Radiologic Technology Clinical Obligations

PROGRAM CAMPUS LOCATION

Blinn College Radiologic Technology Program campus is located at the RELLIS Campus - 1366 Bryan Rd, Bryan, TX 77807.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

The program strives to promote fair and impartial education experiences and will provide equitable learning opportunities and clinical assignments. Accordingly, all students should anticipate rotations to local and non-local healthcare settings, which may include hospitals, clinics, specialty/imaging centers, orthopedic areas, and surgical suites. All students will also participate in alternating shifts, repeatedly throughout the two-year program. Schedules are dependent on semester and site location although there is no scheduled evening or weekend rotations. Proposals for exemption from equitable learning opportunities and clinical assignments cannot/will not be considered.

In order to complete the clinical component of the program, students will rotate through the following sites, as assigned by the Clinical Coordinator:

LOCAL CLINICAL AFFILIATES/SITES

• CHI St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital - 1604 Rock Prairie Road College Station, Texas 77845
• CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital - Bryan - 2801 Franciscan Drive Bryan, Texas 77802
• Baylor Scott & White Clinic - College Station University Drive, 1700 University Drive, East College Station, Texas 77840
• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – College Station, 700 Scott & White Drive College Station, Texas 77845

NON-LOCAL CLINICAL AFFILIATES/SITES

• Baylor Scott & White Hospital - Brenham - 700 Medical Parkway Brenham, Texas 77833
• Ascension Seaton Hospital - 630 State Hwy 71 W, Bastrop, TX 78602

STUDENT APPLICATION SCREENING

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

Successful completion of a criminal background check is required for admission into the program. The background checks are conducted by CastleBranch, an online firm specializing in background checks for healthcare workers

To begin, visit: www.castlebranch.com/online_submission/package_code.php and use Package Code BF78.

It the responsibility of the student for the fee of $40.00.

The criminal background check package includes:

County Criminal, Nationwide Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Scan, Nationwide Record Indicator with SOI, Social Security Alert, and Residency History.

Results background checks are reviewed by program administration and clinical facility administration, if necessary, to determine clinical assignment.

Effective September 1, 2017, HB 1508 amends the Texas Occupations Code Section 53 that requires education providers to notify you, a potential or enrolled student, that a criminal history may make you ineligible for an occupational license upon program completion.

For students enrolled or planning to enroll in the Blinn College Radiologic Technology Program, who may have a criminal background, please be advised that the background could keep you from being licensed by the State of Texas.

The state licensing authority for a Medical Radiologic Technologist in Texas is the Texas Medical Board.

Any student enrolled or planning to enroll in the Blinn College Radiologic Technology Program with reason to believe they may be ineligible for an occupational license due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for felony or misdemeanor offense may request a criminal history evaluation by the Texas Medical Board to determine eligibility.

The Application to Request Criminal History Evaluation Letter is at the following link: www.tmb.state.tx.us/idl/719666D1-DC3B-2331-EAC5-A05CAABBE52C. Visit www.tmb.state.tx.us/ for more information regarding the Texas Medical Board requirements.

Per the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT):

For students enrolled or planning to enroll in the Blinn College Radiologic Technology Program, who may have a criminal background, please be advised that a criminal background could keep you from being certified and registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

ARRT emphasizes ethics requirements for certification and registration. Individuals with a previous charge or conviction of a misdemeanor or felony should contact the ARRT Ethics Requirements Department for a Pre-Certification Application at www.arrt.org or (651) 687-0048 concerning eligibility requirements.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND TESTING

Health Sciences students must comply with both Texas law and clinical facility requirements related to immunization and testing. Immunization verification is done to confirm the correct dosage and spacing of required vaccinations meet the compliance of state and institution guidelines, utilizing the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We recommend not delaying this immunization process as some can take up to six months to complete. Required Immunizations are found at: https://www.blinn.edu/health-sciences/required-immunizations.html

Students will submit immunizations through CastleBranch and are responsible for the fee of $38.

To begin, visit: www.castlebranch.com/online_submission/package_code.php and use Package Code BF78im.

All students are responsible for monitoring and staying current with their CastleBranch account requirements. When registering, provide an email address that is checked regularly. Immunizations must be complete and approved in the CastleBranch system before students are allowed to attend clinical rotations. To ensure clinical attendance, we recommend that your immunization documentation is complete and approved at least 2 weeks before the Fall semester begins.

DRUG TESTING

Students will register for a drug test through CastleBranch and are responsible for the fee of $30. Results from other agencies will not be recognized.

To begin, visit: www.castlebranch.com/online_submission/package_code.php and use Package Code BF78dt.

A drug screening is required of incoming students to ensure the safety of the patients treated by students in the program. Students are required to order a drug screen in sufficient time for it to be reviewed by the school and/or hospital prior to starting clinical rotation.

The clinical agencies require a drug screen prior to the first clinical course to ensure that their facility follows The Joint Commission (TJC) standards. Successful completion of the ten (10) panel drug screen is required within thirty days of beginning the first clinical course. The Ten Panel Drug Screen includes testing for: Cocaine Metabolites, Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Marijuana metabolites, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene metabolite, Methadone, and Methaqualone.

Results and Outcomes:

• Negative Drug Screen: Student is eligible for clinical placement.
• Negative Dilute Drug Screen: Student requires another urine sample to be submitted (student is responsible for paying for the second test).
• Positive Drug Screen: Student will be withdrawn from the program if resulting from non-prescribed drug detection. A positive drug screen is any instance in which a drug screening report shows a positive test for one or more of the drugs on the panel.

Failure to undergo the drug test in the time required may result in withdrawal from the program. Any student withdrawn for a positive drug screen will be eligible to reapply or apply for readmission in the following admission cycle. Drug screening policies in place at the time of entry will apply. If a student is found to be ineligible for clinical placement any time during the program, the student is unable to meet clinical learning objectives and will be withdrawn pending resolution of the situation. Drug screening reports and all records pertaining to the results are considered confidential information with restricted access. The results and records are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations.

CPR CERTIFICATION

CPR certification is required prior to clinical attendance and must be the American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Provider. The AHA recognizes the Military Training Network (MTN) provider card as equivalent of the corresponding AHA provider card. American Red Cross, CPR Pro and CPR Resources do not meet the criteria and will not be accepted.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

In accordance with program accreditation standards and clinical affiliation agreements, students must carry liability insurance during all practicum phases of the program. This insurance is maintained with no action necessary from the student. The fees are paid for by the student during the registration process, each long semester.

The cost is $6.50 per long semester.

Liability Insurance is not Health Insurance and does not include any medical expenses that the student may personally incur. It is recommended that students obtain health insurance.

PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The radiologic technology profession requires a variety of physical job requirements to function in the clinical environment. Students should have sufficient motor function to execute movements required to provide general care and treatment to patients in all healthcare settings. In addition to the physical requirements, students are expected to hear and respond to communicated commands and visually assess surroundings and evaluate radiographic images while performing exams.

The list below includes general requirements for the performance of radiologic technologist duties. Students in the program should expect to perform the same job duties as registered radiologic technologists. This is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

• Students will be required to lift, push, move and/or roll patients to position for radiographic exams. This requires the student to kneel, bend, and lift while caring for patients. In addition, students are expected to move radiology equipment necessary to obtain the radiographic image. During clinical rotations, students push stretchers and wheelchairs, assisting with patient transport throughout the
• healthcare facility. Students should be capable of lifting a minimum of 50 pounds to assist in safe patient transfers.
• Students will be required to stand for extended hours during clinical rotations while performing radiographic exams and may not take breaks at their leisure or while exams are happening. Students will also attend any exam they have availability to without refusing a technologists’ request.
• Students will be required to wear lead protective aprons and shields for extended periods of time during specific radiographic examinations.
• Students will be required to possess manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination for operating radiographic equipment, accurately drawing up specific measurements into syringes, to safely handle needles, and establish sterile fields. In addition, students must be capable of manually palpating anatomic landmarks on patients and manual positioning of patients for radiologic procedures.
• Students will be required to respond to the verbal instructions of physicians, staff, and clinical instructors. Students should possess the auditory ability to hear patient requests and respond to patient needs. In addition, students must be able to hear and respond in accordance to monitoring instrument sounds and directives from intercom devices (such as a code blue).
• Students will be required to visually evaluate radiographic images according to shades of gray displayed on the imaging monitor. Students should possess the visual acuity to distinguish small details on a radiographic image. Students should possess peripheral vision and depth perception abilities to recognize objects, people, and equipment especially within sterile environments and trauma settings.
• Exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, ionizing radiation, medicinal preparations, and other conditions are common to a hospital environment. Students are required to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) according to facility policies and procedures.
• Students may not be permitted to complete clinical rotations with any orthopedic devices that may put limitations on their mobility and potentially compromise the safe transfer of patients and prevent them from safely moving x-ray equipment.

All students, including students with disabilities, are expected to perform all the essential functions of the program with or without reasonable accommodation. The program will attempt to accommodate documented disability-related needs although is not required to provide requested accommodations that would fundamentally alter the essential or technical qualifications, competencies, and functions of the program, nor that would entail an undue financial burden.