Planned Master of Imaging Sciences Program One of Handful in U.S.

MARCH 11, 2005 | The College of Health Related Professions (CHRP) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has reorganized three of its departments with five programs into a single Department of Imaging and Radiation Sciences, paving the way for more collaboration by students and faculty in the similar programs.

Effective March 1, the departments of Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiation Therapy and Radiologic Technology were consolidated under one banner with the Divisions of Radiologic Imaging Sciences, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Nuclear Medicine Imaging Sciences and Medical Dosimetry. The move to one department brings together complementary programs working with closely related technology that uses radiation or sound waves for imaging, diagnosis or treatment.

“The reorganization is intended to serve best the needs of our faculty and students through a department that encompasses all of the imaging and radiation sciences and promotes more collaboration,” said CHRP Dean Ronald H. Winters, Ph.D.

Rebecca Ludwig, Ph.D., interim chairman of the new department, said the transition is seamless from a student and faculty perspective, with no changes in curriculum or coursework in the individual programs.

“This reorganization will foster more interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction,” Ludwig said.  “The programs are not like comparing apples and oranges, they are more like different types of apples. We have more in common than we have differences.”

Radiologic technologists perform a variety of radiographic (x-ray) procedures while maintaining good patient care and observing radiation safety guidelines.

Sonographers use high frequency sound waves to produce cross-sectional images of internal organs and structures.

Medical dosimetrists work with the radiation oncologist and the medical physicist on the oncology team to develop a plan that will administer the correct dose of radiation to each cancer patient for his/her radiation treatment. Radiation therapists perform or assist in all aspects of radiation therapy of cancer patients, including treatment delivery and documentation.

Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals, operate radiation detection equipment that measures the quantity or distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the patient, and perform any calculations or computer analyses needed to complete the patient’s examination.

The first change accompanying the reorganization is the administrative shift from separate departments to the one department with five divisions. The former department chairmen become division directors. Other changes will occur over time, Ludwig said, as we find ways to streamline and improve operations within the department.

She noted that while this form of reorganization is new to CHRP, there are models for the change in the UAMS College of Medicine, where the departments of internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and surgery each have multiple divisions.

Plans also are moving forward to add a new Master of Imaging Sciences degree program with its first track for radiologist assistants.  This graduate degree program, which will be phased in by fall 2006, will cover advanced techniques and practices for radiologic technologists.

As part of a funded research project, Ludwig surveyed radiologic technologists across the country to identify advanced skills they were using.

“I found many instances where experienced technologists were being called on to assume additional responsibilities for which they had not had formal education or training,” Ludwig said. “Those advanced practices were identified and developed to form the basis of the radiologist assistant program. UAMS will be the first to offer a master’s level program for radiologist assistants west of the Mississippi River.”

Among the responsibilities the RTs mentioned in the survey that helped form the basis for the radiologist assistant model are: performing limited physical examinations for imaging procedures; teaching self-examination techniques and providing patient education; documenting compliance for reimbursement or accreditation; initial observation of images for expedited interpretation by the radiologist; and providing orientation or procedure instruction for newly-hired RTs.

Ludwig said similar programs may be created in the other imaging sciences as advanced skills are identified.

Links on This Page
College of Health Related Professions: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/default.asp

Diagnostic Medical Sonography: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/DMS/default.asp 

Medical Dosimetry: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/dosimetry/default.asp