April 29, 2025 • 17 mins
Imaging Technologist
Tom O'Neill is an imaging technologist. When a doctor orders an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, a trained medical professional is required to operate the medical imaging equipment that helps you get the answers you need to treat your condition. Being an imaging technologist requires specific knowledge of subjects like anatomy and physics, and it's a job that keeps you on your feet all day. But for Tom, the reward is knowing that patients receive the highest level of care on their journey to health.
Topics
00:34 Introduction
02:11 Necessary schooling
04:49 Licensing
05:47 Working in a hospital vs. outpatient care
06:29 Who would be a good fit for this job?
07:18 The job outlook
07:38 How much can you make?
09:12 A day in the life
11:51 CT vs. MRI
15:25 Will AI play a role in this field in the future?
16:06 Rewards of the job
Resources
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
ARRT - Find an educational program
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Radiologic Technologists
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Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Your day might be busy, but you don't feel like
you're not.
You're constantly, in a way,almost uplifted a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hi, welcome back.
I'm Erav Ozeri, a curiousjournalist that always want to
know what people do for a livingand how much they can earn.
Today we are going to talk withTom O'Neill, who is an imaging
technologist.
He was mine, and then I grabbedhim and I said oh please can I
interview you for my podcast?
And he was kind enough to sayyes, so thanks a lot, tom, for
(00:35):
doing it.
My first question is how didyou get into this profession?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I went with my sister she's a nurse and she had to do
something out of college.
And this is years, you know, 30years ago and in the job fair
they had a whole set out ofthings between x-ray
technologists all the way toradiation therapy, what you
could do in the x-ray field.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So what grabbed you?
What made you decide?
Oh, that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Travelability.
Back then you could get a job,a per diem job, I'm going to say
literally just anywhere in thecountry very easily.
So I solely got into thisbecause I was going to travel
around the country in placesjust in per diems, to see where
I want to settle down throughthe country and did you travel
around the country?
I did not.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I had another blessing instead not a blessing
my daughter oh yeah, of courselife is what happens to you when
you're busy making other plans,sure it?
Speaker 1 (01:30):
was john lennon wrote that upon graduation found out
so that changed the plan right.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
So you're an imaging technologist.
Do you do ct, m, x-rays, all ofthose things?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Correct.
I mainly do CT.
I've done MR in the past andx-ray is where you start with
any of those three modalities.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
What kind of schooling did you have to go
through to become a technologist?
Speaker 1 (01:58):
To enter into one of the programs.
When I went, it was a two-yeardegree.
The pathway was always you wentin, you started an x-ray and
then you learned modalities.
As you were there as a studentand I went to Hudson Valley, you
had weeks where they would sendyou through modalities and you
would see if you you know toacclimate yourself to that.
But it was solely the x-rayprogram that you were graduating
(02:21):
from and then on site, that'swhere you would be learning.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So how long have you been doing it?
30 years.
In school did you have to study?
Because I remember when you didmy CT you had to put me in a
certain position and all of thatDid you have to learn anatomy.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yes, and the anatomy for the x-ray program is.
It's an extensive you know,that's usually what they say,
the harder course, one of of theharder courses because there's
a lot of information.
So you have to learn anatomy toa very good level and the
physics of how radiation workswould be the other hard one for
that.
So you had to learn all thatand positioning.
(02:57):
You did in labs and on site.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
You mentioned radiation.
Are you afraid of gettingoverdose of radiation?
You're doing it every day uh,no, not at all.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
The nuclear medicine has a more of a risk of that
because you're holding somethingthat you could spill or
anything of that nature.
X-ray, it's only if you havethe machine turned on.
There's no radiation there.
That is instantaneous type ofreactions.
And you have a monitoringbadges that you wear that are
checked every 30 days to seewhat accumulating you have done
(03:29):
in your life and how much forthat one period.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
You started with x-ray and how long after you
started did you switch to?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
CT.
Actually, I switched to whatthey call interventional
radiology, that's where they doangiograms of the body, and that
was first, because that was thefirst opening Probably let's
say, six years somewhere inthere where I went into CT.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Do you like it?
Yeah, does the doctor tell youexactly what position to put the
person in CT?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
positioning is a lot easier because there's a lot
less of it.
You're centered on a table.
Okay, x-ray would be differentfor each body part.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
You take the image, you see the image.
If something is wrong, it's thefocus, the resolution or
whatever.
Are you in charge of fixing it?
Yep.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
All techs should know how to fix an image that comes
across.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
By the way, I never see men doing mammogram, do they
do?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
No, that would only when I first got into it you had
to do a rotation through itbecause it's your license and my
entire time.
That's not a job any man wasdid they hire for.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
You need a license to do what you do yes, and you
have to renew it and continuingeducation.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Absolutely.
You have New York State licenseNew York State, florida and I
believe it's still California.
They're the hardest licenses toget, so if you have one there,
different states would honorthat.
And then you have what theycall the art, and that's an
organization that we answer tofor our continuing education,
the art american registryradiologic technologists.
(05:00):
They have added to that so thatif you do modalities you have
to have there's another type ofcredits, like all cq credits
that you have to have for yourspecific modality.
So you have to maintain x-rayand then whatever modality you
also have oh, kind of deal.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And how often do you have to do continuing education?
Every two years, every twoyears?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
yes, it's kind of a hard subject in a way, because
some people are not happy,because a lot of the stuff that
you would learn or not learn isvery specific to where you work.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Did you ever work in a hospital where there's
emergencies?
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Oh yeah, I worked in a hospital 24 years.
Was it more stressful?
I wouldn't say stressful, but alot busier.
At times, when you have yourpatients what they call the
flood you've got to get eachpatient done as quick as you can
without you know, obviouslytaking away quality because
there's a lot more waiting.
Where in an outpatient facility,you have a schedule so it's
(05:53):
easier to follow through withthat even if you get behind or
whatever In a hospital plenty oftimes where there would be a
lot of people come in all atonce.
So you have to be able to getthem done and not have them wait
two hours.
So that part I guess, but youdon't really feel it because
you're busy.
You're so busy getting this onedone and as soon as it's done
you're busy doing the next one.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
If somebody wants to get into this business.
What kind of person would be aperfect person for this kind of
job?
Speaker 1 (06:19):
To start with, there's a few funny things with
it is you cannot be a person whodoes not like touching other
people, starting with x-ray andlearning how to position.
You don't want to beover-touching anyone, but you
have to use your hands at timesin order to get the patient in
the right position, and a lot ofpeople don't like that.
And if you don't like to seewhat can come through an ER,
(06:40):
know that before you're going towork in a hospital or
restrictions of that nature.
One of the big things I see, atleast now even, is when you get
into it you may not always getthe shift you want.
So actually radiology is 24hours a day, so sometimes when
you get out you may have to takea midnight job.
So those are the really mainthings that you have to be okay
(07:00):
with.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's a growing field, right?
Yes, there's a demand for thiskind of jobs.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Yes, the market.
Strangely, right now, with theamount of people come out,
travel is a very big market.
Right now a lot of peoplearen't taking full-time jobs,
they're doing travel technology.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yes you know it's so interesting.
I hear it in differentindustries that the traveling is
the is the best.
What can they make?
Let's talk about money for asecond.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
There are places you're getting paid three grand
a week because, uh, what they dois you have to be over a I.
I think for most places it'slike 50 miles.
Once you're over 50 miles, youget stipends for food, lodging,
there's a few things, and allthat money is non-taxable.
Your base salary is what you'dget in a hospital, maybe a
little bit more, but it's theextra that's not taxable.
(07:45):
That that's where everyone goesfor.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
So how much a beginner, let's say, I just
finished school, I know X-ray, Iknow CT and probably MRI.
Do you make money more on MRI,by the way, than CT?
Speaker 1 (07:57):
It fluctuates with the market.
There was a point in time whereit was where now they're
getting a lot closer back toabout the same.
Okay.
So how much a beginner can makeAround here?
I believe the start and pay isaround like $28 to $32.
That's not bad for starting andhow far can you get?
That's the thing.
You learn modality, you getextra pay for learning a
(08:18):
modality, being gettingcertified in that modality, but
then you have like eveningdifferential pay, overnight
differential pay and that andthat starts adding up quite a
bit.
You take like around heresomeone who's been in it for,
you know, 20 plus years,whatever.
They're probably going to beanywhere from the $40 to $50
range.
Right After the 40 hours youstart getting time and a half
(08:39):
Time and a half yeah, and if youwork holidays and weekends,
that's still, you know time anda half You're supposed to get,
you know lunch and you know yourbreaks and stuff like that.
And yes, and that's what itdoes, but it is healthcare.
So if you can't because saythere's too many people in the
ER, you know it's that day.
They don't, it's just time anda half.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
What is your day like ?
You come in here, you have tofirst check the machine, turn
them on.
How does it?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
work.
I come in, you turn on themachine.
There's a calibration it doesto warm up so it can take the
heat, because an x-ray tubegenerates a lot of machine is
probably a little different inhow they do that.
And then you do a qualityassurance on a phantom and then
you measure that in certainplaces.
Again, it's very simple withthat.
(09:22):
And then, once that's done forthis machine anyway, they do a
longer calibration scanautomatically.
So it just sets the computer upfor the day, and when that's
all set then you're ready to getyour first patient on the table
.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And then it's go, go, go all day long it is.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Then you're making sure the room is stocked.
You have a power injector withcontrast, you got to make sure
that's warm and loaded.
The room is clean for patients,you know, and in-cap.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Right.
So when you take an image, youtake a look at it first and do
you analyze anything?
Oh, you do.
Tell me about it.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
You don't read the image.
That only radiologists can do.
Okay so even if you're doing itfor a while, you do pick up
information and stuff like that,but you cannot interpret that
image because you are not thedoctor, right, but you know what
the doctor needs to see.
So if you're looking at thatimage and you know they're not
getting what they need, you haveto adjust, and that's any tech
has to do.
That it becomes very secondnature, you know, because the
(10:14):
human anatomy doesn't changethat much.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You just have to make sure that you processed image
right for the radiologist.
Is it physically challenging?
It can be.
There is no sit down time, youknow there's no sitting.
And doing x-ray CT you do justwhen you're actually pushing the
button, so to speak, togenerate.
But everything else you'removing around, and I say
especially in the hospital.
You got to move quicker ifthere's a lot of people waiting,
(10:39):
so you're on your feet all daylong.
Yes, and it can be veryphysically demanding moving
patients from stretcher to ontoa table and then back what's the
most common thing people comefor?
ct chest and abdomens for themostly cough fever, anything of
that nature you know, any kind,any kind of breathing.
Obviously you know for lungsand just the myriad of you have
for health problems, whether itbe things like diverticulitis,
(11:00):
if you have kidney stones, ifyour liver's not, your liver
numbers are not right, you know.
So that's the bulk of whatwould come through.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
But anything broken ribs or anything like that
that's x-ray right.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
For a lot of things like, say, a foot, they'll do CT
, because you can take that datathat can be applied to robotics
for surgeries like for kneereplacements or anything of that
nature that they use roboticsfor.
You would need the 3D data forthat to be constructed.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Oh, really, I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yes, if it's a robotic program, Well it needs a
map on where to go.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So CT can do 3D?
Yes, so what is the differencebetween CT and MRI?
I thought MRI was the 3D and CT2D.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Mr is 3D because you can image in any direction at
all.
Ct you have three points.
You have the X and the Y, likein mathematics, and then you
have the Z axis.
So when you take each image,think of your body like a loaf
of bread.
You can just pull up and seeeach one, but then you can stack
them all together and turn theimage by computer work to form a
(12:01):
3D.
So CT gives you 3D imagingthrough computer.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Do you have to work that computer and create the 3D?
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So you learn the special software that does that.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Did you learn that it's cool?
Or on the job, because it'sdifferent for each machine?
It's different for each machinebecause of proprietary, but
they're not complicated to learn.
And all the images because theynever show the images to the
patient, so I never saw.
But all the images are blackand white, right, they're not
color.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Correct, it's all a shade of gray.
Your eye can pick up 256 shadesof gray, so that's how CT
produces its images.
So it seems white or seemsblack, but that's the shade of
gray that you're at and that'show we can tell the subtlety,
because a lot of your tissuesare the same density and the
only way you can tell one organfrom another is by that slightly
(12:48):
different shade of gray.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Are you able to read the different shades now?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
That's applied by the computer automatically.
You do testing every day,quality assurance tests, to make
sure that the machine isoperating right.
It bases it off plexiglass andwater, so that's a constant.
So if they're always measuringthat right, then all the other
shades are being measured right.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
So the technician would never tell you what they
see in the imaging and when Iget it I'm really curious.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I want to know the answer now.
You never share anything with apatient.
It is so irresponsible to do.
Uh, there's been plenty oftimes in my 30 years that I'm
looking at an image whether itbe an x-ray or a cat scan and I
know what that is, and when yousee the report it's not what you
very much thought it was.
So that's where you really dohave to be careful.
It doesn't mean the techdoesn't know what he's doing.
She doesn't know what he'sdoing, but their interpreting is
a doctor's job because theyhave a depth that you do not.
(13:43):
So it's very important you cantell if there's a bone that's
fractured.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
The bone that fractured is not a big deal
really.
But what if you do a CT and yousee a tumor?
What's your reaction?
Speaker 1 (13:54):
personally.
That's the other hard part withthis kind of job, because when
people ask you you almost haveto have a poker face in a way,
because you don't.
If you start lying to a patientthey can tell and that's what
would devalue the whole job.
You know the whole professionbecause you're not there.
You know for that.
But it's hard to keep when youjust see something that's real
bad and they ask you.
And it's hard to keep when youjust see something that's real
bad and they ask you.
(14:14):
And it's really hard to keepthe care off your face but keep
the right care so you knowyou're still caring about the
patient and let them know thatyou are.
That can be a bit challenging.
And it can be challenging whenyou see something that's really
bad.
There's a sadness to that, verymuch so.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Especially if you've seen them for a couple times and
you know you kind of know themRight.
That's it can be, I can say asa technologist.
At times it can be verytempting to say something you
know, especially if someone'sreally nervous and there's
nothing there or something looksthere, but nothing you should
be worried about.
You almost want to tell them sothat you can just alleviate
(14:49):
that at least, say for a weekendor for a holiday.
It's, you know, right beforeChristmas and they're asking you
, you want to say something.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
So I'm like, have a Merry Christmas or enjoy this
one, because it's hard sometimesto Don't you think AI could
take your job away.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
That's a very good question.
There's possibly, but that'sgoing to be down the road quite
a bit, because even in howradiation is used right now,
it's getting more efficient.
You're able to use less andless.
So when they get to a pointwhere you're using such low dose
radiation, you may not need thespecialty training with it
anymore, because the machine'sgoing to do it.
(15:31):
And then what would run themachine?
Well then, the AI would.
Yes, there's nowhere, so far,that AI can get in there and
take away the job that I do.
That is manual, because you'rewatching the patient.
Where is the patient?
There's no way in a scannerthey could judge all that, yet
they haven't made one of those,not yet.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Yeah, yeah, not yet.
It's a few years down the line.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
What like about the job.
I like the interaction withpeople.
That's why I do it really.
I like the technology that yousee and when you do help people
that are afraid or anything likethat, there's a reward to that.
When you see someone becomfortable when they're leaving
.
They're scared to get into themachine or they're afraid of
moving and you can get them toget the exam done and they're
very thankful.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
And if you're good with children, people who do
that?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Oh you do children too.
See, we don't much here, but Iworked at the hospital, you did,
and when you can do that,that's even more rewarding,
because that's when you see akid leaving smiling.
You know that you did thethings right.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
For them.
One thing that at least theytaught when I went to school,
it's not to return business,it's to have that patient not be
afraid to come.
To go back to any imagingfacility is as important as
getting that image done right soif they need it again, they
won't be afraid to, or theywon't wait too long or things of
that nature.
Right, your day might be busy,but you don't feel like, because
(16:48):
you're not.
You're constantly, in a way,almost uplifted a little bit all
right, tom.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Thank you so much for your time.
Now, probably when I'm going tocome for a CT scan.
Hopefully I will not see you asa CT scan technician ever again
, but I will have more knowledgeif I do come again.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Now you said technician, One of the things
that ART started.
Because they want to betechnologists, people might feel
they don't like being calledtechnicians.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
All right technologists People in my field
.
They don't like being calledtechnicians.
All right technologists.
Oh, manil, thanks a lot.
Thank you for inviting me.
Yes, and I probably will notsee you, hopefully, okay bye.
Okay, that's a wrap for today.
If you have a comment orquestion or would like us to
cover a certain job, please letus know.
(17:35):
Visit our website athowmuchcanimakeinfo.
We would love to hear from youand, on your way out, don't
forget to subscribe and sharethis episode with anyone who is
curious about their next job.
See you next time.
Your day might be busy, but you don't feel like
you're not.
You're constantly, in a way,almost uplifted a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hi, welcome back.
I'm Erav Ozeri, a curiousjournalist that always want to
know what people do for a livingand how much they can earn.
Today we are going to talk withTom O'Neill, who is an imaging
technologist.
He was mine, and then I grabbedhim and I said oh please can I
interview you for my podcast?
And he was kind enough to sayyes, so thanks a lot, tom, for
(00:35):
doing it.
My first question is how didyou get into this profession?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I went with my sister she's a nurse and she had to do
something out of college.
And this is years, you know, 30years ago and in the job fair
they had a whole set out ofthings between x-ray
technologists all the way toradiation therapy, what you
could do in the x-ray field.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So what grabbed you?
What made you decide?
Oh, that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Travelability.
Back then you could get a job,a per diem job, I'm going to say
literally just anywhere in thecountry very easily.
So I solely got into thisbecause I was going to travel
around the country in placesjust in per diems, to see where
I want to settle down throughthe country and did you travel
around the country?
I did not.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I had another blessing instead not a blessing
my daughter oh yeah, of courselife is what happens to you when
you're busy making other plans,sure it?
Speaker 1 (01:30):
was john lennon wrote that upon graduation found out
so that changed the plan right.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
So you're an imaging technologist.
Do you do ct, m, x-rays, all ofthose things?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Correct.
I mainly do CT.
I've done MR in the past andx-ray is where you start with
any of those three modalities.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
What kind of schooling did you have to go
through to become a technologist?
Speaker 1 (01:58):
To enter into one of the programs.
When I went, it was a two-yeardegree.
The pathway was always you wentin, you started an x-ray and
then you learned modalities.
As you were there as a studentand I went to Hudson Valley, you
had weeks where they would sendyou through modalities and you
would see if you you know toacclimate yourself to that.
But it was solely the x-rayprogram that you were graduating
(02:21):
from and then on site, that'swhere you would be learning.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So how long have you been doing it?
30 years.
In school did you have to study?
Because I remember when you didmy CT you had to put me in a
certain position and all of thatDid you have to learn anatomy.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yes, and the anatomy for the x-ray program is.
It's an extensive you know,that's usually what they say,
the harder course, one of of theharder courses because there's
a lot of information.
So you have to learn anatomy toa very good level and the
physics of how radiation workswould be the other hard one for
that.
So you had to learn all thatand positioning.
(02:57):
You did in labs and on site.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
You mentioned radiation.
Are you afraid of gettingoverdose of radiation?
You're doing it every day uh,no, not at all.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
The nuclear medicine has a more of a risk of that
because you're holding somethingthat you could spill or
anything of that nature.
X-ray, it's only if you havethe machine turned on.
There's no radiation there.
That is instantaneous type ofreactions.
And you have a monitoringbadges that you wear that are
checked every 30 days to seewhat accumulating you have done
(03:29):
in your life and how much forthat one period.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
You started with x-ray and how long after you
started did you switch to?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
CT.
Actually, I switched to whatthey call interventional
radiology, that's where they doangiograms of the body, and that
was first, because that was thefirst opening Probably let's
say, six years somewhere inthere where I went into CT.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Do you like it?
Yeah, does the doctor tell youexactly what position to put the
person in CT?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
positioning is a lot easier because there's a lot
less of it.
You're centered on a table.
Okay, x-ray would be differentfor each body part.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
You take the image, you see the image.
If something is wrong, it's thefocus, the resolution or
whatever.
Are you in charge of fixing it?
Yep.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
All techs should know how to fix an image that comes
across.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
By the way, I never see men doing mammogram, do they
do?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
No, that would only when I first got into it you had
to do a rotation through itbecause it's your license and my
entire time.
That's not a job any man wasdid they hire for.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
You need a license to do what you do yes, and you
have to renew it and continuingeducation.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Absolutely.
You have New York State licenseNew York State, florida and I
believe it's still California.
They're the hardest licenses toget, so if you have one there,
different states would honorthat.
And then you have what theycall the art, and that's an
organization that we answer tofor our continuing education,
the art american registryradiologic technologists.
(05:00):
They have added to that so thatif you do modalities you have
to have there's another type ofcredits, like all cq credits
that you have to have for yourspecific modality.
So you have to maintain x-rayand then whatever modality you
also have oh, kind of deal.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And how often do you have to do continuing education?
Every two years, every twoyears?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
yes, it's kind of a hard subject in a way, because
some people are not happy,because a lot of the stuff that
you would learn or not learn isvery specific to where you work.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Did you ever work in a hospital where there's
emergencies?
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Oh yeah, I worked in a hospital 24 years.
Was it more stressful?
I wouldn't say stressful, but alot busier.
At times, when you have yourpatients what they call the
flood you've got to get eachpatient done as quick as you can
without you know, obviouslytaking away quality because
there's a lot more waiting.
Where in an outpatient facility,you have a schedule so it's
(05:53):
easier to follow through withthat even if you get behind or
whatever In a hospital plenty oftimes where there would be a
lot of people come in all atonce.
So you have to be able to getthem done and not have them wait
two hours.
So that part I guess, but youdon't really feel it because
you're busy.
You're so busy getting this onedone and as soon as it's done
you're busy doing the next one.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
If somebody wants to get into this business.
What kind of person would be aperfect person for this kind of
job?
Speaker 1 (06:19):
To start with, there's a few funny things with
it is you cannot be a person whodoes not like touching other
people, starting with x-ray andlearning how to position.
You don't want to beover-touching anyone, but you
have to use your hands at timesin order to get the patient in
the right position, and a lot ofpeople don't like that.
And if you don't like to seewhat can come through an ER,
(06:40):
know that before you're going towork in a hospital or
restrictions of that nature.
One of the big things I see, atleast now even, is when you get
into it you may not always getthe shift you want.
So actually radiology is 24hours a day, so sometimes when
you get out you may have to takea midnight job.
So those are the really mainthings that you have to be okay
(07:00):
with.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's a growing field, right?
Yes, there's a demand for thiskind of jobs.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Yes, the market.
Strangely, right now, with theamount of people come out,
travel is a very big market.
Right now a lot of peoplearen't taking full-time jobs,
they're doing travel technology.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yes you know it's so interesting.
I hear it in differentindustries that the traveling is
the is the best.
What can they make?
Let's talk about money for asecond.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
There are places you're getting paid three grand
a week because, uh, what they dois you have to be over a I.
I think for most places it'slike 50 miles.
Once you're over 50 miles, youget stipends for food, lodging,
there's a few things, and allthat money is non-taxable.
Your base salary is what you'dget in a hospital, maybe a
little bit more, but it's theextra that's not taxable.
(07:45):
That that's where everyone goesfor.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
So how much a beginner, let's say, I just
finished school, I know X-ray, Iknow CT and probably MRI.
Do you make money more on MRI,by the way, than CT?
Speaker 1 (07:57):
It fluctuates with the market.
There was a point in time whereit was where now they're
getting a lot closer back toabout the same.
Okay.
So how much a beginner can makeAround here?
I believe the start and pay isaround like $28 to $32.
That's not bad for starting andhow far can you get?
That's the thing.
You learn modality, you getextra pay for learning a
(08:18):
modality, being gettingcertified in that modality, but
then you have like eveningdifferential pay, overnight
differential pay and that andthat starts adding up quite a
bit.
You take like around heresomeone who's been in it for,
you know, 20 plus years,whatever.
They're probably going to beanywhere from the $40 to $50
range.
Right After the 40 hours youstart getting time and a half
(08:39):
Time and a half yeah, and if youwork holidays and weekends,
that's still, you know time anda half You're supposed to get,
you know lunch and you know yourbreaks and stuff like that.
And yes, and that's what itdoes, but it is healthcare.
So if you can't because saythere's too many people in the
ER, you know it's that day.
They don't, it's just time anda half.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
What is your day like ?
You come in here, you have tofirst check the machine, turn
them on.
How does it?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
work.
I come in, you turn on themachine.
There's a calibration it doesto warm up so it can take the
heat, because an x-ray tubegenerates a lot of machine is
probably a little different inhow they do that.
And then you do a qualityassurance on a phantom and then
you measure that in certainplaces.
Again, it's very simple withthat.
(09:22):
And then, once that's done forthis machine anyway, they do a
longer calibration scanautomatically.
So it just sets the computer upfor the day, and when that's
all set then you're ready to getyour first patient on the table
.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And then it's go, go, go all day long it is.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Then you're making sure the room is stocked.
You have a power injector withcontrast, you got to make sure
that's warm and loaded.
The room is clean for patients,you know, and in-cap.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Right.
So when you take an image, youtake a look at it first and do
you analyze anything?
Oh, you do.
Tell me about it.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
You don't read the image.
That only radiologists can do.
Okay so even if you're doing itfor a while, you do pick up
information and stuff like that,but you cannot interpret that
image because you are not thedoctor, right, but you know what
the doctor needs to see.
So if you're looking at thatimage and you know they're not
getting what they need, you haveto adjust, and that's any tech
has to do.
That it becomes very secondnature, you know, because the
(10:14):
human anatomy doesn't changethat much.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You just have to make sure that you processed image
right for the radiologist.
Is it physically challenging?
It can be.
There is no sit down time, youknow there's no sitting.
And doing x-ray CT you do justwhen you're actually pushing the
button, so to speak, togenerate.
But everything else you'removing around, and I say
especially in the hospital.
You got to move quicker ifthere's a lot of people waiting,
(10:39):
so you're on your feet all daylong.
Yes, and it can be veryphysically demanding moving
patients from stretcher to ontoa table and then back what's the
most common thing people comefor?
ct chest and abdomens for themostly cough fever, anything of
that nature you know, any kind,any kind of breathing.
Obviously you know for lungsand just the myriad of you have
for health problems, whether itbe things like diverticulitis,
(11:00):
if you have kidney stones, ifyour liver's not, your liver
numbers are not right, you know.
So that's the bulk of whatwould come through.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
But anything broken ribs or anything like that
that's x-ray right.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
For a lot of things like, say, a foot, they'll do CT
, because you can take that datathat can be applied to robotics
for surgeries like for kneereplacements or anything of that
nature that they use roboticsfor.
You would need the 3D data forthat to be constructed.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Oh, really, I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yes, if it's a robotic program, Well it needs a
map on where to go.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
So CT can do 3D?
Yes, so what is the differencebetween CT and MRI?
I thought MRI was the 3D and CT2D.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Mr is 3D because you can image in any direction at
all.
Ct you have three points.
You have the X and the Y, likein mathematics, and then you
have the Z axis.
So when you take each image,think of your body like a loaf
of bread.
You can just pull up and seeeach one, but then you can stack
them all together and turn theimage by computer work to form a
(12:01):
3D.
So CT gives you 3D imagingthrough computer.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Do you have to work that computer and create the 3D?
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So you learn the special software that does that.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Did you learn that it's cool?
Or on the job, because it'sdifferent for each machine?
It's different for each machinebecause of proprietary, but
they're not complicated to learn.
And all the images because theynever show the images to the
patient, so I never saw.
But all the images are blackand white, right, they're not
color.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Correct, it's all a shade of gray.
Your eye can pick up 256 shadesof gray, so that's how CT
produces its images.
So it seems white or seemsblack, but that's the shade of
gray that you're at and that'show we can tell the subtlety,
because a lot of your tissuesare the same density and the
only way you can tell one organfrom another is by that slightly
(12:48):
different shade of gray.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Are you able to read the different shades now?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
That's applied by the computer automatically.
You do testing every day,quality assurance tests, to make
sure that the machine isoperating right.
It bases it off plexiglass andwater, so that's a constant.
So if they're always measuringthat right, then all the other
shades are being measured right.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
So the technician would never tell you what they
see in the imaging and when Iget it I'm really curious.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I want to know the answer now.
You never share anything with apatient.
It is so irresponsible to do.
Uh, there's been plenty oftimes in my 30 years that I'm
looking at an image whether itbe an x-ray or a cat scan and I
know what that is, and when yousee the report it's not what you
very much thought it was.
So that's where you really dohave to be careful.
It doesn't mean the techdoesn't know what he's doing.
She doesn't know what he'sdoing, but their interpreting is
a doctor's job because theyhave a depth that you do not.
(13:43):
So it's very important you cantell if there's a bone that's
fractured.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
The bone that fractured is not a big deal
really.
But what if you do a CT and yousee a tumor?
What's your reaction?
Speaker 1 (13:54):
personally.
That's the other hard part withthis kind of job, because when
people ask you you almost haveto have a poker face in a way,
because you don't.
If you start lying to a patientthey can tell and that's what
would devalue the whole job.
You know the whole professionbecause you're not there.
You know for that.
But it's hard to keep when youjust see something that's real
bad and they ask you.
And it's hard to keep when youjust see something that's real
bad and they ask you.
(14:14):
And it's really hard to keepthe care off your face but keep
the right care so you knowyou're still caring about the
patient and let them know thatyou are.
That can be a bit challenging.
And it can be challenging whenyou see something that's really
bad.
There's a sadness to that, verymuch so.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Especially if you've seen them for a couple times and
you know you kind of know themRight.
That's it can be, I can say asa technologist.
At times it can be verytempting to say something you
know, especially if someone'sreally nervous and there's
nothing there or something looksthere, but nothing you should
be worried about.
You almost want to tell them sothat you can just alleviate
(14:49):
that at least, say for a weekendor for a holiday.
It's, you know, right beforeChristmas and they're asking you
, you want to say something.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
So I'm like, have a Merry Christmas or enjoy this
one, because it's hard sometimesto Don't you think AI could
take your job away.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
That's a very good question.
There's possibly, but that'sgoing to be down the road quite
a bit, because even in howradiation is used right now,
it's getting more efficient.
You're able to use less andless.
So when they get to a pointwhere you're using such low dose
radiation, you may not need thespecialty training with it
anymore, because the machine'sgoing to do it.
(15:31):
And then what would run themachine?
Well then, the AI would.
Yes, there's nowhere, so far,that AI can get in there and
take away the job that I do.
That is manual, because you'rewatching the patient.
Where is the patient?
There's no way in a scannerthey could judge all that, yet
they haven't made one of those,not yet.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Yeah, yeah, not yet.
It's a few years down the line.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
What like about the job.
I like the interaction withpeople.
That's why I do it really.
I like the technology that yousee and when you do help people
that are afraid or anything likethat, there's a reward to that.
When you see someone becomfortable when they're leaving
.
They're scared to get into themachine or they're afraid of
moving and you can get them toget the exam done and they're
very thankful.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
And if you're good with children, people who do
that?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Oh you do children too.
See, we don't much here, but Iworked at the hospital, you did,
and when you can do that,that's even more rewarding,
because that's when you see akid leaving smiling.
You know that you did thethings right.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
For them.
One thing that at least theytaught when I went to school,
it's not to return business,it's to have that patient not be
afraid to come.
To go back to any imagingfacility is as important as
getting that image done right soif they need it again, they
won't be afraid to, or theywon't wait too long or things of
that nature.
Right, your day might be busy,but you don't feel like, because
(16:48):
you're not.
You're constantly, in a way,almost uplifted a little bit all
right, tom.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Thank you so much for your time.
Now, probably when I'm going tocome for a CT scan.
Hopefully I will not see you asa CT scan technician ever again
, but I will have more knowledgeif I do come again.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Now you said technician, One of the things
that ART started.
Because they want to betechnologists, people might feel
they don't like being calledtechnicians.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
All right technologists People in my field
.
They don't like being calledtechnicians.
All right technologists.
Oh, manil, thanks a lot.
Thank you for inviting me.
Yes, and I probably will notsee you, hopefully, okay bye.
Okay, that's a wrap for today.
If you have a comment orquestion or would like us to
cover a certain job, please letus know.
(17:35):
Visit our website athowmuchcanimakeinfo.
We would love to hear from youand, on your way out, don't
forget to subscribe and sharethis episode with anyone who is
curious about their next job.
See you next time.
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