Are you looking to begin a career in Computed Tomography (CT). I am excited to tell you about the series called "CT Basics" encompassing all the topics found in the ASRT's CT curriculum. All ten modules have been completed. Visit the Learning Center and select Computed Tomography in the Course Catalog.

Are you looking to begin a career in Computed Tomography (CT). I am excited to tell you about a new series called "CT Basics" encompassing all the topics found in the ASRT's CT curriculum. Seven of the ten modules have been completed. Visit the Learning Center and select Computed Tomography in the Course Catalog.

Technological innovation is a vital part of today's health care environment. The Learning Center is offering a new course which provides educators, students, clinical staff and clinical managers with valuable information on how handheld device technologies can enhance data collection and management. As a user of the iPhone, I was curious and a little bit sceptical on how this would work. Kevin Powers provides comparisons of handheld devices with traditional paper-and-pencil based data recording systems along with examples of recording student data in real time on iPod and Palm handheld devices. This course was developed by the ASRT and can be found under the ASRT Authored Courses in the Learning Center.

Diseases of the thyroid gland have a major impact on a patient's health and well-being. I was interested to learn more about the thyroid after being diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Even though it is such a small gland, it can affect your entire body because the hormones it produces influences so many metabolic processes in your body.

You can learn more about the thyroid gland in the new module "The Thyroid Gland – Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Diagnostic Modalities". Log onto the Learning Center at: and go to the Course Catalog –Anatomy and Physiology. If you are a first-time user of the Learning Center, you will need to click on the "Register" button to register and obtain a password.

Cancer is one of those words that send chills up your back. Everyone is affected by cancer in some way or another at some point in their life; whether if be you, a loved one or a friend. Cancer is an aggressive growth disorder initiated by a cell or a group of renegade cells with genetic aberrance, usually caused by either a carcinogen in the environment, or less commonly by an inherited genetic abnormality. The disease is complicated by local spread within the organ and surrounding tissues, displacing well meaning and well functioning tissue. Continued uncontrolled growth results in the invasion of blood vessels and lymphatics and spread to distant organs where metastatic disease repeats the pattern of continued advance of rebellious and aggressive parasitization of normal tissue. Evaluation and care of the oncology patient can be markedly complex, yet their integration and simplification is the key to success.

You can learn more about cancer in the new module "Oncology Series: Part 1: Introduction to Cancer " by Dr. Ashley Davidoff. Log onto the Learning Center at: and go to the Course Catalog – Oncology. If you are a first-time user of the Learning Center, you will need to click on the "Register" button to register and obtain a password.

It is important for all healthcare professionals to be educated on how to prevent and control the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus areus (MRSA) infection. The control of infections in hospitalized patients has been an essential function since the earliest days of organized healthcare. Physicians and families were cognizant of the fact that the potential of acquiring an infection while in a hospital was very high. Additionally, many patients came to hospitals in an infected state, decreasing the potential that they would ever leave the hospital alive. The advances in healthcare treatments as well as the overuse of antibiotics have resulted in a rapid increase in hospital acquired infections (HAIs) that are no longer responsive to the majority of available antibiotics. In some cases, HAIs are not responsive to even the most potent, broad spectrum antibiotics or antibiotic combinations. The increase in transmission of the MRSA organism from one patient to another is due to poor compliance with hand washing, lack of appropriate barriers such as gowns and gloves, and inadequate cleaning of contaminated hospital environments.

Are you interested in learning more about the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus areus infection? Log onto the Learning Center and go to the Course Catalog – Radiology Department Topics.

As medicine makes rapid advances in both acute and preventive health care, one finds that the aging population is growing at a rapitd pace. It may not be surprising that the fastest cohort of the population, the geriatric population (65 and older), utilizes the greatest portion of health care services. In contrast, however, a striking minority (approximately 5%) of older people live in chronic health facilities; rather, most live in their own home or apartment and continue to function as a vital part of society. Thus it is critical among the health care community and others, to be acutely aware of the unique considerations in caring for the geriatric patient, given the impact that this special cohort is exerting on the health care system, both in inpatient and ambulatory settings.

You can learn more about caring for the elderly patient in the new module "Approach to the Geriatric Patient" by Dr. Ashley Davidoff. Log onto the Learning Center at: and go to the Course Catalog – Radiology Department Topics. If you are a first-time user of the Learning Center, you will need to click on the "Register" button to register and obtain a password.

Let's face it, there are some tests that most of us don't look forward to having done. Colonoscopy is one of them. I put mine off for about a year but when I finally had it done this year I was really glad that I did. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases that unfortunately tend to be without symptoms early in its course.Since it takes up to 10 years for a colonic polyp to grow to a size with a high likelihood of invasive cancer, timely and accurate patient screening with subsequent polyp removal can prevent over 90% of malignant colorectal cancers. Optical colonoscopy is the only established effective method of colon cancer screening. Polyps can be removed and thereby decrease the chance of subsequent development of colon cancer.

CT Colonography, also known as Virtual Colonoscopy is a diagnostic imaging tool that consists of computer generated images of the colon acquired through high resolution CT. Virtual Colonoscopy is an evolving and almost mature technology that is finding its place in the diagnostic tools for the evaluation of the colon. The advantages of CT colonography include: sedation is not required, there is a lower risk for perforation, it is less expensive and CT has the ability to detect extra-colonic findings.

Are you interested in learning more about colorectal cancer, tumor types, staging and the unique information that each imaging modality, clinical exam, or test provides to reach a diagnostic conclusion? Log onto the at: Learning Center and go to the Course Catalog – Computed Tomography.

Each year radiologic technologists around the U.S. celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week. This event recognizes the discovery of x-ray on November 8, 1895 and the dedicated Radiologic Technologists that practice in the field of radiology, using this important diagnostic and therapeutic technology on a daily basis to care for our patients. This week is all about increasing awareness and recognizing the RT's dedication, knowledge and skill.

In celebration of National Radiologic Technology Week, Philips Learning Center is giving away 3.5 Category A CE credits during the month of November and December.
Diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease and Cath Lab Intervention (1 CE under Alert-Free CE)
Digital Subtraction Angiography (0.5 CE)
Case Study - Colorectal Cancer (1 CE under Case Study Alert-Free CE)
Case Study - Palpable Breast Cancer: Pre and Post Operative Evaluation (1 CE)

Learning Center If you are a first-time user of the Learning Center, you will need to click on the "Register" button to register and obtain a password. Once you are registered on the Learning Center, click on the Course Catalog. To select the Free module or case study, click "Get It Now" and the course will be automatically added to the "My Learning Activities" area, which contains all active courses.

Legal terms are used every day, especially on the evening news. But what do they mean to you in your everyday practice as a radiologic technologist? It's understood that the purpose of law is to provide order in resolving conflicts without violence while protecting individual citizens' health, safety and welfare. But how do legal concepts like assault, battery, consent, false imprisonment and negligence affect your job? Have you always wondered if you need professional liability insurance or where to purchase it?

The course "Basic Law and Ethics for the Technologist" explains ethical considerations set by the Professional Code of Ethics, standards in care and the Scope of Practice and how these impact quality patient care. It will also review the requirements for documenting informed consent and provides case studies of various legal issues.

Protect yourself from litigation by educating yourself!

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