q. Maintaining X-ray Film Files. When a patient has a medical visit, the
physician will ask what is wrong, he or she will check for physical problems and make
recommendations for treatment. All of this will be recorded in the patient's medical
record. The same goes for x-rays. The films must be kept because they constitute a
pictorial history of the patient's condition. Storing of radiographs requires accuracy and
organized methods for proper care of this essential component of a medical record.
r. Inspecting and Maintaining Equipment. Inspection and maintenance are
critical in a patient care situation that involves exposing the patient and possibly other
personnel to ionizing radiation. You will be looking for such irregularities in the
equipment as cracks in the lead aprons and potential electrical hazards, such as frayed
cords and poor connections that could have serious adverse effects upon the patient
and/or the radiographers.
s. Packing, Unpacking, Loading and Unloading Equipment. In the field, you
will be called upon to assist in the setup and disassembly of an entire radiology
department. This involves manual labor and knowledge of how a radiology department
is organized, skills you will learn more fully when you are actually assigned to a field
unit.
t. Assisting with Setup of Equipment and Shelters. You will have to assist
in the setting up of such equipment as the temper tent and the iso-shelter.
4-7.
SKILL LEVEL 2: 91P20 (E-5)
a. Performing the Duties of the Previous Skill Level. A 91P20 will perform all
of the duties of the previous skill level, in addition to other skill level-unique functions.
As you can well understand, the breakdown of duties by skill level serves only as a
general guideline as to what you may be called on to do once on the job. In reality,
there is a great deal of overlap, which means that you may be required to perform
functions at a higher or lower skill level at any time, as the need arises.
b. Providing Technical Guidance. As a more experienced radiographer, you
will have to provide guidance and informal on-the-job training to newer staff members.
This experience will prove useful if you are ever assigned the job of platform instructor.
Thus, providing technical guidance should not be viewed as an annoyance or as a task
irrelevant to your primary mission. By assisting less-experienced staff members, you
will be contributing to the efficiency of the radiology department as a whole. And, as
stated earlier, keeping an eye on the big picture will stand you in good stead if and
when you are asked to assume a leadership position.
c. Disseminating Radiographic Reports. You will have to provide x-ray
findings in the form of reports. The radiologist's written report is not just one more form.
These reports must be disseminated in a timely fashion for use in the patient's medical
record to the attending physician and the appropriate clinic, hospital ward, or unit.
MD0067
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