RT Program Details: Clinical Education

Penn Medicine is committed to providing a comprehensive clinical education experience essential to prepare a student for entry into the radiologic technology profession. The clinical curriculum is composed of six sequentially linked competency-based clinical education courses that increase in complexity and requirements. Compliance with all handbook policies is required. Grades in clinical courses will be lowered to reflect lack of adherence to clinically related policies. Specific details of the clinical curriculum are in the clinical syllabi and in the Master Plan of Education in the Program Director's office. Clinical syllabi are provided to the student at the commencement of each clinical course.

Clinical Education Assignment

The program Clinical Coordinator or designee assigns students to specific clinical areas. These assignments provide students with the volume and variety of clinical experiences to progress successfully through the program.

The clinical education settings of the program include:

Clinical rotations include:

  • Inpatient Radiology
  • Outpatient Radiology
  • Mobile Radiography
  • Surgical Radiography
  • Emergency/Trauma Radiography
  • Gastrointestinal/Genitourinary Radiology
  • Computed Tomography
  • DEXA Scanning
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Neurovascular Radiology
  • Mammography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pediatric Radiography

Elective rotations include:

  • 3-D Imaging Lab
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • PET-CT
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Radiology Assistant/Radiology Practitioner Assistant
  • Ultrasound
  • Veterinary Medicine

Student Supervision Policy

  1. Supervision of Students – Direct/Indirect

    IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT REVIEW COMMITTEE STANDARDS, THE POLICY FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUPERVISION IS AS FOLLOWS AND IS TO BE FOLLOWED WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

    Direct Supervision is defined as student supervision by a qualified practitioner, who reviews the procedure in relation to the student's achievement, evaluates the condition of the patient in relation to the student's knowledge, is present during the procedure, and reviews and approves the procedure.

    Direct supervision exists when the student has a technologist present in the room or control area when the patient is exposed to ionizing radiation.

    At a minimum, direct supervision is used:

    1. when the student has not yet successfully completed a competency test on the particular exam being performed,
    2. whenever a repeat radiograph is being performed,
    3. when a student is in the first year of the program before and after the successful completion of a competency test.

    Indirect Supervision is defined as student supervision provided by a qualified practitioner immediately available to assist the student regardless of the level of student achievement. Immediately available is interpreted as the physical presence of a qualified practitioner adjacent to the room or location where a radiographic procedure is being performed. This availability applies to all areas where ionizing radiation equipment is in use.

    Indirect supervision may used:

    1. only after the student has successfully completed a competency test on the particular examination,
    2. only during the second year of the program.

    Repeat Radiographs constitute a situation in which a particular responsibility for patient welfare exists. It is program policy that if a student at any time, for any reason repeats a radiograph, DIRECT SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED. THERE IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS POLICY.

    FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS POLICY WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

    Policy for Performance of Mobile Radiography
    This policy is designed to ensure student and patient safety during the performance of any mobile radiographic procedure (i.e., emergency room, operating room, patient room, etc.).

    The policy is as follows:

    The student may begin to observe, assist, and perform mobile radiography, excluding operating room procedures, during Fall Semester of Year One after classroom instruction.

    The student may begin to observe, assist, and perform operating room radiography in the spring semester of Year One.

    DIRECT SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY MOBILE OR OPERATING ROOM RADIOGRAPHIC PROCEDURE REGARDLESS OF THE STUDENT'S COMPETENCY LEVEL.

    FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS POLICY WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION.