What do you use?

I've only been on the east coast now for about two years, but I have noticed (at least in the facilities I've visited) that there is a huge difference in the type of Imaging Systems being used in the clinical setting.

I've taken x-rays now in three different states, and each of them have varied in the type of equipment used. Also, I have found examples of facilities in each state that have used more than one type of imaging system as well.

What I would like to do is obtain a general survey of what you are using at your hospital, imaging center, or urgent care center. I am posting a poll in the right hand column of this blog. If you could check off what type of combinations you are using, as well as post a comment to this entry stating what state you live in, I think it might give us all some perspective about how technology moves through the country, and who may be utilizing it the most.

Just for fun, check out the latest DR system from GE.

It's not a memo... it's a mission statement.

After reading the details of an interesting study on Faculty Development Needs performed by the ASRT, I found myself distracted from my original interest in the results by the demographic data that I was reading to conclude that I am convinced that we will be in great need for educators in the United States for Radiography Programs in the near future.

Some interesting results for demographics of Full-time Faculty for Radiography Programs, as reported were the following:

Over 2/3 female
Approximately 92% caucasian
Average year for (R) certification was 1983
Average year born was 1960 (or avg. age 47)
Average # of years in education = 4

When asked when they were planning on leaving the education profession, about 1/5 of full-time faculty (and 1/4 of program directors) stated they would be leaving within the next 5 years, and half of faculty/program directors would be leaving within the next 10 years.

It is obvious from the collected data quoted above that the majority community of Radiography Educators is approaching retirement age within the next decade. Having been very recently affected by instructor retirement at my own institution, it is resoundingly clear that with all of the accumulated years of experience that these instructors have acquired, we all have some distinguished shoes to fill.

So why am I talking about this on a blog mainly visited by students? Well, over the next 5 years, those of you who will be graduating from Radiography Programs across the country will be the prime position to jump aboard the pendulum downswing of the educational market demand. Now is the time to be thinking about your next step; what you want to do after you successfully acquire your ARRT Registration, and have a few years of technologist experience under your belts. If you have any interest in education, it might be beneficial for you to research the possibility of steering your careers toward education for the upcoming time of need.

It doesn't take long in this field to notice the symbiotic relationship between educators and technologists. What I have yet to experience (at my ripe young age of 30) is how educational standards will be maintained when such a large percentage of upcoming retirees with their vast levels of experience both in Radiography and Education will be passing the torch. Now is the time for us youngsters and newbies in the field to step it up; to display our enthusiasm for our field, to learn as much as we can from these great contributors to our profession, and to move forward in a fashion that honors those before us.