Your Radiologist –The Physician Imaging Expert

1. Your Radiologist –The Physician Imaging Expert  YOUR NAME HERE

2. What is a radiologist? • A radiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury by using medical imaging technologies such as MRI and CT. • Radiologists also treat diseases by means of radiation (radiation oncology) or minimally invasive, image-guided surgery (interventional radiology), correlate medical image findings with other examinations and tests, and direct radiology technologists(personnel who operate the equipment) in the proper performance of quality exams. • Radiologists are often able to see problems early by interpreting the results of your imaging study, and can provide an accurate diagnosis to your referring physician. Through the continued growth of minimally invasive procedures and other emerging technologies, radiologists also play a significant role in other aspects of your care.

3. Radiologist Education • Radiologists graduate from accredited medical schools, pass a licensing examination, and then go on to complete a residency of at least four years of unique postgraduate medical education in such topics as radiation safety/protection, radiation effects on the human body, and interpretation of radiological and medical imaging examinations. • Radiologists also often complete a fellowship — one to two additional years of specialized training in a particular subspecialty of radiology, such as breast imaging, cardiovascular radiology, or nuclear medicine.

4. What do radiologists actually do? • Your radiologist plays an important role in your health by acting as an expert consultant to your referring physician (the doctor who sent you to the radiology department or clinic for testing) by aiding him or her in choosing the proper examination, interpreting the resulting medical images, using test results to recommend further scans or treatments be done when necessary, and directing radiology technologists (personnel who operate the equipment) in properly performing quality exams. • When referring doctors — the doctors who refer patients to the radiology department or clinic for testing — say they have reviewed the radiology scans and reports, what they usually mean is that they have gone over the scan with the attending radiologist.

5. Is there any type of certification radiologists receive? • Radiologists are usually board-certified by the American Board of Radiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology. • Radiology facilities can also be accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). ACR accreditation ensures that the physicians supervising and interpreting your medical imaging meet stringent education and training standards. ACR accreditation also signifies that the imaging equipment is surveyed regularly by medical physicists to ensure that it is functioning properly, and that the technologists administering your tests are certified by the appropriate organization.

6. What are some common medical imaging techniques used by radiologists? • X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is passed through the body to create a 2-D image of a body part or region. X-ray is especially useful in detecting muscle or bone problems. A mammogram is a common example of X-ray technology. • Computed tomography (CT) uses X-rays and sophisticated computer technology to produce a series of 2-D images and/or to generate a 3-D image of a part of the body. CT scans are widely used for a variety of medical situations, such as detecting cancer, heart disease, and aneurysm. • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnetic field to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissue, bones, and other internal body parts. MRI is especially useful in detecting nervous system, joint, heart, and cancer-related diseases. • Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves and computer technology to generate “real-time” images of the body. Ultrasound is often used in obstetric and breast imaging care.

7. Why should I choose to have a radiologist conduct my imaging procedures? • As a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disease and injury by using medical imaging techniques, and after having completed at least 13 years of training, including medical school, licensing, a four-year residency, and often a one- to two-year fellowship of specialized training, your radiologist is THE expert in medical imaging. • Radiological procedures are medically prescribed and should only be conducted by appropriately trained and certified physicians under medically necessary circumstances. Radiologists have four to six years of unique, post-medical school training in radiation safety to ensure optimal performance of radiological procedures and interpretation of medical images. Other medical specialties mandate far less imaging education, ranging from a few days to a maximum of 10 months.

8. Can I ask to speak with my radiologist? • Absolutely! Your radiologist is available to you and your referring physician in choosing the proper examination, interpreting the resulting medical images, and in using test results to recommend further examinations or treatments.

9. More Information • To learn more about what radiologists do and why their training and education is vital to quality health care, please visit www.MyRadiologist.com • To learn more about radiology visit www.radiologyinfo.org or www.acr.org/safety.

10. Your Radiologist –The Physician Imaging Expert  YOUR NAME HERE