Author Archives: Michael Guaracino

There are several different tools that we use when taking exposures. Some tools are more common than others, like markers. Markers are used to distinguish the left side of the body from the right. Because X-rays are two dimensional images, they are unable to show the left side verses the right side on first glance.Continue reading “(Procedures) Tools We Use”

X-rays are an important aspect of healthcare and are used to help to help diagnose patients. X-rays are useful in detecting different abnormalities within the body. It is a non-invasive way to help see different problems such as tumors, broken bones, and identify the presence of foreign bodies. We are able to use X-rays toContinue reading “(Procedures) X-rays & Why We Use Them”

Image evaluation can be both one of the most easy and difficult things that a radiology technologist will encounter during their career. Images have to be aligned in a specific way in order to capture different aspects of the body. Images need to exhibit specific positioning so that all images have a standard reference point.Continue reading “(Procedure) Evaluation of Images”

When explaining the X-ray procedure to a family, it is important to first understand that they are concerned for the well being of their family member. At the end of the day, they want the best for their family member and hearing that radiation is going to be used can be a little scary forContinue reading “(Procedures) Explaining Procedures to Family”

For each exam, there are different considerations that have to be taken into account when positioning or moving a patient. This is because there are some procedures that, when preformed properly, move the body in places that could potentially further harm the patient. A patient’s mobility is one of the most important considerations that weContinue reading “(Procedures) Patient Considerations”

There are going to be times when you and your patient do not speak the same language. This is common especially when thinking about all of the different types of cultures and people that live in the United States. It is important to not freak out and start panicking. There are a few things thatContinue reading “(Procedures) Bridging the Communication Gap”

I know what you are thinking. . . “man X-ray technologists use secret code when talking to one another” and while you are not wrong, we have an understanding of common words or phrases to mean different things. For example, when we talk about different aspects of the body, we will often times talk aboutContinue reading “(Procedures) Code Words”

While some might believe that X-ray technologists are just button pushers, that is not the case. There are responsibilities that we must do behind the scenes in order to give the radiologist images that they will be able to read. First and foremost, if image analysis was not your cup of tea in school, thenContinue reading “(Image Analysis) Role of Radiographer in Image Analysis”

For this example, I will be choosing a hand X-ray. When taking an X-ray, it is important for the technologist to fully know what they are looking at when taking an X-ray. For this reason, we will take anywhere from 1-3 different anatomy courses during our education. The first thing that you should do afterContinue reading “(Image Analysis) Anatomy on Radiographic Images”

When taking an X-ray, it is important to understand that the distance between an object and the image receptor can cause an image to become magnified. This magnification can be evaluated mathematically with the equation of M=SID/SOD. SOD stands for SID-OID mathematically. So imagine that there is an object that is hovering 10 inches aboveContinue reading “(Principals) Magnification Evaluation”