Anyone who has ever CT scanned a patient who is allergic to the IV contrast knows how scary it can be. Previously, I only dealt with inpatients so I could confirm with the nurse that the patient had in fact received the allergy prep medications. Now I am working almost exclusively with outpatients. This week I had five patients who were ...

The tough job market continues to affect me. I got hired at the VA as a fee-based CT technologist on a part time basis. I was told that I would work 5 days a week every other week until the two full-time open positions were filled. This was supposed to take me at least into the fall of this year. In an unprecedented turn of events, the usually ...

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 ...

Veterinary diagnostic imaging has sure come a long way, baby. The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is looking for feline subjects who have a recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) or a respiratory illness. The study is examining the use of diagnostic methods that involve minimal stress for cats. X-rays and ...

It is with great anticipation that many Americans welcome opening day of the 2012 NFL Season. With all of the fun that comes with tailgates and parties, the health of these athletes must not be overlooked. The American Academy of Neurology just released a study that confirms previously held beliefs “… that head injuries cause neurologic ...

Men and women returning from war need help and sometimes that help comes with four legs and fur. Veterans are being paired with companion dogs to help them navigate the delicate re-entry back into civilian life. They also help them cope with the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. One such service dog named Sadie ...

February is American Heart Month and we all need to sit up and take notice, especially women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Smokers, diabetics, and the obese are at higher risk. If you are having heart related symptoms and visit your doctor, any ...

When I started x-ray school I had no idea what I was about to ask of my body. Anyone working as a radiologic technologist knows what I am talking about. The physical demands of the job can be overwhelming. Many of my former colleagues have back problems from the repetitive strain of moving patients and/or equipment. The most common ...

The old adage that it's better to be safe than sorry truly applies to the necessity of CT scans after a car accident. At times patients thought some of the trauma doctors were ordering unnecessary scans, but something could have been wrong even though the patient wasn't experiencing any symptoms at that time. We saw people come from other ...

Today was my first day of work with our new EPIC computer system. It is quite a challenge to completely change the way we do all of our computer work. Everything has been modified from charging for contrast to claiming exams to tracking exams. All of the patient information used to be on one or two screens and now I feel like I'm hunting all over ...