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A small but growing cadre of radiologic technologists (RTs) known as bone densitometrists are performing a specialized test to help older women detect subtle bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis and fractures.
Opportunities for RTs interested in this specialty are growing as the oldest Baby Boomers reach 60 and technology advances. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine bone density tests for all women 65 and older to determine if their bones are thinning. Yet as of March 2007, only 882 of the 265,000 RTs registered with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) were certified bone densitometrists.
Fight Fractures
Bone densitometrists perform dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans that are then read by physicians. Safe and cost-effective, the DXA scan is considered the most accurate bone density test. Even though DXA scans last approximately 10 minutes, they expose patients to less radiation than a standard chest X-ray.
Many specialists offer this test, creating a wide range of employment opportunities, says Martin Rotblatt, associate director for the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD). Densitometrists are likely to find positions in the offices of rheumatologists, endocrinologists, OB/GYNs, radiologists, orthopedists, internists and family practitioners, as well as in hospitals, research centers and retirement centers.
As bone health manager with Erickson Retirement Communities in Catonsville, Maryland, DXA consultant JoAnn Caudill, RT(R)(M)(BD), CDT, is on the forefront of a new model of patient care. At its Catonsville location, Erickson operates a complete medical center that offers a variety of wellness programs including FallProof, a falls-risk assessment and prevention program.
Caudill assesses all new members of Erickson's 2,300-resident campus to identify their risk of fracture and recommends weight training or other measures to strengthen bones. "Our bottom-line goal is to reduce fractures. Many seniors' biggest fear is falling, breaking a hip and dying from the complications."
Build Credentials
State regulations for bone densitometrists vary widely. Some states have none, while others require that an RT or radiographer perform bone scans, though not necessarily one certified in bone densitometry. But technologists who want to demonstrate their commitment to the field can become certified by the ISCD or the ARRT.
Why bother to become certified if some states don't require it? It's a matter of quality of patient care and professional pride. "There's a lot involved to achieve accurate and precise studies for the best diagnosis and management of the patient," says Caudill, who explains scans must be performed accurately for physicians to correctly monitor changes in bone density over time.
"Being certified reflects an individual's personal interest in being the best he or she can be," says ARRT assistant director Ginny Haselhuhn, BS, RT(R)(ARRT). "It adds to personal satisfaction and increases your value to your employer."
According to Radiology Today's 2005 salary survey, RTs who perform only DXA scans earn a median annual salary of $34,000. While experienced technologists can earn more, that compensation level was the lowest among the nine surveyed categories, which included magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and other, more technical specialties.
Solidify Your Skills
Think you want to specialize in bone densitometry? Haselhuhn offers the following tips for gaining proficiency:
- Attend densitometry courses.
- Gain experience by performing DXA scans.
- Learn from your peers. Work with registered RTs certified in bone densitometry, and perform bone-density tests. Discuss cases with the physician who reads your films.
- Talk with equipment manufacturer application specialists to better understand the machines you're using.
- Read textbooks, such as Merrill's Atlas of Radiographic Positions and Radiologic Procedures, the gold standard of positioning texts. It includes a chapter by Caudill, who was named the ISCD's 2005 Instructor of the Year and 2001 Technologist of the Year.
- Use the bone densitometry examination's content specifications as a study guide. These specs, which come as part of the application handbook, spell out the content areas covered in the ARRT's certification exam.
"It's important for applicants to understand the ‘whys' of what they do, as well as ‘how' and ‘what,' so the certification process is not just book learning," Haselhuhn says. "It's having experience and gaining understanding."