By Dr. Ron Winston
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Radiologic Technologists (i.e., CT and MRI) is projected to grow 9% from 2020 to 2030. Many of the openings result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force. The aging of the large baby-boom generation is expected to increase demand for imaging as a diagnostic tool due to medical conditions such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Likewise, employment projections from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunities and Workforce Development Area 23, consisting of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, indicate that there will be a need for approximately 993 employees in the Radiologic Technologists field per year between 2021 and 2029. To meet this demand, Miami Dade College, a leader in addressing the workforce needs of the community, is dedicated to preparing students for the ever-changing field of health sciences.
The School of Health Sciences at Miami Dade College developed a 9-credit Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) in Computed Tomography (CT) and a 15-credit Advanced Technical Certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The ATC in CT will prepare an already licensed Radiologic Technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, and Radiation Therapy Technologist to become a CT Technologist. Students will acquire knowledge of CT scanning technology to include history and development, equipment, terminology, patient preparation and care, principles of image formation, acquisition, and production. Furthermore, they will learn how to identify cross-sectional anatomy as it appears in CT scanning to include normal anatomic structures of the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, spine, and extremities in multi-planar sections. The ATC in MRI will prepare an already licensed Radiologic Technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Radiation Therapy Technologist and Ultrasound Technologist to become MRI Technologists. Students will acquire knowledge of MRI scanning technology to include history and development, equipment, terminology, patient preparation and care, principles of image formation, acquisition, and production. Furthermore, students will gain knowledge on MRI pulsing sequence, gradient magnetic fields, and anatomic section orientation. The CT and MRI programs follow the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) curriculum to prepare program completers for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination in CT and MRI.
The responsibilities of the Radiologic Technologist are both numerous and critical to the success of patient care. Both CT and conventional x-rays take pictures of internal body structures. In conventional x-rays, the structures overlap. In a CT image, overlapping structures are eliminated, making the internal anatomy more apparent. Radiologic Technologists trained in CT scanning will provide detailed information that can be used to determine if there is a medical problem, provide the extent and exact location of the problem, and reveal other important details that can help the physician determine the best treatment for patients.
Likewise, in an MRI image, overlapping structures are eliminated, making the internal anatomy more apparent. MRI provides better soft tissue contrast than X-rays and can differentiate better between fat, water, muscle, and other soft tissue than X-rays. Radiologic Technologists trained in MRI scanning will provide detailed information that can be used to decide whether a medical issue exists, show the size and precise position of the condition, and reveal other crucial information that can aid the doctor in choosing the best course of treatment for patients and direct various interventional procedures both before and after surgery.
With developing the ATC in CT and MRI to address the workforce needs in Miami Dade County, Miami Dade College’s School of Health Sciences is preparing students to become highly skilled healthcare professionals, while improving their quality of life and allowing them to become an integral part of healthcare team. The School of Health Sciences turns health care career dreams into reality for thousands of students every year.
For more information, visit www.mdc.edu/medical/ or call (305) 237-4103. Dr. Ron Winston is Chairperson, School of Health Sciences at Miami Dade College.
