A-B Tech celebrated National Radiologic Technology Week last month. The annual event recognizes the vital work of RTs across the nation and takes place during the week that commemorates the discovery of the x-ray by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen on Nov. 8, 1895.
“Radiographers make up the third-largest group of health care professionals in the nation-surpassed in number only by physicians and nurses,” said Rene' Brooks, Radiography Instructor. “Whether it be a chest x-ray or a CT scan, Rad Techs come into contact with essentially every suspected COVID-19 patient. A-B Tech is dedicated to teaching future radiographers how to protect themselves and their patient, while administering the highest quality patient care," she said.
The Radiography curriculum prepares the graduate to be a radiographer, a skilled health care professional who uses radiation to produce images of the human body. Graduates may be employed in hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, medical laboratories, government agencies, and industry.
Racine Hunter, who graduated in 2016, works in the Mission Hospital Radiology department. “I love the fact that all of my co-workers graduated from a program like A-B Tech so there is no confusion about techniques. We all learned from the same instructors. I love the diversity of doing x-Rays, CTs and MRIs,” she said.
Lauren Hoeben, graduated this May and works for the Hominy Family Health Center. “I get to wear many hats - X-ray, lab, phlebotomy,” she said. “I am able to help my patients in a well-rounded way. I love the ability to get the diagnosis and get their lives back on track. They never come to me happy and healthy. I am able to care for my community probably more so than anywhere else. A-B Tech instructors had such high standards. I realized my standards were higher than anyone’s. It’s perfection or nothing. I had a short time to adjust in my job but was very confident in the skills I received from A-B Tech.”
Kim Faulkner works in general x-ray at the VA Hospital and loves being able to talk to the veterans. A 2018 graduate, she said she is given many opportunities to grow.
“I use a lot of different skills. We do so much more than take x-rays. I do work in different areas. It keeps you on your toes. The patients are amazing. They are grateful. We get to talk to them about their experiences. We have a big role in their healthcare. The program at A-B Tech is very rigorous. It prepares you, so when you are out in the field you know what you are doing,” she said.
Facts about the Radiography program.
• Program established at Mission hospital in 1960
• Program will celebrate 50 years at A-B Tech in 2021.
• students have had 100% pass rate of boards on the first attempt, for more than 15 years
• program awarded full 8-year reaccreditation without recommendations or suggestions in spring of 2016 by the JRCERT
• 3 state-of-the-art digital imaging laboratories
• Anatomage virtual anatomy digital dissection table