated career path.