How Bucks County Radiologists HELP Accident Victims
Accidents can happen at any time while driving in Bucks County. No matter whether you drive down Bristol’s Street Road, through The Estates in Buckingham or along The Ridge in Bedminster, there are challenges. If you or a loved one has been in a Bucks County accident, you may have found yourself visiting the nearest local Emergency Room for treatment. It’s likely that there, along with doctors and nurses, you have met with a radiologist.
For most people, the term “radiologist” is commonly used a bit generically to describe anyone who is among those working in a radiology area of a hospital. In reality though, there are important distinctions; four key people you might encounter.
Radiologist
- physician specially trained in obtaining & interpreting medical images
- graduated from an accredited medical school, earned an MD
- passed a licensing exam & performed a year of internship
- completed at least four years of graduate medical education (residency) in radiology
- typically board certified; passed an exam & approved to practice in the field by American Board of Radiology (M.D.) or American Osteopathic Board (D.O.)
Radiologic Technologist
- operates radiographic equipment to produce images
- explains procedures to patient & positions on examining table
- adjusts immobilization devices to obtain optimum views
- moves imaging equipment into position & adjusts equipment controls
- may operate mobile x-ray equipment to obtain images in the emergency room
- assist radiologists in the use of general radiology, CT, MRI and Ultrasound equipment
Radiological Assistant
- high level radiologic technologist
- works under close supervision of a radiologist
- performs & assists with advanced tasks such as invasive procedures
- makes preliminary judgments about image quality, initial observations of images & forwards to supervising radiologist
- perform functions beyond those of a radiologic technologist except may not draft an official written interpretation of observations
- limited to certain radiology procedures without radiologist supervision
Radiologic Nurse
- graduated from an accredited nursing school & passed national licensing exam
- tends to patient needs as they undergo tests & helps recuperation
- develops and manages a care plan to help patients understand procedures
- can perform or assist with exams following radiologist instructions
- records physician findings
- discuss cases with radiologist or other health care professionals
If you are injured in a local Bucks County accident, you may meet one or more of these professionals as various diagnostic tests are made to determine the nature and scope of your injuries. A sub-specialty of radiology known as emergency radiology is “devoted to the to the to the diagnostic imaging and diagnosis of trauma and non-traumatic emergency conditions,” according to The Radiological Society of North America.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in the Bucks or Philadelphia area, a professional PA or NJ personal injury attorney at Cordisco & Saile LLC can help you obtain the compensation required to pay for the diagnostic tools that radiologists provide. Get a FREE copy of our PA Car Accident Book for answers to your questions.
