Radiologic Science and Communication Foundations

Flashcards covering the history of radiologic science, healthcare roles, professional ethics, patient assessment, vital signs, and healthcare law.

Roentgen

The father of Radiologic Science who discovered x-rays on Nov. 8, 1895.

MO

Doctor of Osteopathy; similar to an MD but with additional training in the manipulation of muscles and bones.

Intern

Medical school graduates in their first year of residency.

Resident

Medical school graduates who perform $2-7$ years of specialized training.

Fellow

A physician undergoing training in a sub-specialty after completing their residency.

Attending

A trained physician practicing in their specialty who oversees the medical team.

Occupational Therapists

Health professionals who help patients with significant injury learn how to perform activities of daily living.

Speech Swallow

A procedure where x-rays are used to determine if a patient can eat and drink safely, facilitated by a speech therapist.

Biomed

Technicians responsible for repairing and maintaining hospital equipment.

RT (R)

Registered Technologist in Radiography.

CNMT

Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist.

RA

Radiologist Assistant.

RDMS

Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.

Mission Statement

A health organization's statement of purpose.

Clinical Preceptor

A clinic employee who mentors and supervises students in a clinical setting.

JRCERT

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiological Technology; the organization that accredits radiologic technology programs.

TJC

The Joint Commission; an organization that accredits hospitals.

ARRT

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; a national private organization that handle certification, credentialing, and ethics violations.

ASRT

American Society of Radiologic Technologists; a professional organization offering continuing education and advocacy.

CQR

Continuing Qualifications Requirements; a process radiologic technologists undergo every $10$ years.

Illness-Well Continuum

A scale where $0$ represents premature death or disease and $10$ represents high-level wellness.

Sympathy

Feeling for a patient or pitying them.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share a patient’s feelings.

Code Pink

Hospital emergency code for an infant abduction.

Code Silver

Hospital emergency code for an active shooter.

PASS

Fire extinguisher sequence: Pull, Aim at base of fire, Squeeze, and Sweep.

RACE

Fire safety protocol: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish.

Red Outlet

Hospital outlets backed by a generator for critical equipment.

Material Safety Data Sheets

Required by OSHA for all chemicals to provide safety information.

Octostops

Equipment that can turn at different angles to keep babies still and positioned quickly.

Pigg-o-stat

A device used to keep children upright during imaging.

Ergonomics

The study of efficiency in the working environment, including keeping shoulders, hips, and feet on the same line and bending knees for heavy loads.

Noise

Any factors that interfere with and make communication harder.

AIDET

Communication sequence: Acknowledge, Identify, Duration, Explanation, and Thank you.

SBAR

Communication framework for healthcare professionals: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.

Sacred Seven

The components of a patient history: Localization, Chronology, Quality, Severity, Onset, Aggravating/Alleviating factors, and Associated manifestations.

Cyanotic

Skin color indicating a lack of oxygen or decreased blood supply; appears blue/cold.

Diaphoretic

A physical state characterized by sweating.

Hyperthermia

A condition indicated by a body temperature greater than $99.5\,^{\circ}F$.

Tachycardia

A heart rate greater than $100\,bpm$.

Hypoxemia

A condition indicated by a pulse oximetry reading of $<95\%$.

Tachypnea

A respiration rate greater than $20\,bpm$.

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing.

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing while lying down.

Systolic

The peak pressure during heart contraction; normal value is $<120\,mm\,Hg$.

P-wave

The part of an ECG representing the depolarization of the atrial muscle.

QRS complex

The part of an ECG representing the depolarization of the ventricular muscle.

Asystole

A 'flat line' on an ECG indicating only leftover electrical activity.

BUN

An indicator of kidney function measuring bilirubin, urea, and nitrogen levels; normal range is $7-20\,mg/dL$.

Creatinine

A muscle waste product filtered by the kidneys; normal range is $0.5-1.2\,mg/dL$.

Beneficence

The ethical principle of acting in ways that benefit others.

Autonomy

Respect for the independence and self-determination of others.

Assault

An intentional tort involving a threat to touch a person without consent.

Battery

An intentional tort involving touching someone without their permission.

Negligence

An unintentional tort; the failure to use reasonable care resulting in harm.

Respondeat Superior

A legal doctrine meaning 'Let the master answer'; the employer is responsible for the employee's actions.

Res Ipsa Loquitor

A legal doctrine meaning 'The thing speaks for itself'; used when the cause of injury is obvious.

Machine Learning

The creation of models by training an algorithm to make predictions.

Generative AI

A type of AI that uses deep learning to create new, original content.

Wilhelm Roentgen

Father of radiologic science; discovered x-rays November 8, 1895

Why Roentgen did not patent x-rays

Allowed others to improve and expand the technology

Specialty hospital

Facility focused on a specific body system, condition, or patient population

MD

Medical doctor with traditional medical degree

DO

Doctor of osteopathy with additional training in muscle and bone manipulation

Intern

Medical school graduate in first year of residency

Resident

Physician completing 2-7 years of specialty training

Fellow

Physician completing training after residency

Attending physician

Fully trained physician practicing independently

Nurse

Healthcare worker providing direct patient care and medications

Phlebotomist

Healthcare worker who draws blood

Biomed technician

Repairs and maintains hospital equipment

RT

Registered technologist

R

Registered radiography credential

CT

Computed tomography

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

S

Sonography

RDMS

Registered diagnostic medical sonographer

Mission statement

Organization’s purpose

Vision statement

Where an organization aims to go

JRCERT

Accredits radiologic technology programs

TJC

Accredits hospitals

ACR

Accredits imaging modalities and radiology standards

ARRT

National certification organization for radiologic technologists

ASRT

Provides continuing education and advocacy

State licensure

Legal permission from a state to practice

Empathy

Understanding and sharing a patient's feelings

Sympathy

Feeling pity or concern for someone

Professionalism

Behaviors showing competence, teamwork, and responsibility

Code Red

Fire emergency

Code Blue

Medical emergency

Code Silver

Active shooter

PASS

Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep for fire extinguisher use

RACE

Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish

Incident report

Document facts about an event, including time, place, and witnesses

Verbal communication

Speech, vocabulary, clarity

Nonverbal communication

Tone, body language, eye contact

Communication noise

Anything interfering with communication

Emotional intelligence

Self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, social skills

AIDET

Acknowledge, Identify, Duration, Explanation, Thank you

SBAR

Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation