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Who’s
Who In Radiology -
Radiologist
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A radiologist is a specialist doctor who has undergone
a further 3-4 years of training in radiology after having
qualified as a doctor. Their comprehensive training includes various
aspects of radiology, including interpretation of x-ray images,
performance of imaging procedures and radiation protection. They are
required to pass tough postgraduate examinations at the end of their
course and training. They are required to undergo a further 6 months
probationary period before being gazetted in this country as a
radiologist. These are the people often referred to as x-ray specialists.
They interpret X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI scans
and other special radiological examinations. They also do interventional
procedures. They are responsible for supervising all the radiological
procedures in the department. Radiologists act as a consultant in the care
of patients.
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Radiotherapist |
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A radiotherapist is also called a radiation
oncologist. They are medical specialists who have undergone at least 4
years of postgraduate training and experience in radiotherapy and
oncology. They specialise in evaluation, treatment and management of
cancer patients. At the end of their training period, they are required to
pass postgraduate examinations. The radiotherapist is an important member
of the team that is responsible for treating cancer patients and is also
the patient’s doctor to treat and cure disease. They prescribe treatment
which uses high energy radiation, radioactive drugs and anti cancer drugs.
At
the present moment there are no postgraduate training programmes in
radiotherapy and oncology available in the local institutions in Malaysia
(although it is probably in the offing in the near future) and training is
done mainly in United Kingdom.
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Medical
Physicist |
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A medical physicist is a specialist in the application of physics to
medical diagnosis and therapy. Medical physicists assist in the
specification and selection of imaging or therapy equipment purely from
the cost and technical viewpoints. They are also responsible for
development and supervision of quality assurance programmes for both
procedures as well as equipment in the radiology department. In
radiotherapy, medical physicists help plan and review radiation treatment
of cancer patients. Another important responsibility of medical physicists
is that of radiation safety programmes e.g. monitoring patient and staff
radiation doses, safety guidelines for handling of radioactive materials
etc. They are also involved in the training of medical students,
radiographers and trainee radiologists with regard to physics and safety.
In Malaysia, medical physicists have either a
Masters Degree or Ph. D. in Medical Physics. A Masters Programme in
Medical Physics is available locally. It is a 1 year programme. The course
content involves exposure to a broad range of different diagnostic and
treatment modalities in the hospital setting.
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Radiographer
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A radiographer is a trained technologist who is competent in performing
Radiography (i.e. taking the x-ray pictures, operating sophisticated X-ray
equipment, radiation protection, etc.) They run the X-ray equipment and
work directly with the patient and radiologist. They are usually the
persons the patient will meet first when they enter a radiological
examination room. They are an essential part of the medical team as an
assistant to the radiologist. The radiographer is trained to ensure that
the images are of optimal quality by adjusting the equipments and patient
position. The radiographer may also be involved in preparing the “dye”
to be given to the patients for special radiological examinations.
Radiographers operate the general radiography equipment and also the CT
and MRI scanners. They also operate and are responsible for the X-rays
done in the wards, operating theatres and casualty departments using
portable X-ray machines.
In Malaysia, to qualify to the radiography-training programme,
one needs at least the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Training is for a
period of threes years which comprises training in theory, practical and
clinical aspects in a hospital equipped with modern X-ray equipment before
sitting for final examinations.
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Copyright © 2001-2008 College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
All Rights Reserved
Terms
of Use
Last Updated:
Thursday, 21 August, 2003
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