Technical Standards for Admission

At the Columbus Regional Hospital School of Radiologic Technology all prospective student radiographers must be able to meet and maintain certain minimum technical abilities in order to effectively function and maintain patient safety in this highly demanding field. With at least reasonable accommodation, applicants must:

1. Have sufficient strength, motor coordination, and manual dexterity to be able to:

• Transport, move, lift or transfer patients from wheelchair or litter to an x-ray table or to a patient bed.
• Push, pull, bend, kneel, and squat routinely.
• Move, adjust, and manipulate a variety of x-ray equipment (including the physical transportation of portable x-ray machines) in order to arrange and align the equipment with respect to the patient and the image receptor according to established procedure and standards of speed and accuracy.
• Work standing on feet 80% of the time.
• Physically place patients in proper positions for the examination according to established procedure and standards of speed and accuracy.

2. Be capable of:

• Handling stressful situations related to technical and procedural standards and patient care situations.
• Providing physical and emotional support to the patient during radiographic procedures and be able to respond to situations requiring first aid and provide emergency care to the patient in the absence of, or until the physician arrives.

3. Have the mental or intellectual capacity to:

• Communicate verbally in an effective manner in order to explain and direct patients as it relates to their examinations, and to recognize audible tones to ensure care and safety to the patient.
• Read and interpret the physician's orders and corresponding procedural paperwork according to the procedure's standard of speed and accuracy and to ensure care and safety to the patient.
• Calculate and select proper technical exposure factors according to the individual needs of the patient and the requirements of the procedure's standard of speed and accuracy and to ensure care and safety to the patient.
• Review and evaluate the recorded images on radiographs for the purpose of identifying proper patient positioning, accurate procedural sequencing, proper radiographic exposure, and other appropriate and pertinent technical qualities.

Columbus Regional Hospital maintains its facilities and services to be accessible by persons with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Contact the Program Director for more information.