During the week of November 7-13, the people who work behind the screens
with the latest medical technology will celebrate National Medical Radiation Technologists Week.
These professionals work in our hospitals and play an essential role in
detecting and treating medical problems, for example bowel and early stage breast cancers. They examine our hearts and blood
vessels through angiography, capture real-time internal organ movement through fluoroscopy and produce detailed cross-sectional
body images through computerised tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
These technologists also detect and treat diseases through nuclear medicine
scans and radiation therapy. Collectively, these professionals are known as medical radiation technologists (MRTs).
The Miramichi Regional Hospital’s MRTs include radiological technologists
and magnetic resonance technologists. They will mark the week by having an information display in the front lobby of the Miramichi
Regional Hospital from Monday, November 8th to Wednesday, November 10th.
MRTs will be on hand to answer questions about their profession, education
and the procedures they conduct from 1- 3 PM during this time.
Radiological technologists are the professionals who use radiation to produce
diagnostic images either on film or on a computer screen. At the Miramichi Regional Hospital, radiological technologists perform
a variety of diverse and complex procedures that produce high-quality images to be read by a radiologist who then gives a
report to the patient’s physician.
Procedures conducted by radiological technologists include general radiography,
fluoroscopy, bone densitometry, mammography, and CT scans. General radiography includes the images of the chest, bones, abdomen
and spine. Fluoroscopy can be used in studies of the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, or even female reproductive
exams called hysterosalpingograms.
Bone density is the study of a person’s bone mineral density mainly
to check for osteoporosis. Mammography and the breast-screening program are for the detection of breast cancer in its earliest
stages. CT scans give detailed cross-sectional images of the body to diagnose a multitude of health problems, with pancreatitis
being one example.
Radiological technologists can also be found in the operating room working
with the orthopedic surgeon and the urologist using fluoroscopy, which enables the doctor to view movement of bones or contrast
media ascending the ureters.
In 2003-2004, a total of 35,275 general radiography procedures were conducted
which included bone densitometry, fluoroscopy procedures and routine x-rays. Over 5000 patients had a Mammogram.
"This may not be the most comfortable procedure to have done, however,
it is still the number one detector for breast cancer in its earliest stages," says Darlene Underhill, an MRT specialising
in mammography.
Another 6,010 CT scans were completed during this past year.
Joyce Driscoll has worked as a MRT for the Miramichi Regional Hospital
for the past 27 years.
"After I completed my certification as an MRT, I took further courses for
two years to specialise in CT," says Driscoll. "My work is very challenging as I am a part of the patient care team and have
the opportunity to work with state of the art technology."
Magnetic resonance technologists work with magnetic fields, radio waves,
and computers to acquire medical images. This specialised diagnostic imaging tool is used for imaging soft tissues such as
organs, tendons, and arteries and also for detecting tumours, especially in the brain and spinal column. Magnetic resonance
scans are performed by sliding the patient into a body-length tunnel that makes up the core of the magnetic field.
The Miramichi Regional Hospital’s three magnetic resonance technologists
performed a total of 740 MRIs in the past year. Since the hospital shares the mobile MRI with the Restigouche Health Authority
and the Acadie Bathurst Health Authority, the Miramichi Regional Hospital has the equipment five days per month.
"Since the MRI has been on the Miramichi, it has enabled patients to remain
in their community for this procedure and physicians to have timely access to diagnostic results," says magnetic resonance
technologist, Natalie Audet.
The field of medical technology is constantly evolving as it becomes ever
more sophisticated. This is demonstrated at the Miramichi Regional Hospital as all of the diagnostic imaging equipment, with
the exception of two mammography units, will be digital and no longer require film in the near future.
This type of technology enables MRTs to send a patient’s case to
any hospital facility or treatment centre in the Maritimes via a secure computer network eliminating the need for physicians
to wait for an actual film before beginning a patient’s treatment.
Also, it allows a radiologist in a different city to read the diagnostic
images and report back to our emergency department physicians on whether a patient is in need of further medical treatment.
This is known as teleradiology.
"This is an ever evolving field of technology that allows for expansion
and progress in the health care system. There are definitely a lot of specialised areas to choose from when graduating from
the degree program," says MRT Erin Fowlie.
For more information about the world of MRTs, visit www.camrt.ca or visit the information display at the Miramichi Regional Hospital from November 8th - 10th between 1 and 3 p.m.
