WCTC lab gets X-ray equipment

Douglasville, GA - May 8, 2007

Douglas County Sentinel, By Staff Writer Winston Jones

West Central Technical College (WCTC) radiologic technology students have always been taught the skills they need for licensing in their field. However, on Monday, the program got an added benefit – real, live X-ray equipment for the radiologic lab. This equipment is similar to what they will use in their careers in hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices. The lab originally used “dummy” X-ray equipment, which resembled the real thing, but wasn’t energized to deliver real X-rays.

The new radiologic technology lab was dedicated at an 11 a.m. Tuesday open house attended by students, WCTC officials and community visitors. “This energized lab is state-of-the-art, what hospitals are currently using,” said Paige Saylors, radiologic technology program director and instructor. “It uses PACS (picture archiving communications system) to record images digitally and display them on a computer screen.” The new $225,000 system includes the X-ray machinery, lead-shielded room, PACS computer software and a phantom body for students use. The digital system eliminates the need for X-ray film and developing chemicals.

“This phantom contains every part of the human body and is anatomically correct,” Saylors said. The system is equipped to record X-ray images on compact disc (CD) and provide remote site access. The equipment was supplied by RADInfo Systems, a major supplier of filmless, digital imaging systems for the medical industry. It was installed by R&F Imaging Systems, Inc. of Marietta. “This equipment is the most advanced radiologic training equipment in the state,” said Dr. Skip Sullivan, WCTC president. “This is what the students need to move into the workforce.”

WCTC’s radiologic technology training is a 24-month degree program to teach students to operate X-ray and other medical diagnostic imaging equipment. In addition to classroom and lab training, the students must complete clinical work at a participating hospital or clinic. Students completing the course receive associate of applied technology (AAT) degrees. They are eligible to become registered radiographers through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). The WCTC radiologic technology program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (www.jrcert.org).

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