Radiography (SWCC)

Purpose

Graduates of the radiography technology program are prepared to contribute as members of the allied health team, care for patients under the supervision of qualified physicians, and meet requirements for ARRT certification. This program is being provided through an innovative, cooperative agreement with Southwest Virginia Community College. Students will register at MECC for their general education course requirements and register through SWCC for their program courses. The educational experience will be comprised of both classroom instruction and clinical rotations for completing required competency objectives. Classroom instruction incorporates interactive video-teleconferencing between classroom locations. The A.A.S. degree will be awarded by Southwest Virginia Community College. The cooperative Radiologic Technology Program at Southwest Virginia Community College is dedicated to serve students from southwest Virginia and east Tennessee. The Program will provide a quality educational experience in the art and science of radiologic technology and help the students succeed, both academically and clinically, as entry-level radiographers. It is the Program’s aim to provide a sound foundation for our students towards building a rewarding professional career, and an opportunity to qualify as a valued contributing member in the healthcare team for our region.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

• Practice positioning competency.
• Practice the appropriate use of ionizing radiation and protection skills.
• Practice the appropriate use of technical factors for exposure.
• Practice critical thinking/problem solving skills for image quality and acceptability for diagnosis.
• Practice critical thinking/problem solving skills on non-routine patient examinations.
• Practice age appropriate patient communication skills.
• Practice good writing skills.
• Practice good oral skills.
• Practice personal accountability for punctuality and appearance.
• Understand the role of professional organizations in their career development.
• Practice an understanding of professional/legal ethics.
• Practice networking with colleagues/peers within the profession.

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities exist for well-trained, registered radiological technologists in hospitals, clinics, education, industry, government agencies, and private offices.

Program Requirements

An academic advisor will review your preparation in Mathematics and English with you. You’ll be guided to appropriate preliminary coursework to give you the greatest chance of success in this program.

In addition to the general admission requirements to the College, applicants must be high school graduates or the equivalent and must reflect a “C” average. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 must be achieved on all college work. To meet the Radiography Program admission requirements, the applicant must have completed:

• One unit of Biology with lab, one unit of Chemistry with lab with a “C” or better.
• BIO 101 or 20 and CHM 05 or 111 will be considered equivalent to high school Biology and Chemistry. Completion or test credit for MTE 1-6 or proficiency in MTH 154 within the past five years will fulfill the math pre-requisite.
• Completion of a college placement test, which includes sections of reading, writing and mathematics. All prescribed developmental work must be completed before admission into the program.
• Submitted a college and a radiography application (including all high school and college transcripts or copy of GED) to the Admissions Office at SWCC or VHCC.
• Complete the TEAS-AH test in time to submit results to the Admissions Office at SWCC prior to February 15th (must be taken within the past five years).
• Observation in a Radiology Department for a minimum of twelve (12) hours; this observation is to be documented by radiology personnel denoting date(s) and time(s); and be submitted to donna.corns@sw.edu.
• Attend a general information session.
• Because entry into this program is competitive, students must complete the application process with the Admissions Office at SWCC by no later than February 15th.

Additional Information

Accreditation

This program is fully accredited, with an 8 year award, by the Joint Review Committee for Radiologic Technology Education (JRCERT), 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, Illinois, 60606-3182, phone (312)704-5300.  You may also contact JRCERT at mail@jrcert.org or at www.jrcert.org.  Detailed Program Effectiveness Data is available from the link on the right side of the page.  The JRCERT also publishes program effectiveness data, available at www.jrcert.org/program-effectiveness-data.

Environmental Conditions

Environmental conditions include procedures that involve handling blood and body fluids using universal precautions.

Program Requirements

Upon admission and during the course of the program, the radiologic faculty will carefully observe and evaluate the student’s suitability for the profession. If, in the opinion of the radiologic faculty, a student does not exhibit professional behavior, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program.

Once enrolled, students who receive a final grade lower than “C” in any of the courses in radiography or related areas must obtain permission from the program director to continue the major in radiography. The Radiography Curriculum grading scale is as follows: A:94-100; B:87-93; C:80-86; D: 73-79; F: below 73.

Selected learning experiences will be provided at the cooperating hospitals within the geographic areas served by the college. The student is expected to provide transportation to such facilities. Travel, time and expense, must be anticipated because of program design and location. Travel distance will vary, and can be more than 60 miles one way from your home campus, depending on the hospital clinical assignment. Travel distance will vary from 1-60 miles one way from your home campus depending on the hospital clinical assignment. The program cannot guarantee clinical placement close to all students’ homes. Students will rotate to a minimum of two clinical sites, at different locations during the clinical component of the program. Students are required to provide proof of health insurance.

Clinical Affiliates are located at the following facilities.

• Bristol Regional Medical Center; Bristol, TN
• Buchanan General Hospital; Grundy, VA
• New River Valley Medical Center; Christiansburg, VA
• Tazewell Community Hospital; Tazewell, VA
• Clinch Valley Medical Center; Richlands, VA
• Holston Valley Medical Center; Kingsport, TN
• Johnston Memorial Hospital; Abingdon, VA
• Lewis Gale Hospital; Pulaski, VA
• Lonesome Pine Hospital; Lebanon, VA
• Russell County Hospital; Lebanon, VA
• Smyth County Community Hospital; Marion, VA
• Twin County Regional Hospital; Galax, VA
• Wythe County Community Hospital; Wytheville, VA

The purchase of and payment for items (such as:  student uniforms, accessories, radiographic markers, dosimetry radiation monitoring service, club dues, state affiliation membership, educational software, Clinical requirement document management account, HIPAA training, Clinical tracking account, personal health insurance, liability insurance, required immunizations, physical examinations, background checks, drug screens, American Heart Association CPR certification fee, and ARRT licensure/certification application fee) is the responsibility of the individual student.  Students are required to provide proof of health insurance at least annually while enrolled in the program.

Criminal Background Check/Drug Screening

Background checks for criminal history and sex offender crimes against minors are required for entrance into some clinical agencies. Students with convictions may be prohibited from clinical practice and may not complete the program. Clinical agencies may require drug testing prior to placement of students for clinical rotations. Students with positive drug test results may be prohibited from clinical practice and may not complete the program. Cost for criminal background checks and drug testing will be the responsibility of the student.

TEAS-AH Information

• TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) AH (Allied Health) entrance testing: Applicants must complete all sections of the TEAS AH test. The individualized adjusted score will be calculated into the overall points rubric for admission.
• TEAS AH or TEAS scores must be attached to the application and submitted to Enrollment Services at SWCC or VHCC  (the campus on which you plan on applying for the Radiography Program).
• TEAS AH or TEAS scores must also be emailed to donna.corns@sw.edu.
• Scheduling a TEAS AH or TEAS examination: Go to www.mecc.edu/testing and click on the TEAS AH registration form  link. Complete this form to register for a date and time to take the TEAS AH assessment. After you submit the form, you will receive  an Outlook Calendar invitation within 48 hours.
• Students can choose to submit previous completed TEAS AH testing scores. Testing scores must be completed and dated with in the last five (5) years. (We will also accept TEAS test scores used for nursing program applications).
• Testing fee: $58.00 (price for testing subject to change).
• Paying for TEAS AH testing: Fees for TEAS testing must be paid by credit card, debit card, or prepaid card in the Student Services Testing Center. Please bring one of these methods of payment with you on the day of your test. Student Services staff will assist test takers in processing online payment.
• Study guides for the TEAS test can be found online at www.atitesting.com , www.uniontestprep.com/teas and the Wampler Library on MECC campus. Other resources may be found online using the search term: TEAS study guides.