If you have ever thought about becoming a digital imaging technician, then this article is perfect for you. You'll learn everything about being a digital imaging technician, where they work, how much money they make, how can you become one, the danger involved in the job, what kind of additional-in-service training they need and when they can retire.
This job is quite difficult and challenging because you work in the health field. Your work must be done quickly, cleanly, therefore almost perfect. You also have different patients who all need different care. It's fun, and you never get bored since there's always something to do.
Their tasks depend on the type of health care facility they work in. They work with imaging equipment to take X-rays of the area inside a patient’s body. They also make some preliminary assessments of the images before they’re handed off to the doctor. They have to prepare the patients for the imaging procedure, position them as required according to the procedures and instructions of the exam, operate equipment to get diagnostic images, and maintain patients' imaging records.
The first thing they do is receive instructions from a medical professional about what part of the body they will need to do the imaging. Then, they make sure all the medicals imaging equipment is operational, prepare the equipment, explain the imaging procedure to the patients, do the imaging, review the images, clean the equipment used and make a report about the imaging for the medical professional.
They work in hospital, private clinics or at the regional health centre and local community service centers (CLSC).
You need a Diploma of Secondary Studies or an academic background judged equivalent to a Diploma of Secondary Studies. The admission requirements to enter this program are your Secondary 4 (Grade ten) Basic Math, Math 426, Science and Environment, Environmental Science and Technology or Physics 534. In the penultimate session, so in the fifth, you'll have an internship in which you will have to carry out medical imaging examinations of several anatomical systems in a real environment. In the last session, so the sixth, you'll have an internship in which you'll have an authentic situation in the workplace where you'll have a summary test of the program.
The entry salary of a digital imaging technician in Quebec is about $34.913 per hour, the senior salary is about $56.729 per hour and the average salary is about $46.820 per hour. The minimum wage in Quebec is $24.78 and the maximum is $35.67, and all that per hour.
Except practical training, no additional training is needed. However, you can specialize in certain areas such as mammography.
Working in the medical imaging field, employees works with X-rays, which potentially damage cells and DNA and increase the risk of getting cancer. High doses of radiation cause damage to human cells, skin burns and loss of hair. That's why it's important to stay outside the radiation room.
Digital Imaging technicians won't be replaced by robots. However, robots could take X-rays automatically on their own, but the technicians would be the one doing the diagnoses. Anyone can make mistakes, even robots, but robots can't ask for help when they make one or when they need help.
It can vary between 55 and 65 years old.
I am currently doing my basic courses to get into the Digital Imaging program. It looks really cool and interests me a lot. I'm only starting the program in the fall of 2022 since that's when we can apply. I can't wait to see what it looks like!
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