isrrt Newsletter Volume 6. No.2 - 2010

news news from
tool is limited to radiography. The ASRT will consider expanding
the tool in the future to include all other medical imaging
modalities.
R.T. Job Vacancy Rates Continue to Decline
The vacancy rate for radiographers in the United States has
continued to decline in recent years and is now at 2.1 percent,
according to the ASRT Radiology Staffing Survey 2010.
The vacancy rate, which represents the number of
positions that are open and actively being recruited, is the
lowest since the ASRT began collecting data in 2003. A
vacancy rate of 2.1 percent for radiographers means that for
every 100 budgeted full-time positions, an estimated 2.1 are
unfilled.
Vacancy rates for other medical imaging disciplines and
specialties also dropped between 2003 and 2010, according
to the staffing survey:
• Computed tomography technologists, from 8.5 percent to
2.6 percent.
• Magnetic resonance technologists, from 9 percent to 3.4
percent.
• Mammographers, from 7.2 percent to 1.8 percent.
• Nuclear medicine technologists, from 10.9 percent to 2.1
percent.
• Cardiovascular-interventional technologists, from 14.6
percent to 3.5 percent.
• Sonographers, from 11.7 percent to 4.6 percent.
In addition, the staffing survey showed that 54.4 percent of
respondents are not currently recruiting technologists for their
radiology departments.
The complete survey is available at www.asrt.org>Studies &
Surveys>Read results of ASRT studies>Radiology Staffing
Survey 2010.
Asia/Australasia
Bangladesh
Professional Development Program of BARIT
Bangladesh Association of Radiology & Imaging Technologists
(BARIT) is now working hard for developing professional
knowledge and skills of Radiological Technologists who
are serving in different hospitals and clinics all over the
country.
BARIT has taken a long term and short term training
program under the technical and financial support of WHO.
A two training module is already developed for organising
training program, one is “CT, MRI & Digital Radiography”
and the other is “Contrast Enhancement of Radiological
Images”. The training course will start November 1, 2010.
BARIT organised two seminars during the last year under
the financial support of FUJI film Bangladesh Ltd. and
INCEPTA Bangladesh Ltd. The first seminar was held at
the National Press Club conference lounge on “Radiation
Safety for Patients and Attendants” and the second was
held at the National Institute of Mental Health on “Contrast
Study and Patients Safety”. More than 250 radiographers and
radiological technologists attended the seminar.
BARIT has already approached the government to
introduce a graduate and masters course on Radiological
Technology in different universities. For the first time the
Government of Bangladesh approved a graduate course at
the Dhaka University. The first session will be start in January
2011. Two goverment and one non-government institute has
completed all formalities for starting the graduate courses.
BARIT successfully completed the development work
that was taken during the past year. It’s a great achievement
for BARIT.
Md. Mofazzal Hossain, General Secretary-BARIT,
Council Member-ISRRT
New Zealand
Congratulations and thank you
to the Australian Institute of
Radiography (AIR) for the superbly
organised ISRRT World Congress
in Australia in September. It was
an honour for the NZIMRT to be
co-hosting with the AIR who were
a supremely well organised and effective host. For the
vast majority of New Zealanders present at the congress
it was a first time ISRRT World Congress experience and
the largest conference many of us will ever attend. The
extensive technical programme was well received due to the
well considered format of proffered papers, guest speakers,
workshops and seminars.
Participating in the ISRRT Regional and Council meetings
for the first time was an extremely useful experience which
enable a greater depth of understanding about the international
work undertaken and the influence the ISRRT has as a body.
It was also very useful to meet all our fellow member
country council members. The NZIMRT is looking forward
to strengthening our link with the ISRRT and developing a
strong relationship and support network within the Pacific
Island region.
The NZIMRT continues to have strong membership with
the CPD programme branching into an electronic lodgement
format which has been well received by members. It has been
ten years since the NZIMRT launched the CPD Programme
and is undertaking a large review of the programme at this
time.
The AGM and Symposium will be held in Wellington
in October with the next Annual Conference planning for
Christchurch in August 2011 well underway.
Our thanks for all the messages of support that were received
following the 7.1 magnitude Christchurch earthquake in early
September. The city certainly looks different and while many
residents are back in their homes our thoughts are with those
forced to permanently move from their homes.
Volume 46 – No. 2 35