Radiologic Technology - DMIR.AS

Accreditation and Program Effectiveness

The program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) www.jrcert.org/. 

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3182
312-704-5300     FAX: 312-704-5304  mail@jrcert.org

Most Recent Site Visit: July 2017, full 8 year accreditation awarded 

Copies of the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Radiographer are available from the office of the program director.

Program Effectiveness Data

The following is the most current program effectiveness data. Our programmatic accreditation agency, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), defines and publishes this information. Click here to go directly to the JRCERT webpage.

Credentialing Examination: The number of students who pass, on the first attempt, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification examination, or an unrestricted state licensing examination, compared with the number of graduates who take the examination within six months of graduation. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Job Placement: The number of graduates employed in the radiologic sciences compared to the number of graduates actively seeking employment in the radiologic sciences within twelve months of graduating. The five-year average benchmark established by the JRCERT is 75%.

Program Completion: The number of students who complete the program within the stated program length. The annual benchmark established by the program is 75%.

Program Goals

Program Goals

1. Students will effectively utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

1.1. Students will evaluate images for diagnostic quality.

1.2. Students will modify imaging parameters for non-routine procedures.

1.3. Students will demonstrate critical thinking through problem solving exercises.

2. Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

2.1. Students will communicate effectively with patients.

2.2. Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.

2.3. Students will demonstrate effective listening skills.

3. Students will be clinically competent.

3.1. Students will demonstrate proper positioning skills.

3.2. Students will employ appropriate radiation protection.

3.3. Students will apply appropriate technical factors.

3.4. Students will demonstrate effective patient care.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Radiologic Technology Program:

At Springfield Technical Community College, the Radiologic Technology Program’s mission is to educate radiologic technology students in the knowledge and skills to become qualified, professional practitioners who provide quality service and care to the community. In addition to the education in radiologic technology, the program, in conjunction with Springfield Technical Community College, offers a base of liberal arts education courses designed to broaden intellectual perspectives, stress ethical and humane values and prepare students to be productive and responsible citizens who adequately respond to diverse populations with respect to age, social, cultural and economic conditions.

Upon completion of the Radiologic Technology program from Springfield Technical Community College, graduates will be awarded an Associate in Science degree and will be eligible to apply for the National Board Examination in Radiologic Technology administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program, the student will demonstrate the following at the required performance level.

1. Anticipate and provide basic care and comfort for all patients while in radiology’s care.

2. Recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate first aid and CPR as indicated.

3. Educate the patient about radiologic procedures and services.

4. Practice radiation protection for the patient, self and others.

5. Demonstrate knowledge of human structure, function and pathology.

6. Operate radiographic equipment and accessory devices.

7. Position the patient and imaging system to perform radiographic examinations and procedures on patients of all ages and abilities.

8. Determine exposure factors to obtain diagnostic quality radiographs with minimum radiation exposure based on knowledge of x-ray production and interactions.

9. Exercise independent judgment and discretion in the technical performance of medical imaging procedures consistent with uniform standards of patient care.

10. Proficiency when modify imaging parameters for non- routine procedures.

11. Demonstrate knowledge and skill demonstrating critical thinking in relating to quality assurance by evaluating the performance of radiographic systems, safe operation of equipment and proper reporting of equipment malfunctions.

12. Evaluate medical images for diagnostic quality.

13. Process radiographs.

14. Use listening, non-verbal, oral and written medical communications in patient care and professional relationships.

15. Practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice for the profession.

16. Practice in accordance with OSHA safety regulations.

17. Practice in accordance with the assigned clinical facility’s rules and regulations.

18. Operate computers as needed to accomplish the imaging, information management, and financial responsibilities of the radiographer.

19. Conduct him/herself in a professional manner representative of educational background, goals, and professional growth to potential employers.

20. Students will graduate, pass the ARRT certification exam and gain employment or continue their education

21. Graduates will indicate program satisfaction.

22. Clinical sites will indicate satisfaction with student graduates

Applying to this Program

• All applications for consideration for acceptance into the program should be received by the Admissions Office no later than March 31 of the application year. 
• Fall start only, day program
• This is a competitive program, a maximum of 20 students are accepted each fall.  Student applications will be evaluated and scored based on the admission pre-requisites as noted below.

Admission Prerequisites:

• Proof of High School transcript, GED or HISET

• English
  • Completion of 4 yrs. of high school English (grade of C or higher); OR
  • Placement examination score  at ENG-101  level: OR
  • Successful completion of ENG-095  or a college level English (grade of C or higher)
• Math
  • Completion of Technical Math 1 (MAT-124 ) (grade of C or higher within 5 years) OR
  • If completing Math requirement outside of STCC, a 4 credit Pre-Calculus course from an accredited college with a grade of C or higher within 5 years (one of these is needed to meet pre-requisite requirements for Physics 213/213L)
• Medical Terminology
  •  Completion of Medical Terminology MED-100   (grade of C or higher); OR
  •  Passing score on  the STCC MED-100  challenge exam
•  Biology
  • Effective for Fall 2022 applicants, completion of a college level Anatomy & Physiology 1 with a lab (such as BIO 231/231L) (grade of C or higher within 5 years) will be the REQUIRED Biology prerequisite
• Chemistry
  • Completion of high school Chemistry with a lab (grade C or higher, within 5 years); OR
  • Completion of a college level Chemistry with a lab  (grade C or higher, within 5 years)
• Admission Checklist
  • In order to strengthen your application, it is strongly recommended you submit this document along with all other requirements.
  • Select one of the following two options:
    • Paper Checklist (click here to download/print, can be submitted by mail or email to Admissions Office)  OR
    • Electronic (E-FORM) Checklist (to be completed and submitted online) 
      • STCC students (currently enrolled) click here for the electronic/online checklist
      • Potential students (not currently enrolled at STCC) click here for the electronic/online checklist

Notes:

• Mid-semester grades for prerequisite and required spring courses will be considered. Students requesting consideration for course work being performed outside of STCC must submit a mid-term grade report to the Admissions office along with their application. Correspondence can be emailed to admissions@stcc.edu

• Conditional acceptances will be given for applicants who have incomplete courses in the spring semester. The condition will state what final grade must be earned to gain full acceptance. Students not meeting stated conditions will not be granted admission to the program.

•  Program Length and Hours: The curriculum includes a summer session, (May- August, 12 weeks of 40 hours/week)

• Programmatic Technical Standards: Students with disabilities must be able to meet the technical standards of the program with reasonable accommodations as defined by the ADA.  

• Applicants who have completed and/or meet the following criteria will strengthen their application:
  • Anatomy & Physiology 2, (B or higher, within 5 years)
  • College-level English Composition 1 & 2 (B or higher)
  • Students currently enrolled AND/OR who have completed 12 credits of liberal arts/general education and science courses at STCC.
  • Work experience in health related field/customer service experience, please submit the Healthcare Experience Verification Form  with your application.

Applying for Re-Admission to this Program

If a student leaves a health program for any reason, and intends to re-enter the following academic year into the semester in which they left, the student must follow the readmission process as outlined in the School of Health & Patient Simulation Readmission Policy. 

Click here  to see full policy and procedures.

The student seeking readmission to a health program must submit a Letter of Intent to Return, to the Dean of Health & Patient Simulation Office (Building 20/Room 320) and to the Program Director, by November 16 for consideration for return in the spring semester, and by February 1 for consideration for return in the fall semester. These dates may change from year to year.

If a student intends to return to a health program after one full academic year has passed, the student must apply as a new applicant through the college admissions website https://www.stcc.edu/apply/.  

All students must follow the readmission policy and guidelines of their specific department/program.

Additional Requirements for Accepted Students

Deposit: If offered admission, a non-refundable $50.00 deposit will be required to secure your acceptance to this Program.

Mandatory Health Records:  All required health records, immunizations, and physicals MUST be filed in the STCC Health and Wellness Center by July 1 of the admission year. The Health and Wellness Center is located in Building 19 Room 177 (413-755-4230). For additional information and required forms please visit the Health and Wellness Center website at http://www.stcc.edu/healthservices. The college/program reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting, as well as not submitting, all post-admission requirements in a timely manner. 

Background Check: College programs involving potentially unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, including fieldwork (a clinical affiliation, internship, externship, or field placement) with a private or public healthcare provider or daycare provider, will be required to undergo state-wide and/or national criminal background checks, including but not limited to: Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI), Seven (7) year residential Search, and FBI Fingerprinting checks. The purpose of the background check is to ensure a safe and protective environment for all clients, particularly members of vulnerable populations.

Students choosing not to consent to the required background checks will be ineligible to participate in fieldwork involving vulnerable populations. Ineligibility to participate in fieldwork may affect a student’s ability to successfully complete the program.

Based upon the results of the background checks, a student may be deemed ineligible to participate in academic or clinical activities, which may impact a student’s ability to successfully complete program requirements. Background checks are reviewed by the College’s CORI Board. The CORI Board determines eligibility to participate in academic and/or clinical activities. Students have the right to appeal the determination of the CORI Board by filing a written appeal with the Vice President of Student and Multicultural Affairs within 10 business days of receiving the CORI Board’s determination.

Furthermore, please be advised that eligibility to participate in College academic and/or clinical activities following a background check does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a professional credentialing examination(s) or for employment upon program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the certification or licensure board for a particular healthcare or other service profession to determine the standards that must be met for credentialing, licensing and/or employment in that field.

Programmatic Technical Standards: Technical Standards reflect performance abilities and essential skills that a student must demonstrate in order to successfully complete the requirements of a specified program.  These Standards must be satisfied by all students in all aspects of the program, with or without reasonable accommodations, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including in the classroom, laboratories, and externship. If you are an individual with a documented disability who seeks reasonable accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services at (413) 755-4785 or stop by Building 19, Room 141 as soon as practicable for information concerning the College’s accommodation process. Additional information can also be found on the Office of Disability Service’s website: https://www.stcc.edu/resources/academic-support/ods/. Please note that Program Technical Standard forms found in your admission acceptance packet must be submitted to the Health and Wellness Center by July 1. The Health and Wellness Center is located in Building 19, Room 177 and can be reached at (413) 755-4230.  

Drug Screening:The School of Health & Patient Simulation is committed to providing high quality education and excellent clinical experiences to students in the health professions. Students are expected to perform at their highest functional level during all educational and clinical experiences in order to maximize the learning environment and ensure patient safety. Thus a student’s performance at all times must be free of any impairment caused by prescription or non-prescribed drugs including alcohol, marijuana, and cannabis-derived products. Students enrolling in Health Professions programs are required to undergo and pass a drug screening analysis in order to be eligible for placement in a clinical facility. STCC student program fees cover the cost of this screening. Additional scheduled and random drug and/or alcohol screenings may be required depending upon clinical facility and/or program guidelines. 

Students who are notified of a negative-dilute result will submit to an observed urine drug test within 24 hours of the previous test (or soonest appointment made available to STCC Health Compliance by the testing agency) in order to confirm the negative or positive finding status of the drug screening. If a student continues to receive a negative-dilute or inconclusive drug screening result, the subsequent drug test will be of the hair collection method until a conclusive negative or positive result is confirmed.

Students with a positive drug screening may challenge the results by filing a written appeal to the College’s Director of Health Compliance within five (5) business days of notification of the test results. An appeal by a student who claims that the positive test was due to a prescription drug and was unable to clarify this matter with the medical review officer (MRO) from the drug testing lab shall include evidence from a health care provider of the type of prescription, dates of permissible use and dosage amounts. Students may be responsible to pay for additional drug screening conducted as part of an appeal. Students excluded from a program due to a positive screening, failure to submit appeal, denied appeal, or refusal to submit to a screening may re-apply for re-entry into a program after one year. Requests for re-admission will be considered on a case by case basis and in accordance with the program criteria.

Clinical Assignments- Accepted students will be responsible for their own transportation to a variety of clinical facilities (which may or may not be accessible by public transportation.) Clinical hours may deviate from college hours. Clinical rotations may be scheduled during evenings, nights and weekends and may include up to 12-hour shifts. There is a summer “intensive” clinical rotation of 40 hours per week for 12 weeks.

Student Liability Insurance-Accepted students will be required to maintain Student Liability Insurance throughout their enrollment in the program. Detailed information will be provided during the program mandatory orientation and in the student handbook.
HEALTH PROGRAM LATEX POLICY  

Student Handbook

The Radiologic Technology Student Handbook can be viewed here.

Program Requirements and Advancement

• Minimum Grade Requirements: To continue in the progression of courses offered in the Radiography program a student must achieve a minimum grade of “C” (73)  or better in all courses. Student not meeting the minimum grade requirement will be withdrawn from the program. Failure in an affiliation course will result in dismissal from the program. Grades lower than “C” (73) will not be accepted for transfer credit.

• Graduates of this accredited program are eligible to take the national certification exam administered by American Registry of Radiologic Technologist, (ARRT)

• Students must adhere to the strict attendance policy in lecture, lab and clinical practicum in order to graduate.

(DMIR.AS) Curriculum

Program Personnel