2017-18 University Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2017-18 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Medical Imaging Technology Department


Debbie McCollam, Department Chair
Robyn Cole, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director
Barry Canaday, Echocardiography Program Director
Don McDonnell, Radiologic Science Program Director
Chris Caster, Vascular Technology Program Director
Richard Hoylman, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technology Program Director and Clinical Coordinator
Tara Guthrie, Echocardiography Clinical Coordinator
Lisa Steinbock, Radiologic Science Clinical Coordinator
Bobbi Kowash, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Clinical Coordinator
Leah Jolly, Vascular Technology Clinical Coordinator
Janette Isaacson, Vascular Technology and Echocardiography Degree Completion
Program Director, Masters of Science in Allied Health
Gary Zimmerman, Radiologic Science Degree Completion Program Director
Robyn Cole, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Degree Completion Program Director
Vanessa Bennett, Nuclear Medicine Clinical Coordinator, and Scheduling Coordinator
 
Professors: D. McCollam, T. McVay, S. Schultz, G. Zimmerman
Associate Professors: B. Canaday, C. Caster, R. Cole, R. Hoylman, D. McDonnell
Assistant Professors: V. Bennett, M. Breedlove, R. Carson
Instructors: T. Guthrie, L. Jolly, B. Kowash, L. Steinbock
Participating Faculty: J. Isaacson Assistant Professor (Online Education)
Participating Faculty: J. Steenport (Online PACs)

Degrees Offered

  • Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Bachelor of Science in Echocardiography
  • Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technology
  • Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Vascular Technology
  • Master of Science in Allied Health

Specialization Offered

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS)

Department Objectives

The objectives of the Medical Imaging Technology Department are:

  1. To prepare students to become effective participants in the medical imaging professions.
  2. To provide the residents of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest with Bachelor of Science degrees in Medical Imaging Technology.
  3. To prepare students for professions that require critical-thinking and problem solving skills.
  4. To instill an effective influence of professional character, the knowledge and experience to pass the National Registry exams.
  5. To instill lifelong learning.

Accreditation

Oregon Institute of Technology is accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 8060 165th Ave. NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and/or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiography and Vascular Technology programs are programmatically accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon review of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).

Echocardiography - Goal and Mission Statement

To prepare competent entry-level adult cardiac sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains

Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Goal and Mission Statement

To prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains

Vascular Technology - Goal and Mission Statement

To prepare competent entry-level vascular sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains

Bachelor of Science Program Descriptions

The Department of Medical Imaging Technology offers bachelor’s degrees in five professional programs, which encompass the spectrum of imaging sciences. The curriculum of each bachelor’s degree program provides the technical, scientific, and communication skills essential for the application of learned concepts. Each program prepares students for immediate employment and for successfully passing the national and state registry examinations in each field.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (also called sonography, ultrasound, or general ultrasound)

Sonography uses high frequency sound wave imaging and Doppler instrumentation to aid in the diagnosis of pathology and disease processes. The sonographer gathers pertinent patient history, creates images, and submits preliminary findings to the reading physician. Common exams include: obstetric, gynecological, peritoneal, retroperitoneal, pelvic, thoracic, musculoskeletal, extremity, neurological, and superficial procedures. Invasive applications are also performed in most clinical settings.

Echocardiography

Echocardiography is a safe method of obtaining ultrasound images for diagnosis of cardiac pathology in adult and pediatric patient populations. Echocardiographers perform imaging exams that include acquisition of detailed images of heart anatomy, evaluation of pathologies, and measurement/analysis of hemodynamic flow patterns within the heart and the heart’s major vessels. The Echocardiographer prepares the study images and reports pertinent findings to the interpreting cardiologist as part of the diagnostic process.

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technology

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technology is an imaging science that demonstrates pathology through physiologic processes using radioactive compounds. Sometimes these data are fused with anatomical data such as Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This branch of imaging science has been in existence for over four decades. This training also prepares the future Nuclear Medicine Technologist with skills in CT, MRI, PET/ CT, and Spect/CT.

Radiologic Science

This program has been in existence at Oregon Tech for more than 50 years. The training prepares the future radiologic technologist with a wide variety of skills, including radiography, fluoroscopy, mobile and surgical radiography, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Mammography, Cardiovascular Interventional Technology (CIT), Quality Assurance, and imaging department management.

Vascular Technology

Vascular technology is a profession which utilizes ultrasound, Doppler, color Doppler and various physiologic testing procedures to aid in the diagnosis of disease of the vascular system. Vascular technologists conduct patient interviews, compile health histories and determine risk assessments pertaining to vascular disease. The technologists choose appropriate testing modalities and provide referring physicians with preliminary interpretation of results.

Master of Science Program Description

The Department of Medical Imaging Technology offers a Master of Science in Allied Health, which is fully an online degree for students who hold a Bachelor’s degree and are a registered professional in a healthcare setting. The program will focus on preparing allied health professionals for advancement in management, education and administration in their respective healthcare disciplines.

Facilities

Oregon Tech’s state-of-the-art imaging equipment allows medical imaging students to become familiar with a wide variety of imaging procedures like those performed in most medical centers. Students may also spend significant time at Sky Lakes Medical Center where they will gain experience directly with patients, prior to externship. This experience plus the academic coursework prepares the student well for the medical imaging professions.

Externships

All five of the bachelor’s degree programs in medical imaging culminate in a senior year of clinical externship at a medical center. The 11-month externship is spent at the affiliate institution under the supervision of a clinical instructor. Students do not have classes on the Oregon Tech campus during this year. The location of externship will be determined by a lottery conducted by medical imaging faculty. All students will be guaranteed an externship subject to the following:

  1. All academic requirements must be met before externship assignments will be made.
  2. Students must satisfy Oregon requirements for clinical placement as listed in Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR 409-030-0100 to 409-030-0250).

Upon successful completion of the externship year, imaging students will be eligible to sit for the professional registry pertaining to their degree.

Admission Requirements

Pre-Medical Imaging Technology: Freshman Year

Enrollment is open to all students who meet the general entry requirements to the university. Students will be listed as Pre-Medical Imaging Technology (Pre-MIT) students. Admittance to the Oregon Tech Pre-MIT Program does not mean the student has been accepted into a specific MIT program.

Program Selection Criteria

Selection criteria are available on the MIT website at www.oit.edu/mit. Students must complete all the courses, including general education, in the specified freshman year (pre-medical imaging) curriculum. Selection will be made at the end of the spring term of the pre-medical imaging technology year. The number of students selected each year will be determined by the number of qualified applicants, and by the availability of clinical sites. Therefore, the number of qualified applicants may exceed the number of spaces available. Prior acceptance does not guarantee future acceptance into any MIT Program. Students must reapply yearly.

Selection will be based upon the following criteria and point system:

  1. GPA: Students must have a total of a 2.75 weighted GPA (though a 3.0 or higher is highly recommended), in the following courses (or equivalent transfer courses) to apply to one of the five MIT Programs.
  2. All applicants must attend an Oregon Tech hosted selection event at the end of spring term. Several activities are conducted during this event to allow students to demonstrate communication skills, and professionalism. Faculty from the MIT Department and industry leaders are present at the selection event to evaluate those skills.

Application Requirements

Applications are available on the MIT website at www.oit.edu/mit.

Applications are due spring term. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. An application fee of $75 is required. There are no refunds of the application fee. Repeat applicants must follow the same procedures as first-time applicants.

The application form allows ranking of programs by choice (first and second) and only one application per student will be accepted. If multiple applications are received, they will be returned along with the application fees.

Transfer Students

Transfer students who meet the academic requirements of the pre-medical imaging technology year, will not find a course at another college which substitutes for MIT 103 - Introduction to Medical Imaging . This course may be taken as a distance learning course. It must be completed in the summer, fall, winter or spring term prior to the application to a professional program. The MIT application is available at www.oit.edu/mit. Transfer students must apply to both Oregon Tech and MIT using two separate application processes.

Graduation Requirements

All credits listed in the curriculum for the catalog year a student begins a program must be fulfilled.

Students must maintain a 2.00 GPA to be eligible for graduation. In addition, a final grade of “C” or better must be earned in all professional courses (DMS, ECHO, NMT, RDSC, VAS), and science/mathematics courses to continue in the program. A final grade of “C” or better must be also earned in all required communications courses by the end of the junior year to continue on in the program. Once the student is admitted into a professional program as a sophomore, all curricular requirements must be met within four academic years. Rare exceptions to the time limitation will be considered on a case by case basis, at the discretion of the readmittance committee described below. When a student unsuccessfully attempts a programmatic course fall term, sophomore year, they must reapply to the program or another imaging program. If the student has an unsuccessful attempt subsequent to fall term sophomore year the student must submit a letter of intent to the program director of the specific program they seek to re-enter. The MIT re-admittance committee will determine if another opportunity will be granted. If re-admittance is approved additional requirements will be prescribed by the MIT committee.

Other requirements such as auditing courses, attending labs, and/or remedial work will be specified by the committee. The student must remain in compliance with committee’s recommendations and requirements to satisfy degree progress. When a student attempts unsuccessfully a second time in the same or a different programmatic course, they are terminated from that program. Additionally, if a student receives a “D,” “F” or “W” in two or more programmatic courses in one term, they will be dismissed from that program. The student may apply for admittance to a second imaging program under the same application criteria as other applicants. After two unsuccessful attempts to complete two different programs, the student may not apply for a third program.

Career Opportunities

There continues to be a high demand for bachelor’s degree prepared medical imaging professionals. Graduates have excellent opportunities for employment in hospitals, clinics, private practice, state and federal agencies, and with appropriate experience, in supervision, education and industry.

Degree Completion Programs

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiography, Radiologic Science and Vascular Technology programs offer degree completion programs for registered technologists (in good standing) who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree in their field. These programs are fully online. There is no requirement to come to campus.

Master of Science in Allied Health

The MSAH program supports Oregon Tech’s mission to offer rigorous applied degree programs by providing scholarly, research based, high quality coursework (aligned with the National Center for Healthcare Leadership guidelines) ensuring student success in the work place.

The discipline of allied health leadership in healthcare settings involves effective communication, building relationships, self-confidence, self-development, team leadership, change leadership, accountability, collaboration, organizational development, performance measurements, financial skills, innovative thinking and strategic orientation. The MSAH curriculum emphasizes strong foundational course work and hands-on application through real life healthcare cases to prepare students to be effective professionals in their communities. Typical students in the program are already employed and are working to advance their degrees and career opportunities in leadership, management, and administration of public health systems, healthcare systems, hospitals, and hospital networks.

Programs

    Major
    Specialization