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The program is no longer accepting applications for 2008 enrollment. This site will be updated in September 2008 with information on 2009 enrollment. |
Sessions
The Radiography Program is divided into five semesters or sessions. Each session is 18 – 22 weeks in length except for the 9-week summer session between the first and second years. Students are scheduled off 1 – 2 weeks between sessions and two weeks during Christmas and New Years. All academic courses are taught and coordinated between hospitals within the St. Vincent Health system.
Curriculum
During each session, students will study various subjects in addition to completing hands-on clinical courses. The summer session is an intensive clinical semester. The program’s curriculum is challenging and equally balanced between technical courses (requiring an adept understanding of algebra level mathematics and human anatomy) and patient-focused courses. The curriculum sequence is below. Course descriptions for all classes are included in this section.
Junior Year: Semester I (August 4 – December 19, 2008)
Introduction to Radiography (INT 101) 2.0 Credits
Medical Terminology I (MET 101) 0.5 Credits
Patient Care (PAC 101) 2.75 Credits
Anatomy & Physiology I (ANP 101) 2.75 Credits
Radiographic Positioning I (POS 101) 4.0 Credits
Clinical Education I (CLE 101) 3.0 Credits
Junior Year: Semester II (January 5 – May 22, 2009)
Medical Terminology II (MET 102) 0.5 Credits
Anatomy & Physiology II (ANP 102) 4.0 Credits
Radiographic Positioning II (POS 102) 4.75 Credits
Studies in Medical Imaging (SMI 102) 1.0 Credits
Clinical Education II (CLE 102) 3.75 Credits
Junior Year: Semester III (June 8 – August 7, 2009)
Medical Ethics and Law (ETH 103) 1.0 Credits
Clinical Education III (CLE 103) 2.75 Credits
Senior Year: Semester IV (August 17 - December 18, 2009)
Radiographic Physics (PHY 201) 3.0 Credits
Radiographic Principles I (PRI 201) 3.75 Credits
Radiographic Pathology (PTH 201) 2.0 Credits
Fundamentals of Computed Tomography (CAT 201) 0.25 Credits
Clinical Education IV (CLE 201) 3.5 Credits
Senior Year: Semester V (January 4 - June 3, 2010)
Radiographic Principles II (PRI 202) 3.5 Credits
Radiation Protection & Radiobiology (RPB 202) 2.25 Credits
Radiographic Image Analysis (RIA 202) 2.5 Credits
Registry Review (REG 202) 3.0 Credits
Clinical Education V (CLE 202) 4.5 Credits
Click on the Course Descriptions on the left menu to access a description of all classes.
Class / Clinical Hours
Class hours are typically from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm or 9:00 am – 2:00 pm with breaks and lunch but the exact schedule may vary slightly depending on the course. Clinical hours are typically 7:30 am – 3:30 pm but some evening assignments from 1:00 – 9:00 pm will be required in the senior year.
Class / Clinic Days
Junior year students attend class on Monday and Friday following the first two weeks of enrollment. Clinical days for junior year students are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. Senior year students attend classes on Tuesday and Thursdays. Clinical days for senior year students are Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Clinical days during the summer (semester III) term will be Monday through Friday.
Clinical Sites
Primary clinical education sites are St Joseph Hospital in Kokomo, St Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, and Saint Johns Health System in Anderson. Students indicate to which primary site they want to be assigned. Once assigned to a given site, students remain at that site for their 22-month tenure in the program. However, students assigned to St Joseph Hospital and Saint Johns Health System will perform some rotations to St Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for services not offered at St Joseph or Saint Johns.
In addition to primary clinical education sites, students will also rotate to secondary clinical education sites each semester after the first semester. Secondary sites are hospitals within St Vincent Health. These assignments are 1 week in duration and will occur generally once or twice each semester. See the St. Vincent Health section for clinical site locations.
Driving for Academic Courses
While Indianapolis serves as the program’s administrative location, academic classes are coordinated between the primary clinical sites. Some courses will be taught at each student’s primary site by their respective clinical coordinator. This structure enables students to complete a significant portion of the required academic courses at the convenience of their respective primary clinical site. Other courses are taught at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, the program’s administrative location. In general, Kokomo and Anderson students can expect to drive to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis on average approximately one day per week for classes taught in semesters I, II, IV and V.
Driving for Clinical Courses
While Indianapolis serves as the program’s administrative location, the program’s structure allows students to complete a significant portion of their clinical education at the convenience of their primary clinical site. Students remain at their chosen primary clinical site for their 22-month program tenure. However, some travel to other clinical sites is necessary to provide students with an expansive understanding of medical imaging in different settings. Off-site clinical assignments will begin in Semester III. These off-site assignments are kept to a minimum to meet the educational objectives of the program. Additionally, students assigned to St. Joseph Hospital and Saint Johns Hospital can be expected to travel to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for access to medical imaging services not or minimally offered at those sites (e.g. pediatrics, surgical radiography, and peripheral vascular radiography). Interested candidates should contact the clinical coordinator for information regarding clinical travel expectations for the respective primary clinical site.
The program faculty is sensitive to the inconveniences of traveling for classes and clinical assignments and makes every reasonable effort to minimize the travel expectations. However, traveling is a necessary and reasonable expectation given the learning opportunities that result.
Academic Standards
Students are awarded grades based on academic and clinical performance. The program adheres to the grading criteria below unless specified in a course syllabus.
A = 93.0 - 100% = 4.0 points
B = 85.0 - 92.9% = 3.0
C = 75.0 - 84.9% = 2.0 points
F = < 75.0% = 0 points
Students are required to pass every course to graduate from the program. Failure to pass a course with a letter grade of “C” or higher will result in student dismissal from the program.
Mastery Based Education
The program adheres to a mastery-based approach to academic and clinical education. In short, students are required to achieve a master level performance of 85% on key academic and clinical evaluations / examinations. Students may be required to repeat (with a limited number of attempts) such evaluations / examinations until an 85% are achieved. Academic and clinical probation may be required for students who struggle academically and/or clinically.
Vacations / Holidays
Vacations are assigned to students between semesters. Additionally students have personal time off (PTO) to be used for personal reasons. Students who wish to take time off outside of assigned vacations must do so at their own PTO. Assigned vacations will not be re-scheduled.
The Radiography Program honors the following hospital recognized holidays. Students are not assigned to clinic or class on said holidays. Holiday time is not deducted from the student’s PTO.
- New Years
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving and the day following
- Christmas
Graduation Requirements / Objectives
Radiographers are highly skilled professionals qualified by education to perform imaging examinations and accompanying responsibilities at the direction of a physician qualified to request radiologic procedures. To that end, for the safety and well being of patients and the community in general, it is the policy of St. Vincent Health / St. Joseph Hospital Radiography Program to assure that all graduates entering to profession of radiography have met the rigorous requirements for graduation, thus enabling their eligibility to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) board examination.
To be eligible for graduation, the following requirements / objectives must be met.
- Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, positioning to competently and accurately demonstrate anatomical structures on a radiograph or other imaging.
- Determine exposure factors to achieve optimum radiographic results with minimum radiation exposure to the patient.
- Evaluate radiographic images for appropriate positioning and overall image quality.
- Apply principles of radiation protection to patients, self and others.
- Understand the effects of ionizing radiation on living tissue.
- Provide basic patient care and comfort to patients across the age continuum.
- Recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate life-saving first-aid and basic life-support procedures.
- Demonstrate knowledge and proper use of medical terminology.
- Evaluate the performance of radiological systems, know the safe limits of equipment operation and report equipment malfunctions to the proper authority.
- Participate in radiologic quality assurance programs.
- Demonstrate effective verbal, non-verbal and written medical communication in providing patient care and maintaining professional relationships with other members of the health care team.
- Exercise independent judgment and discretion in the technical performance of medical imaging procedures.
- Apply problem solving and critical thinking skills in the academic and clinical settings. Participate in a professional development activity approved by program faculty.
- Support the profession's Code of Ethics and comply with the profession's Scope of Practice.
- Demonstrate ARRT Board examination readiness.
- Complete all attendance and punctuality requirements as defined by the Attendance Policy.
- Pass all academic and clinical courses.
- Complete all required clinical competencies.
Terminal Award
The St. Vincent Health / St. Joseph Hospital Radiography Program does not award academic degrees. Graduates of the program receive a diploma acknowledging their satisfaction of the graduation requirements. An academic degree is not required for entry-level employment in radiography.
Education Pathways
Academic Degrees: The St. Vincent Health / St. Joseph Hospital Radiography Program has established pathways with the following regionally accredited academic institutions to enable program graduates to complete an academic degree.
Advanced Clinical Training: The St. Vincent Health / St. Joseph Hospital Radiography Program has also established multiple pathways to advanced medical imaging training in CT, MRI, and sonography. Please click the link below to learn more about continuing education opportunities.
Pathways to Continuing Education
Transfer Students
The Radiography program will consider individuals wishing to transfer into the program from another JRCERT accredited program in radiography on an individual basis. The requesting student must make the request in writing forward from the program currently attending all transcripts, grade sheets, evaluations, and any other material as requested by the Admissions Committee. Several factors that will be considered include:
- available clinical space; no student will be accepted if clinical space is not available.
- type of program transferring from (hospital, college, vocational, military, etc...)
- academic and clinical courses completed
- clinical competencies completed
- clinical hours and rotations completed
- favorable written recommendation from the current Program Director
- favorable clinical and academic evaluations reflecting healthy progress toward academic and clinical competency
- disciplinary action record
- any other factor deemed relevant by the Admissions Committee
At present, the program does not consider advanced placement for graduates of limited or foreign radiography programs.
Student Services
Although not employees of St. Vincent Health, enrolled students do receive some services and benefits as a result of their enrollment in the Radiography Program. Below is a summary of said services and benefits.
Counseling Services
Students enrolled in St. Vincent Health / St. Joseph Hospital Radiography Program are eligible to receive the counseling services described below.
- Program faculty offers academic counseling to all enrolled students. Students will be counseled regularly regarding their progress academically and clinically via Progress Reports. Students may also receive academic counseling regarding college credit or continuing education upon request.
- Students in need or personal or financial counseling may seek referral assistance free of charge through the hospital EAP (Employee Assistance Program). The EAP office will assist the student in finding community resources based on the specific need. All personal or financial assistance is kept strictly confidential.
- Enrolled students are also entitled to pastoral counseling for matters of personal or religious nature free of charge. Interested students should see the Pastoral Department for more information.
Job Placement:
While the program does not guarantee employment upon graduation, the program faculty assists students in finding employment opportunities relative to medical imaging. In addition to writing recommendation letters, program faculty also post position openings, and offer resume’ and interview writing tips.
Academic Services
Enrolled students are eligible to use the hospital medical library within normal operating hours. The hospital library has numerous written resources including periodicals as well as internet access for research purposes. Student may also schedule time with program faculty to use faculty PCs for internet access.
Benefit Services
Students enrolled in St. Vincent Health / St. Joseph Hospital Radiography Program are not full or part time employees and thus not eligible for the benefits entitled to associates. | 
