Radiologic Technology

Radiographers perform X-ray examinations of the body. You’ll learn to use the highly technical X-ray equipment by working in hospitals, medical offices, trauma centers, and urgent care centers as a member of an imaging team.

Radiographers (X-ray technologists) assist radiologists (MDs) in performing examinations of the body to rule out or confirm and identify fractures or disease. To accomplish this, radiographers must be well-trained in using highly technical X-ray equipment and applying specialized techniques. Radiographers study human anatomy and physiology, pathology, exposure techniques, positioning, fluoroscopic procedures, radiation protection, trauma, and mobile radiography. Elective topics in radiation therapy, ultrasound, C.T., and MRI are also provided.

Required rotations through various hospitals, offices, trauma centers, and immediate care areas of radiology are scheduled for certain days. Evenings and weekends are scheduled by the program to enhance their clinical education experience. These rotations are required. Learning experiences for students in the Radiologic Technology Degree Program are provided in classrooms and pre-clinical laboratories on the Airport Campus in the Health Sciences Building. Required clinical experiences (externships/internships) are arranged through affiliations with local hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Students are required to purchase and maintain a set of standard royal blue uniforms, laboratory coats, white shoes, and a name pin (approximate cost of $450), radiography books and manuals (approximate cost of $1100), and membership fees in professional organizations (approximate cost of $35).

Accreditation

The Radiologic Technology program is fully accredited by the:

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3182
312-704-5300
mail@jrcert.org

S.C. Radiation Quality Standards Association
P.O. Box 7515
Columbia, SC 29202
1927 Thurmond Mall, Suite 101 - Columbia, SC 29201
Toll-Free (877) 771-6141

Graduates are eligible to take the ARRT examination. Upon successful completion, students receive the designation of Registered Radiologic Technologist RT(R).

In addition to the college’s placement test and the admissions requirements of the Health Sciences department, there are specific eligibility and admissions criteria to the Radiologic Technology program.

Pre-Application Considerations

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• High school or college credits in mathematics/science (recommended).

Pre-Interview Requirements Maintaining Eligibility

• Take the pre-requisite course as listed on the outline of classes
• If possible take AHS 102-Medical Terminology and BIO 210-Anatomy & Physiology I prior to completing application.
• Applications are due on January 14, 2022.
• Applications come from a request to your health sciences advisor.
• Advisor puts in request to Admissions office.
• Admissions office will send you the application.
• Complete application and "submit" back to Admissions.
• Take the TEAS test in the fall of 2021. Get a TEAS Prep book with 3 practice tests in back.
• Look on ways to obtain some type of patient care experience- whether volunteer or by employment. Increases points.
• Must achieve an overall score of 60% with a 70% in reading, 68% in math and 47% in science. The higher the better.
• Download the "new application score checklist" from the Merit section on main webpage to calculate your score.
• Download the 3 references we require and have them out according to the specific topics.
• References are returned directly to Kristy Blum, Administrative Specialist, School of Health Care.
• January comes and deadline for application occurs.
• Millie Massey will review all applications, transcripts, TEAS scores and do the points calculations.
• High ranking students based on score of points and some patient care experience will be invited to a special information session to schedule 2 observations at the hospitals. You will be our instructors and the students during this time.
• Interviews will be set for end of February-early March, 2022.
• Those who successfully pass the interview will be notified of entering the program in the summer-fall of 2022.
• Class meetings begin in April to begin health forms, background checks and drug screens.
• Students must maintain a 2.5 (of a 4.0 scale) GPA during the program.

Acceptable Admissions Criteria

• Compliance with the program’s dress code and personal appearance policies found in the program’s website.
• Satisfactory compliance with required medical physical and immunization requirements.
• An acceptable criminal background investigation and drug-screening results.

Technical Standards for Acceptance

Applicants and students should be able to perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations or be able to demonstrate ability to be proficient in these essential functions for admission into and progression through the Radiologic Technology Program.

Essential Function	Technical Standard	Examples of Necessary Activities (Not all inclusive)
Physical Endurance	Ability to remain continuously on task for several hours while standing, sitting, moving, lifting and/or bending. Must lift 20 lbs.	Manually resuscitate patients in emergency situations or stand/walk for extended periods of time. Turn, position, and transfer patients. No lifting restrictions.
Mobility	Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces while maintaining environmental and patient safety; full range of motion; manual and finger dexterity; and hand-eye coordination.	Ability to move around in a work area. Position oneself in an environment to render care without obstructing the position of another team member while in fluoroscopy, surgery or trauma.
Motor Skills	Ability to use gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe patient care and operate equipment.\	Ability to use equipment and instruments with necessary dexterity.
Olfactory Ability	Olfactory senses (smell) sufficient for maintaining environmental and patient safety.	Ability to distinguish smells which are contributory to assessing and/or maintaining the patient’s health status or environmental safety.
Hearing Ability	Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.	Ability to detect alarms, emergency signals, muffled voices, auscultatory sounds and cries for help.
Visual Ability	Normal or corrected visual ability sufficient for patient assessment, ability to discriminate between subtle changes in density (black and grey) or a color at low light.	Ability to read computer screen, digital printouts, labels and gauges. Observe patient response and condition. Strong peripheral vision to maintain awareness of IV poles, chest tubes and foley catheters.
Critical Thinking	Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment	Ability to identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations; synthesize data: draw sound conclusions.
Interpersonal skills	Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.	Ability to establish rapport with patients and colleagues. Use therapeutic communication (attending, clarifying, coaching, facilitating, and teaching. Function (consult, negotiate, share) as a part of a team.
Communication Ability	Ability to communicate sufficiently for effective interaction with others. in spoken and written English<	Ability to explain procedures and provide clear patient instructions; document and interpret instructions. Listen attentively.
Professional Attitude and Demeanor	Ability to present professional appearance and implement measures to maintain ones’ own physical and mental health and emotional stability.	Ability to work under stressful conditions, react calmly in emergency situations, demonstrate flexibility, and show concern for others.
Wear a mask over mouth and nose	Ability to wear a mask for protection while working with contagious patients or blood and body fluids.	Ability to wear a facial mask for protection while working with patients in “Isolation Precaution” and/or Trauma situations. This also includes the “Operating Room” for a 4-5 hour period of time.

Students requiring reasonable accommodations may contact Counseling and Career Services at 803.822.3505 or 803.738.7636.

Merit Admissions

A merit interview opportunity is available for highly qualified applicants.

• Download the Merit Admissions FAQs
• Download the Reference Templates
• Download the Merit Interview Point Checklist
• Download the New Application Process Point Checklist

The deadline to submit the Merit application to Kristy Blum is January 14, 2022.

Accreditation Status

Program: Radiologic Technology

Accrediting Agency: Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JCERT)

Most Recent Self-Study Submission Date: September 2015

Interim Action Required and Resolution: Submitted 2019

Most Recent Final Accreditation Approval and Next Reaffirmation Year: Final Reaccreditation Letter dated April 21, 2020 / Next Reaffirmation Summer 2021

Midlands Technical College is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Program Effectiveness Data

View Program Effectiveness Data

Program Assessment Plan

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Statement of Mission

The Radiography Program is a comprehensive two-year A.A.S. degree program which provides its students a high-quality, customer service, competency-based didactic and clinical education. The education provided prepares the students to enter the entry-level job market in diagnostic radiology, allows them to transfer to senior colleges, prepares advanced students for subspecialty areas, as well as instilling lifelong values and assists them in achieving their professional and personal goals.

Philosophy and Goals of the Program

The Radiologic Technology Program sponsored by Midlands Technical College is a two year (twenty continuous months), Associate of Applied Science degree program. The students are involved in the educational training for a period of twenty months in order to meet requirements of the program and to fulfill requirements for the National Board Exam by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

The clinical education of the program is based on the attainment of sound educational performance, objectives, and a thorough testing system for clinical competency.

It is the purpose of the Radiologic Technology Program of Midlands Technical College to produce graduates that are competent technologists, registry eligible, and demonstrate a professional concern for their patients.

The students' accomplishment of their clinical and academic objectives will prepare them for entrance level skills of a staff radiologic technologist.

The program is affiliated with three area hospitals. Prisma Richland, Prisma Baptist, and Lexington Medical Center are major affiliates. The students receive approximately twenty months of clinical education at Prisma Richland, Lexington Medical Center and Prisma Baptist.

While at Prisma Richland, Prisma Baptist, and Lexington Medical Center the students will rotate through all radiology services and clinics. The student will rotate through Lexington Orthopedics, Prisma –USC Orthopedics, Midlands Orthopedics and Prisma Heath Baptist Parkridge according to the needed clinical experiences to round out the student's clinical education.

The program has an advisory committee which is comprised of area professionals in the field of Radiologic Technology. This committee helps guide the program in the production of qualified graduates needed to meet the job expectations.

Program Goals

Goal 1: Students will be clinically competent.

Goal 2: Students will demonstrate communication skills.

Goal 3: Students will develop critical thinking skills.

Goal 4: Students will model professionalism.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Goal 1: Students will be clinically competent.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will apply positioning skills.
• Students will select technical factors.
• Students will utilize radiation protection.

Goal 2: Students will demonstrate communication skills.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate written communication skills.
• Students will demonstrate oral communication skills.

Goal 3: Students will develop critical thinking skills.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will adapt standard procedures for non-routine patients. Students will critique images to determine diagnostic quality.

Goal 4: Students will model professionalism.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate work ethics.
• Students will summarize the value of life-long learning.

Program Policy and Procedure Manual

View Program and Policy Procedure Manual

View Student Code for Midlands Technical College

View Student Grievance Procedure

Clinical Obligation

Clinical rotations will begin the second week of the first semester once the student has successfully completed the following items:

1. Comprehensive health form
2. Complete background check including the Patriot’s Act
3. Passed a Drug Screen
4. My Clinical Exchange approval process and completion of the 25 modules provided by Prisma Health Systems.

Clinical Objectives:

Clinical Objectives are objectives relevant to specific goals of the semester. There are numerous items regarding documentation of examination completions, patient care chapters to correlate with semester goals, etc. These are not limited to, but they also include traveling to geographically dispersed clinical settings in the greater Columbia area, evening and/or weekend clinical assignments to enhance the “Level 1 trauma experiences.” Each of our five semesters will possess a variety of new experiences within the duties of a radiologic technologist. Finally, you will carry documentation of professional liability when at all of the clinical settings we go to.