Skip to main content

Interprofessional Awareness


The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is the governing body for certification and licensure for radiologic technologists. Within their governing body there are a specific Standard of Ethics that we must follow while practicing.

Article three of the ARRT Standards of Ethics states that the radiologic technologist should deliver care that is unrestricted by concerns of the patient's attributes, color, illness, religion, origin, gender, marital status, disability, orientation, veteran status, age or any other legally protected bias. 1 The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care have a similar statement written in their code. One that states workers should provide effective, equal, respectful care that is cohesive to diverse cultures, beliefs, practices, language, literacy and other communication needs. 2. By comparison these are similar articles. Both state that regardless of the patients orientation of language, gender, or beliefs, the standard of care should be upheld across the board.

Article ten of the ARRT Standards of Ethics states that the radiologic technologist should strive to improve knowledge and skills by participating in continuing educations and activities to further the aspects of successful profession practice.1 Similarly, article four of CLAS states that health care entities should educate and train in culturally and linguistically appropriate practice policies in an ongoing basis. 2 Each of these articles are similar in that they promote continuing education in order to provide an appropriate climate for our patients. Furthering our knowledge of our practice base is essential in providing ethically sound health care.

By contrast, there is the third article within CLAS that states that the workforce and leadership should be culturally diverse and linguistically appropriate in accordance with the population that is being served.2 The ARRT's Standards of Ethics have no mention of this. Although I agree with the CLAS policy, I think it would be difficult to find radiology techs that are skilled in various languages. Try as they may to recruit and employ those techs, it would come at a high cost to do so. However, maintaining some multi-cultural education and exposure could be added into the requirement for continuing education, perhaps one catered to the population served in the area.




Sources:

1. American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Code of Ethics. https://www.arrt.org/docs/default-source/governing-documents/arrt-standards-of-ethics.pdf?sfvrsn=c79e02fc_16. Published September 1, 2018. Accessed July 8th, 2019.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care. https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/. Accessed July 5th, 2019

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Take Away

If you ever want to know where you lack in cultural competency, I highly recommend taking the Providers Guide to Quality and Culture Quiz.  Here I thought I was on the right track but it turns out I have a lot of room to grow. Which is a good thing. Because it only means I'll be more of an asset and an ally to those who need it most.  Based on my results of the quiz, and upon reviewing the course competencies I have set three learning goals for myself.  1. Keep the patient cultural views in mind FIRST . * Often I approach a difference on my terms first (dominant culture), and then adjust from there. I think an approach that takes into an account of the patients cultural terms first, would be more beneficial. Once I know more about their cultural outlook on the exam, I can do a better job of changing my techniques to serve them. 2. Do more independent study and observing of other cultures. *I am a white suburban mom. I know very little about other cultures, unfortunately. I
Post a Comment
Read more

How Do My Beliefs Affect My Job

Providing patient care is the most complicated for me when I know the patient is non-compliant, or when the illness is self inflicted due to negligence. It is hard to do my job and do it well, when I know that the patient is either unappreciative or suspicious about what I'm doing anyway. As I've been in health care for longer and longer I've gotten more proficient at not letting this bother me.  I do my job to the best of my ability regardless of who I'm taking care of. That is not always easy - and in some instances it's downright frustrating. Some examples are: I often x-ray diabetic patient's feet post amputation. Often these patients are over weight and have knows for an extended length of time that they need to get their glucose levels in check. It's hard for me show a lot of compassion for these patients. I absolutely have compassion for them, but it doesn't come as easily - knowing that their health problems are often a byprodu
Post a Comment
Read more

Who Am I?

A brief introduction to who I am: I'm Nicole Owens. I'm a radiology and mammo tech. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. I work full time, plus usually overtime if available. I am married and have five children. Yes. Five. That's not a typo. Four boys and one girl. My husband and I are busy, to say the least. There are days where I question just about every decision I've ever made (including the decision to go back to school!). And other days where I wouldn't change a thing. In addition to the chaos that is five kids, we also have two dogs and a cat and a fish. If there was any question as to whether or not I'm sane, there's your answer. I'm not. Would any sane full time working mother of five, with two dogs and cat go back to school to finish her bachelors?? No. Only crazy people do that kind of thing! I have a very deep and profound love of learning. And 10 years into my career as a rad/mammo tech I found myself yearning for something more. I look into
Post a Comment
Read more