Computed Tomography Technical Standards
Computed Tomography Certificate Requirements
Critical Thinking
Standard: Critical thinking ability sufficient for safe, clinical judgment.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations.
- Evaluate images to ascertain that they contain proper identification and are of diagnostic value.
- Select exposure factors/imaging parameters and accessory devices for all procedures with consideration of patients’ size, age and extent of disease.
- Assess patients’ condition and needs from a distance of at least 20 feet.
- Initiate proper emergency care protocols, including CPR, based on assessment data.
Interpersonal Behavioral and Social Skills
Standard: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Establish rapport with patients, families, and colleagues.
- Establish mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and fellow workers (interpersonal skills).
- Tolerate physically taxing workload.
- Function effectively under stress.
- Adapt to changing environments (flexible schedules, emergency conditions).
- Display compassion, professionalism, empathy, integrity, concern for others, appreciation for cultural diversity, interest and motivation.
Communication
Standard: Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Effectively communicate with patients in order to converse, instruct patients, relieve anxiety and gain their cooperation during procedures.
- Understand patients when they are communicating symptoms of a medical emergency.
- Read patients’ medical chart and/or physician’s orders.
- Legibly write or type a patient history.
- Document own actions and patients’ responses as indicated.
Safety
Standard: Ability to maintain a safe environment for patient and technologist.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Apply accepted safety standards for self and others in all imaging modalities.
- Evaluate the imaging equipment for proper function in order to assure patients and operator safety.
- Practice accepted radiation protection techniques for self, patients, technologists and others.
- Detect, interpret and appropriately respond to verbal and non-verbal communication, acoustically generated signals (call bells, monitors, phones, microphones, headphones, alarms).
Mobility
Standard: Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Assist all patients, according to individual needs and abilities, in moving, turning, transferring from transportation devices to the exam table, etc.
- Be able to push, pull and lift 50 pounds.
- Push a stretcher and/or wheelchair without injury to self, patients, or others.
- Push a portable imaging machine from one location to another, including turning corners, getting on and off an elevator, and manipulating it in a patient’s room over carpeting.
Motor Skills
Standard: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and
effective care.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Manually move the imaging equipment and position it at various angles and at heights up to seven feet. Place IRs in Bucky tray and properly manipulate all locks.
- Manipulate equipment buttons, locks and other mechanical components.
- Properly operate computer keyboards, touch screens and control panels.
- Accurately draw up sterile contrast media and other solutions without contaminating the syringe and/or needles, etc.
- Physically be able to move quickly and administer emergency care including performing CPR.
- Be able to stand for periods as long as two hours wearing lead aprons.
- Ability to place an intravenous catheter.
Hearing
Standard: Auditory abilities sufficient to monitor and assess patient needs, and to provide a safe environment.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Hear patients talk in a normal tone from a distance of 20 feet.
- Hear monitor alarm, emergency signals and cries for help.
Visual
Standard: Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment
necessary in the operation of equipment and care of patients.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Visualize centering lights and identify the center.
- Observe patients in order to assess their condition and/or needs from a distance of at least 20 feet.
- Visualize numbers, letters, calibrations, etc., of varying sizes located on dosimeters, syringes and imaging equipment utilized.
- Be able to resolve three to five line pairs/mm on a gray scale video at a distance of 18 inches.
- Be able to differentiate eight to 10 shades of gray.
- Be able to differentiate primary colors.
Tactile
Standard: Tactile ability sufficient for patient assessment and operation of equipment.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Perform palpation, tactile assessment and manipulation of body parts to insure proper body placement and alignment.
- Manipulate dials, buttons and switches of various sizes.
- Perform general assessment as to whether the patient can tolerate the procedure including vein assessment for injection, where applicable.
Mental
Standard: Mental ability sufficient for patient assessment and operation of equipment and care of patients.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Be able to concentrate and focus attention, thoughts and efforts on patients and equipment for varying periods of time.
- Be able to respond to patients’ changing physical conditions.
Environmental Requirements
Standard: Physical health sufficient enough to be able to tolerate conditions present in the clinical setting.
Examples of activities (but not limited to the following):
- Be able to tolerate risks or discomforts in the clinical setting that require special safety precautions, additional safety education and health risk monitoring (i.e., ionizing radiation, electromagnetism), working with sharps, chemicals and infectious disease.
- Students may be required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, goggles, gloves, lead shields and lead aprons.
Reasonable Accommodation(s)
Owens Community College is committed to providing equal access to employment, educational programs and activities for students with disabilities.
The College recognizes that students with disabilities may need accommodations to have equally effective opportunities to participate in or benefit from College educational programs, services and activities and will make reasonable modifications to the environment, policy and practice and/or provide auxiliary aids and services when the Disability Resource Center determines such modifications are needed for equal access.
Students who believe they are eligible for an accommodation must email the Disability Resource Center or call (567) 661-7007.