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Medical Forum / General / General / November 2004

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Become radioligist at 46?

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me@privacy.net - 15 Nov 2004 19:52 GMT
Hi all.....

Im 46 yr old man looking for a new career.

I currently do computer aided rafting and design.  Have
strong computer skills.  Always did well in school

I do NOT have any kind of college degree but am slowly
taking various college classes and have abt 12 hrs
credit so far.

Ive had college english comp, college algebra,
accounting, drafting and CAD classes.

Would some of you all be so kind as to advise me if
getting a degree in radiology at my age is doable?

If yes... what will be involved in my training?
tech27 - 15 Nov 2004 22:31 GMT
> Hi all.....
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> If yes... what will be involved in my training?

I don't think there is any hope for you of getting a degree in anything. If
you have just posted here instead of looking up any professional
organizations, speaking with a doctor or radiologist, or just contacting any
educational institution to get proper information (which may vary depending
on where you want to be able to work), then you have a problem.

It's not with your age. It's that you are probably too stupid to handle it.
me@privacy.net - 16 Nov 2004 02:57 GMT
Yes..... Im sorry as I used the wrong nomenclature

Im not wanting to become a "radiologist" as in a doctor

Just investigating becoming the tech who takes the images.

VERY sorry abt that!!

Still tho.... what involved in THAT field?
wc - 16 Nov 2004 06:04 GMT
> Yes..... Im sorry as I used the wrong nomenclature
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Still tho.... what involved in THAT field?

Go to this website:
    http://www.medical-training.info/featured-schools.html

This will give you some idea about the field you want to get in to.
bae@cs.toronto.no-uce.edu - 16 Nov 2004 14:06 GMT
>Yes..... Im sorry as I used the wrong nomenclature
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Still tho.... what involved in THAT field?

While a radiology technician's job is somewhat technical, to be good at
it you have to be willing to work with a lot of sick and injured and
frightened people.  You may have to be extremely patient in order to
get them positioned correctly for the images at a time when they are in
pain, sedated, terrified, confused or extremely anxious.  You will have
to handle their bodies in ways they may find disturbing, at times when
they are least able to handle the emotional stress.  They may not be
able to understand or comply with your instructions due to hearing
problems, language problems, mental problems or distraction by pain,
sedation, anxiety or stress. Through all this, you must appear
professional. competent, empathetic and encouraging, all day long,
patient after patient, even when you have worries of your own.

If this doesn't appeal to you, you should try to find a technical area
in medicine that involves less patient contact, or less contact with
patients in distress.  Medicine uses a lot of electronic equipment
these days, and it is maintained, and sometimes constructed, by
electronics technicians.  Some technical occupations, like audiology,
work with less stressed patients so are less emotionally demanding on
the technician.  There are new technical occupations in medicine all
the time.  As well, hospitals often need good tech support people for
their conventional computers.  They have trouble getting and holding
them because they generally don't pay as well as other fields.

One way to find out if you are suited to a particular occupation is to
talk to several people who are already doing it, are good at it, and
enjoy their work.  Find out what they like and dislike about it.  Note
that until recently, at least, computer jocks have been extremely
overpaid for what they do, compared to medical workers who have better
competence and far more responsibility.  After all, if a computer jock
screws up, usually the worst that can happen is that people lose money
or get pissed off.  A mistake by a medical worker can have disastrous
consequences.  So note that you'll likely get paid a good deal less for
a job that has a great deal less slack.  You'll have to look clean and
well-groomed and be very punctual as well.

As for being too old, I'd say no.  A friend of mine, after 20 years as
a carpenter, decided that what he really liked was working with old
people and trained as a geriatric nurse.  He enjoys the work very much,
and found that elderly men in his rural area are often more comfortable
being cared for by a man than a woman.

At any rate, get a good idea of what the job is like before you invest
the time and effort.  Best of luck to you!
me@privacy.net - 16 Nov 2004 16:56 GMT
>At any rate, get a good idea of what the job is like before you invest
>the time and effort.  Best of luck to you!

Thanks.... great info!!

So your point is that people skills are actually more
important... or AS important as tech skills?

Do you think I might be able to volunteer at the local
hospital and get a better idea of various fields?
Howard McCollister - 16 Nov 2004 17:28 GMT
> >At any rate, get a good idea of what the job is like before you invest
>>the time and effort.  Best of luck to you!
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Do you think I might be able to volunteer at the local
> hospital and get a better idea of various fields?

Yes. People skills are crucial.

As to volunteering at your local hospital, no one here can answer that - you
will have to ask your local hospital.

HMc
Jeff - 16 Nov 2004 13:15 GMT
> Hi all.....
>
> Im 46 yr old man looking for a new career.
>
> I currently do computer aided rafting and design.  Have
> strong computer skills.  Always did well in school

Computer-aided rafting? Is that a virtual tour of rivers? ;-)

> I do NOT have any kind of college degree but am slowly
> taking various college classes and have abt 12 hrs
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> If yes... what will be involved in my training?

A radiologist is a physician. Which means you have to go to medical school.

Yes, it is doable. You would need to go to college and get a bachlor's
degree. You would have to take 1 year each of biology, chemistry, organic
chemistry, physics and a semester of calculus.

Then you would have to go to medical school for four years. After that, 3
years of residency.

Total cost: 11 years + $250,000 or so. You would be nearly sxty when you are
done.

If you are interested in X-rays and MRIs and CTs and stuff, you should look
into medical informatics. You could use your skills and knowledge to help
improve interpretation of X-rays and generation of MRIs and CT scans.

Jeff
Howard McCollister - 16 Nov 2004 14:47 GMT
>> Hi all.....
>>
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Jeff

You're correct, but actually the OP is talking about becoming a radiology
tech, not an MD. It's a booming area of medicine and the need for such
highly trained personnel is increasing.

HMc
Orac - 17 Nov 2004 01:32 GMT
> You're correct, but actually the OP is talking about becoming a radiology
> tech, not an MD. It's a booming area of medicine and the need for such
> highly trained personnel is increasing.

Indeed. Radiology technicians are in high demand.

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Orac        |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
           |
           |"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do you
           | inconvenience me with questions?"

nospam@aol.com - 17 Nov 2004 03:51 GMT
http://www.radiologyinfo.com/content/careers/careers_diag.htm

 Radiological Technologist
The radiologist usually receives assistance from a radiological technologist.
Primarily, a technologist operates the radiographic equipment to produce images.
This involves explaining procedures to reassure the patient and obtain
cooperation, positioning the patient on the examining table, and adjusting
immobilization devices to obtain optimum views of specific body areas. The
technologist moves the imaging equipment into position and adjusts equipment
controls to set exposure based on knowledge of the procedure and on established
guidelines. To prevent unnecessary radiation exposure during some procedures, a
technologist uses radiation protective devices, such as lead shields, and limits
the size of the x-ray beam. The technologist may also operate mobile x-ray
equipment to obtain images in the emergency room, operating room, or at the
patient's bedside. Technologists assist radiologists in the use of plain
radiology, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
ultrasound (US).

Usually, a technologist has undergone 1-4 years of formal training, leading to a
certificate, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree. With additional training,
a technologist can specialize and work almost exclusively with specialized
radiographic equipment. Radiographic Technologists are certified by the American
Registry of Radiologic Technologists.    

More information about a career as a Radiological Technologist can be found in
the Recruitment Tool Kit at the American Society of Radiologic Technologists
(ASRT) Web site:
http://www.asrt.org/content/RecruitmentandRetention/RecruitmentTools/Recruitment.aspx



>Hi all.....
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>If yes... what will be involved in my training?
 
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