Verified Document

Radiology Past Present And Future Research Paper

¶ … Future of Radiology and X-Ray Technologists By tracing the historical development of radiography as a distinct field of diagnostic treatment, along with the evolving role of X-ray technologists in the delivery of quality health care within the public hospital/private practice model, it is possible to identify the attributes of this field that make it a foundational science within the practice of modern medicine. The ever-expanding ranks of X-ray technologists now serve a variety of essential functions within the health care delivery system, assisting in the cutting edge diagnostic assessment process that has improved patient acuity rates so drastically since the discovery of X-rays in the late 19th century. This paper will trace the development of radiography, radiology, and X-ray technologists within the medicinal realm, including a review of the field's past, present and future and the implications of this science for the further improvement of positive patient outcomes through preventative medicine.

Introduction

As the medical profession gains a greater understanding of the various approaches to healthcare delivery, the concept of segmenting the services proscribed to a patient into primary, secondary, and tertiary care has emerged as one of the most useful advancements in the field. The preventative measures advocated by proponents of primary health care (PHC) are designed to improve a patient's quality of life in such a way as to reduce or eliminate their prospects of becoming ill or injured. Among the fundamental precepts of PHC are the administration of immunizations to guard against viruses and other contagious infections, the development of a nutritious...

The increasingly prevalent use of radiology as a fundamental technique within the delivery of PHC has been documented by a number of empirical statistical studies, and on average "radiology was requested for 12% of patients seen: males 39.40% and women 60.59% & #8230; (and) the radiological findings caused 18.72% of doctors to change their therapeutic approach or diagnostic opinion, with mammographies (38.46%), barium meals (35.29%) and abdominal ecographies (31.57%) representing the most effective radiological investigations in terms of relevant findings" (Nicolas & Fernando, 1996). The evolution of radiology as a branch of medical science, and the ever-expanding role of X-ray technologists in modern hospitals and health care centers, warrant further study in order to ascertain the importance of this field during the past, present and future.
Radiology's Past

During the twilight of the 19th century, the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen detected for the first time a curious form of radiation that, while passing readily through clothing and human tissue, remained unable to penetrate bone, metal and other solid matter. While Rontgen's discovery of what he termed the "X-ray" in 1895 was significant in its own right -- as evidenced by Rontgen's reception of the Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering research -- the work of contemporaries like the English surgeon John Hall-Edwards and professor of medicine Gilman Frost soon made it clear that the study of X-rays and the emerging field…

Sources used in this document:
References

Fouras, A., Kitchen, M.J., Dubsky, S., Lewis, R.A., Hooper, S.B., & Hourigan, K. (2009). The

past, present, and future of x-ray technology for in vivo imaging of function and form. Journal of Applied Physics, 105(10), 102009-102009.

Knechtges, P.M., & Carlos, R.C. (2007). The evolving role of radiologists within the health care system. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 4(9), 626-635.

Nicolas, D., & Fernando, P.M. (1996). Analysis of the use of radiology in primary health care. Atencion primaria/Sociedad Espanola de Medicina de Familia y
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Radiology Data and Natural Language Processing
Words: 5291 Length: 14 Document Type: Term Paper

Harnessing Unstructured Data in Radiology The harnessing of unstructured data is vital to moving the field of radiology forward. There are methods used for the mining of unstructured data, with one of the most common being Natural Language Processing (NLP). However, there are some difficulties with the use of NLP in the radiology field, because NLP lacks the capacity to analyze free-text radiology reports and images. There is too much uncertainty

Radiology and Cyberspace the Creation of 'Cyberspace,'
Words: 3041 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

Radiology and Cyberspace The creation of 'cyberspace,' or the sharing of information through email, on the Internet and on websites, has had a profound impact on nearly every field of human endeavor. Medical science, and particularly Radiology, has been particularly affected and enhanced by new technology. Radiology, by its very nature, has always been a leader in the use of emerging technology in the medical field. Now, new technology developed during

The Future of Healthcare Technology
Words: 2029 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

Role of HIT in Healthcare Planning Healthcare information technology (HIT) is one of the greatest disruptive forces that will affect vision and planning over the next decade. However, regardless of the technology that is developed, it must be supported and executed by hospital leadership to be successful. Currently, research is underway for the use of artificial intelligence, supercomputing, and clinical support systems in the healthcare environment. This research will explore how

Future Legislation: The Impact on
Words: 3829 Length: 14 Document Type: Thesis

The independent physician groups and hospitals provide services under the organization's guidelines, but they may also care for patients who are not members. (1997) While managed care does offer employers more control in choosing the specifics of the health care plan provision at the same time the insurance companies and the profit-drive health-care organizations possess a strong role. Opponents of the government having a primary role in health care financing

Healthcare in Saudi Arabia Project
Words: 13191 Length: 40 Document Type: Research Proposal

Lack of accountability, transparency and integrity, ineffectiveness, inefficiency and unresponsiveness to human development remain problematic (UNDP). Poverty remains endemic in most Gulf States with health care and opportunities for quality education poor or unavailable, degraded habitats including urban pollution and poor soil conditions from inappropriate farming practices. Social safety nets are also entirely inadequate and all form part of the nexus of poverty that is widely prevalent in Gulf countries.

Digital Imaging in the Hospital
Words: 2187 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

It uses a great deal of expensive and cutting-edge technology, and none of this is cheap. While DR can do a great deal for a hospital radiology department, that department also must have the funds available to support what needs to be purchased and accomplished where DR is concerned if the department chooses to use this technology. Image Quality Image quality, other than cost, is quite probably the largest issue that

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now