New Radiography Curriculum

The ASRT has just released a copy of its new curriculum which serves as a blueprint for the program requirements across the country, and ultimately influences what will be on the ARRT registry examination. The following is a summary of the new revisions:

"New content and objectives in this curriculum include human diversity, clinical competency, ethical considerations of genetics and a required general education component. Clinical and didactic competencies have been correlated. Content related to advanced modalities (e.g., quality management, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and mammography) has been modified. Some content areas have been retitled or reorganized, and outdated content has been eliminated.

In addition to skill development in specific content areas, this curriculum is designed to ensure that entry-level radiographers possess the following basic traits upon graduation from an educational program in the radiologic sciences:

• The technical competence to perform diagnostic imaging procedures.
• Prudent judgment in administering ionizing radiation to produce diagnostic images.
• A focus on providing optimum patient care in a society that is becoming increasingly diverse and experiencing generational, cultural and ethnic shifts.
• The ability to work with others in a team relationship.
• An understanding of the intricacies associated with providing direct patient care in today’s health care setting.
• The skill to use modern technologies to research and retrieve information, weigh and discriminate between good and poor sources of information, and take action based upon the acquisition of new information and knowledge.
• Stewardship over the security and confidentiality associated with patient medical information.
• Skills that promote career-long learning, where the radiographer assumes the role of student and that of teacher.
• An eagerness to collaborate with others within the medical imaging community to promote standards of excellence in the medical imaging sciences.
• A willingness to contribute to the education and clinical skills development of radiologic science students."

The entire 134 page document and detailed description of new curriculum components can be downloaded on the ASRT website.