Radiologists — Tasks

Task statements

• Check and approve the quality of diagnostic images before patients are discharged.
• Instruct radiologic staff in desired techniques, positions, or projections.
• Advise other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials.
• Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
• Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
• Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.
• Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.
• Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.
• Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications systems.
• Confer with medical professionals regarding image-based diagnoses.
• Recognize or treat complications during and after procedures, including blood pressure problems, pain, oversedation, or bleeding.
• Develop or monitor procedures to ensure adequate quality control of images.
• Provide counseling to radiologic patients to explain the processes, risks, benefits, or alternative treatments.
• Establish or enforce standards for protection of patients or personnel.
• Coordinate radiological services with other medical activities.
• Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and develop expertise.
• Participate in quality improvement activities including discussions of areas where risk of error is high.
• Perform interventional procedures such as image-guided biopsy, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, transhepatic biliary drainage, or nephrostomy catheter placement.
• Develop treatment plans for radiology patients.
• Administer radioisotopes to clinical patients or research subjects.
• Calculate, measure, or prepare radioisotope dosages.
• Compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures, such as computed tomography, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.
• Direct nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, and projections.
• Establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff.
• Formulate plans and procedures for nuclear medicine departments.
• Monitor handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed.
• Prescribe radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients.
• Review procedure requests and patients' medical histories to determine applicability of procedures and radioisotopes to be used.
• Teach nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or other specialties at graduate educational level.
• Test dosage evaluation instruments and survey meters to ensure they are operating properly.