Cabrillo College Library
Radiologic Technology at Cabrillo


This assignment assumes that you know how to do researching using electronic resources, and Internet search engines. It also assumes you can create a basic Web page using an HTML editor (e.g., Word, or Page Composer). If you are unsure about any of these skills, talk with a librarian at the Reference Desk, and/or consider taking courses the library teaches!

Some research tools and reminders that might be useful for completing this assignment.

 




"Computer-assisted diagnosis, three-dimensional imaging, and other enabling technologies must become widely adopted if radiologists are to cope with higher volumes of images produced by new imaging modalities." -- Monika Dhingra writing in Diagnostic Imaging

Using Web search engines and a variety of electronic resources, search for information about one of these subtopics:

  1. What are important, new developments in radiologic technology? Describe the pace of improvements in medical imaging systems that have occurred in the most recent 5 years. What is expected to emerge in the next 5 years? You could look at radiologic technology in general, or focus on computerized tomography (CT). You may find good information on the Web, but might also want to explore periodical articles.

  2. What are the distinguishing features of the different PACs (picture archiving and communication systems) that are out there? Who are the leading manufacturers? If you were a consultant, hired to review systems for a radiologic unit in a medium-sized urban hospital, which one(s) would you recommend, and why? If you can't find sufficient information using the term "picture archiving and communication systems," then try broader terms such "image databases," or "image storage." You may need to add the word radiology, or radiography, or radiologic to narrow the search properly. Another approach would be to identify Web sites for companies that manufacture radiologic equipment. [You'll no doubt turn up the leading manufacturers in your searching, but if you have a problem, here are the names of some of the larger ones: Philips Medical Systems, Hologic Inc., and GE Medical Systems.]

  3. Some argue that the recent improvements in scanning modalities are pushing radiologists and workstations to their limits. What do radiologists themselves have to say about that?

In using Web search engines, keep in mind

  • Your topic concerns recent developments. Remember that some search engines enable you employ a date filter to limit you results to recently posted Web pages.

  • Depending on the way you approach your topic, you may end up needing to identify companies and contact them. You may want to locate business directories on the Internet, and search for specialized industry-related resources.

  • If you tackle the third subtopic, you will probably seek out radiologic technicians at hospitals and clinics. You may want to identify chat rooms and forums by speciality, so you can broaden the base of your inquiry to radiologic technicians in a variety of medical settings.

In using other fulltext electronic and other resources, keep in mind that this topic reflects an industry connection. You will discover information in scholarly and professional periodicals, but you will also want to tap into industry and trade journals for their reports of advances.

Create a basic Web page with text that summarizes what you have learned. Include links to Web sites that are useful to further investigation of the topic. If images help explain the points you are making, include them in your Web page, but be sure to acknowledge their source. If ever in doubt, check with the owner of the image to be sure it is okay for you to use it.

Put your name at the top of your Web page, and give your page a title, reflecting the topic you chose. Turn your Web page in to your instructor electronically (i.e., bring the Web page to class on a disk; if you have Web space somewhere, post it directly to the Internet and email the URL to your instructor).


To get to this page on the Internet:

  1. Go to the Cabrillo College Library Web site <http://libwww.cabrillo.edu>
  2. Click on Internet Links
  3. Click on Radiologic Technology
  4. Under Course-Related Materials, click on Emerging Technologies in Diagnostic Imaging

Topsy N. Smalley; last rev. 9/02