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Society of Radiologic Technologists 15000 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-3917 CURRICULA REVISED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN RADIOGRAPHY, RADIATION THERAPY Radiography and radiation therapy students who start school this fall might have a different educational experience from their predecessors who graduated only a year earlier. That’s because the way people learn radiography and radiation therapy will change slightly during the next few years, thanks to recent revisions to the educational curricula their instructors use. In September, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists will mail revised copies of the 127-page Radiography Curriculum and the 156-page Radiation Therapy Professional Curriculum on CD-ROM to the director of each accredited educational program in the United States. The Radiography Curriculum was last revised in 1993 and the Radiation Therapy Professional Curriculum was last updated in 1997. “Think of the changes in patient care that have occurred and the new equipment and procedures that have been introduced since the last time these curricula were revised,” said Kevin Powers, ASRT director of education. “The two new curricula reflect the changing health care environment and are based on the latest data relevant to the radiologic science profession.” Curricula outline the essential components an educational program should contain. They serve as a blueprint for educators to follow in designing their programs and in ensuring that their programs match the profession’s standards. In the radiologic sciences, educators not only must teach the essential clinical skills that employers expect of graduates, but also must ensure that students will be prepared to take certification examinations offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The revised curricula were designed to satisfy both requirements. The revised curricula are the product of more than two years of work by two separate ASRT project teams comprised of educators from across the country. To update the curricula, each team analyzed the results of 1999 studies performed by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, N.J. The ETS studies identified specific clinical skills and knowledge areas that radiographers and radiation therapists should have upon entering the profession. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology also contributed to the curricula revisions, and each project team sought additional input from the professional community through meetings, open forums and electronic communications. The result is the most comprehensive, up-to-date curricula possible, said Mr. Powers. He noted that both of the new curricula have an increased emphasis on critical thinking skills. “Advances in technology and employer expectations demand more independent judgment by radiographers and radiation therapists,” he explained. “Critical thinking skills must be fostered, developed and assessed in the educational process.” New subject areas in the entry-level radiography curriculum focus on digital/computed radiography, the health care environment and the ethical considerations of genetic research. Also new is a section on human diversity. “This section is designed to promote a better understanding of professional peers, as well as patients and their families,” said Gregory Ferenchak, R.T.(R)(QM), chairman of the ASRT Radiography Curriculum Revision Project Group. “The content covers value systems, cultural and ethnic influences, socioeconomic influences, health risks and life stages.” Mr. Ferenchak is coordinator of the radiography program at Miami-Dade Community College in Miami, Fla. Other units in the radiography curriculum include ethics and law, patient care, radiographic procedures, imaging and processing, imaging analysis, radiation protection, radiobiology, radiographic pathology and pharmacology and drug administration. Although the radiography curriculum is designed for use in certificate or associate degree programs, it “offers a foundation for individual lifelong learning and transition to baccalaureate level studies,” noted Mr. Ferenchak. The professional-level curriculum for radiation therapy features new content on sectional anatomy, radiation therapy in the health care market and clinical practice. The professional-level curriculum is designed for baccalaureate degree programs. “In addition to the new areas, we also reorganized or retitled many sections of the curriculum and eliminated outdated content,” said Stephanie Eatmon, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(T), FASRT, chairman of the Radiation Therapy Curriculum Revision Project Group. Ms. Eatmon is director of the radiation therapy program at California State University, Long Beach. Subject areas in the radiation therapy curriculum include patient care, radiation protection, pathology, radiation physics, quality management, treatment planning, principles and practice of radiation therapy and operational issues in radiation therapy. “Educators who follow this curriculum will ensure that their graduates are prepared not only to sit for the ARRT certification examination, but to perform their duties competently and accurately in the clinical setting,” said Ms. Eatmon. Educational programs in the radiologic sciences must follow a “recognized and accepted” curriculum in order to receive accreditation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The JRCERT currently accredits 582 radiography programs and 71 radiation therapy programs nationwide. “The JRCERT Board of Directors will establish an implementation timetable for the new curricula at its Oct. 17-20 meeting,” said JRCERT Chief Executive Officer Joanne Greathouse, Ed.S., R.T.(R), FASRT. “Then the JRCERT will communicate the timetable to program directors so they will know when our reviewers will start using the new curricula to evaluate programs.” The Radiography Curriculum and the Radiation Therapy Professional Curriculum are available on the ASRT Web site, www.asrt.org. |
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