The American Society of Radiologic Technologists describes the scope of practice of medical radiography.  The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists requires that candidates for their certification exam have demonstrated specified performance competencies.  Both the scope of practice and the performance competencies involve cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements.  These requirements, therefore, are necessary for participation in a medical radiography program.  Listed below are the essential functions of a medical radiography student.

Medical radiography students should possess and demonstrate the following abilities:

Cognitive:
Ability to be oriented to time, place and person; organize responsibilities and make decisions.  Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment: collect and analyze data to assist in problem solving; identify cause and effect relationship in clinical situations; develop, implement and modify if required, medical radiography exam protocols.

Sensory:
Visual ability sufficient for: observation and assessment of patient general condition and responses in both well and dimly illuminated environments; assess and analyze radiologic image levels of density / brightness, contrast degree and scale and degree of spatial resolution and the adequacy /completeness of diagnostic information present (this includes the ability to visually discriminate between 20% gray-scale differences on a trans-illuminated or CRT displayed image and visually resolve up to ten line-pairs per millimeter.) 

Hearing ability sufficient to: assess and monitor patient sounds such as cries for help, breathing, etc.; monitor alarms, tones and other equipment related auditory signals.

Tactile ability sufficient for: physical assessment which includes palpation including taking pulses and for therapeutic interventions which require tactile ability (e.g. insertion of tubes); assess degree of wetness / dryness of radiographic films

Affective:
Interpersonal abilities sufficient to effect positive interactions with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds (this includes the ability to establish a positive radiographer/patient relationship and a positive rapport with patients, their families as well as with members of the health care team.)

Psychomotor:
Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and to maneuver in small spaces.  Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective medical radiography care such as lifting, moving and positioning patients; moving/using equipment, some of which is suspended approximately six feet from the floor; administer CPR; perform other skills associated with patient care and the production of radiologic images.

If a medical radiography student or applicant believes that he/she cannot meet one or more of the Essential Functions without accommodations or modifications, the Program Director in consultation with the Program Clinical Coordinator and the Director of Student and Alumni Services will determine, on an individual basis, if the necessary accommodations or modifications can be made reasonably without compromising the essential functions.

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