Medical Imaging News

February 28, 2007

Dallas Gets its First RPA

In an era when radiologists are being pressured to read more studies in the same amount of time, the role of radiology practitioner assistant (RPA) is growing in importance.

"It has been noted that the RPA spends more time with the patient before, during, and after performing the examination and this greatly improves the patient experience," said David Pandit, director of Medical City Imaging. "Thus, the continuity of care and patient happiness also improves."

But achieving this designation takes a considerable amount of work, as indicated by the fact that there are only 350 certified RPAs nationwide. Brenda Barnes-Smith recently joined those ranks, successfully completing the RPA program at Weber State University (Ogden , Utah) to become the one of only about 25 RPAs in Texas.

"Becoming an RPA was important to me because it gives me greater involvement in the patients' overall care," Barnes-Smith said. "Many of the duties I performed as an RT were considered by the radiologists to be more advanced than what was normally required, so they encouraged me to enter."

This level of support is essential, she added, because radiologists at the student's place of employment must be willing to proctor and teach as the curriculum progresses. Each section of the program requires a minimum amount of hands-on training.

"This is a full-load preset program that requires intensive home study and travel to the campus twice a semester for classes on campus," Barnes-Smith explained. "Anyone desiring to enter the program must be prepared for hard work and to spend long hours studying."

Barnes-Smith, an adult flouroscopy technologist for many years, was picked in 2003 from a field of 450 applicants. Only 35 of the original 53 students finished the program. She believes her extensive real-world experience and passion for her profession—as put forth in a letter required as part of her application package—helped her application stand out.

Traveling to Ogden bimonthly for 3 days of extensive instruction, Barnes-Smith returned to Medical City—where she works as an RT—and was the first RPA to intern in a Dallas hospital. Barnes-Smith plans to remain at Medical City.

"This is the place where the radiologists and other physicians are familiar with her outstanding work, and we appreciate the additional skills she's honed," Pandit said. "We are proud of her accomplishment."

Barnes-Smith believes the hard work was well worth it and is eager to see other RTs work toward an RPA certification.

"Just as the need for nurse practitioners arose, the need for radiology practitioner assistants is on the rise. The field of radiology is growing, and the new exams require more involvement by the radiologist; the rapid processing taking place today also requires the radiologist to read faster," she said. "The practitioner assistant can spend the required time with the patient before, enabling them to treat the patients in a timelier manner. You also will have accomplished something that will be very rewarding if you already enjoy being an RT."

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