I just got back from visiting a few hospitals in Florida. I don't sell any products or services. My job is to provide education and training on a variety of subjects not related to imaging, or anything that my company does. I deal with the hospital-based imaging engineer, BMET and the manager or director of clinical engineering.  My ...

After going on an interview in mid December of last year, I was just given my start date at the VA of mid March. I guess it’s better late than never.  I was initially supposed to begin orientation today but some unfinished paperwork held things up.  I have seen first hand that getting a government job takes quite a bit longer than a ...

Jobs are difficult to get these days and it end ups being more about who you know, not what you know. I have my foot in the door at the VA because of a former colleague. She actually helped me get my first CT job right out of school and now she’s helping me out again. I guess I’ve impressed her somewhere along the way. This is an important ...

Although there are several national associations to which clinical engineers belong, there are many places in the US where there is not a local option. Local associations are important because of the ability to personally attend meetings and network with others in the area. During these meetings (which may happen any time from monthly to ...

While I’m very excited about getting back to work, I haven’t done CT since October of 2011. Before that I only did it for 2 ¼ years so I know I still have so much to learn. At my previous hospital I worked exclusively on a Philips machine and at the VA they have GE equipment. I’m told they are very different for the user. I will also have to learn ...

I spent most of yesterday at the VA Hospital having various tests performed and handing over copies of my fingerprints at the police station. I first met with a nice woman from HR who needed me to sign yet another form. She also informed me that I have more paperwork to complete on line. These forms seem to have no end. She then escorted me ...

You work with equipment. Equipment is technical, by nature. As Radiology and management professionals, you must rely on others for the technical information about the inner workings, reliability, accuracy and life cycle cost of your imaging equipment. If you work in a hospital, your access to information about new technology, the stability ...

Now that we are back in Florida, I am eagerly looking for a job. Thanks to a wonderful former colleague, I am now in the hiring process for a CT position at the VA Hospital. If any of you have ever applied for a government job you know it can be a lengthy process. They have told me it can take up to three months. I am trying to be patient as my ...

As this year’s NFL football season comes to a close, many people are eagerly anticipating the Super Bowl. However, the physical damage the players suffer on the field will continue long after the games are over. A sad example of this comes from a young man from Indiana who was permanently injured playing high school football. He suffered a ...

Since many people don’t know the difference between CT and MRI, I was wondering if patients who get a CT even know about the radiation risks. I found a study that addresses this issue. A large medical center surveyed 235 patients who underwent either a CT or PET-CT. Researchers found that one third of patients receiving scans did not realize ...