PREPARING LEADERS FOR A TECHNOLOGICAL AGE ….

     The future of medical imaging continues to be
driven by computerized applications as well as the integration of PACS (Picture
Archiving & Communication System). Here at St. Alexius we have fully
implemented digital environment with computerized radiography & PACS.

     PACS is designed to save time and space by eliminating all areas associated with
film use. The digital environment allows faster image acquisition with fewer
repeats and faster turnaround time with diagnosis. Once again, St. Alexius
Radiologic Technology Program has risen to a higher standard of patient care.

     The program for Radiologic Technology at St. Alexius Medical Center
is co-sponsored by the University of Mary. The program provides academic and clinical opportunities for the student under the direction of Radiologists and
Registered Technologists to provide health care for the individual patient.


     The program was established in 1950 to provide highly skilled, registry-eligible technologists who adequately meet the needs of the patient and the community they serve.


     The important goal of the program is to provide a basic educational background for the student’s continued professional growth and development.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

     The Radiologic Technology Program is a
four-year baccalaureate degree program with the last two years being hospital-based.
 
It is accredited by:
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Website: www.csacihe.org 
(312) 263-0456. 

PROGRAM LENGTH:

     The
professional program is two full years beginning in July of each year and ending the last part of June.
The pre-professional program is university-based with two years of full-time
equivalent study. The student must meet the University of Mary residency
requirements for consideration of acceptance into the professional phase at
St. Alexius.  

ROTATION POLICY:

     Students are required to rotate in all areas of the department:
diagnostic, special imaging, special procedures, M. R. I. , Mid-Dakota Clinic, and radiation oncology. Rotation schedules are posted at the beginning of the program.


     The student also rotates on days, lates, and weekends. These shifts are scheduled on a rotating basis and are posted.
Day shifts begin when the student begins in July of each year. The late and
weekend shifts begin approximately six months after the student begins the
program and continue until the student graduates. The student does not rotate
through a holiday rotation. Students are granted the following holidays during
the two-year program:  New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July
4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. 

Student Hours
     Students are required to be in the department as
scheduled by the program officials. Schedule varies with specific shifts.
Classes are held as scheduled and posted: Juniors an average of 14-18 hours
per week, and Seniors an average of 8-12 hours per week. The remainder of
each week is spent in clinical rotations as assigned. 

     Student hours in the various rotations are as
follows:
Day: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Late: 10:30 AM – 7 PM or 12 PM – 8 PM
Weekend: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM or 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM 


     
Time Off
      Students are allotted 148 hours of PTO
(personal time off) which are announced at the
beginning of the school year. In the event that a student accumulates more
than 40 hours in a week with their academic classes and clinical rotations,
the student is given PTO time as time taken at the
student’s discretion within the program guidelines for requesting time-off.
The student is not scheduled for greater than 40 hours in any week of the
program. Any student over the allotted 148 hours of PTO, must make up these
hours at the end of the program or as
planned by the program officials and agreed upon by the student. 

      The didactic portion of the program includes lectures covering the following courses.