• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

The names of medical technologist in Korea, Japan, and the United State of America vary depending on the medical system, educational system, and work areas. Conventionally, jobs equal or similar to medical technologist (commonly known as clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory scientist, and medical laboratory scientist), histotechnologist, cytotechnologist, and genetic technologist. Jobs, such as extracorporeal technologist, medical electrophysiology technologist, and medical sonographer, allow other allied health professionals including medical technologists, to obtain their qualification. The work areas of medical technologists are classified into clinical pathologic technology, pathologic technology, clinical genetics technology, nuclear medicine in vitro technology, and clinical physiologic technology. New titles of Korean specialized medical technologists refer to certification systems, such as CLMJ, CMAJ, ASCP, IAC, ABRET, and ARMDS. Currently, there are eight types of specialized medical technologists under the cooperation of specialized academic societies. They are hematology, transfusionology, chemistry, immunology, microbiology, histology, cytology, nuclear medicine. It can be further divided into 20 categories according to the work areas such as mass spectrometry, infection control, Pathologists' Assistant, flow cytometry, HLA, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, cardiopulmonary physiology, neurophysiology (EEG/EMG/PSG/etc.), cardiac sonography, neurosonography (TCD/carotid), and medical device quality manager.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2007

There are the Medical Radiation Health and Safety Act(the Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act, the Radiologic Technologist Act), the Medical Laboratory Technologist Act, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, and the Dental Hygienist Act, etc in America. However, Korea has only one Act for a medical radiologic technologist(including radiation therapy technologist, nuclear medicine technologist), medical laboratory technologist, physical therapist, occupational therapy examiner, dental hygienist, and so on. It is the Medical Technologist Act. Therefore, the Medical Radiation Health and Safety Act for a radiologic technologist(including radiation therapy technologist, nuclear medicine technologist) has to be enacted independently in Korea. It is the purpose of this Act to provide for the appropriate certification of persons using radioactive materials, equipment emitting ionizing radiation on humans or performing medical imaging for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In Korea, the radiologic technologist is a "fusion technologist" who is a person other than a licensed practitioner as a radiographer, radiation therapist, nuclear medicine technologist, computed tomography technologist, magnetic resonance technologist, mammographer, sonographer, medical dosimetrist, quality management technologist, etc. This Act will have some provisions related to the definitions, reserved title, scope of practice, specialized technologist, application for licensure, radiologic technology council, renewal, continuing education, the radiation control advisory commission, etc. This Act will ensure that quality radiation therapy treatments are delivered and that quality diagnostic information is presented for interpretation, which will lead to accurate diagnosis, treatment and cure. Accurate diagnosis can be provided only when a personnel is properly educated in technique, equipment operation and radiation safety. In the end, this Act will protect the civil right to health. By regulating the personnel responsible for performing those procedures, this Act will mean improved care for patients-higher quality images, improved accuracy, and less exposure to radiation.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate various opinions on changes and revisions in the Medical Technician Act, to compare the curriculum of radiological technologist and physicians or dentists, and to compare the definitions and scope of work of radiological technologist in Korea and abroad. From the information, The goal is to review whether the phrase 'guidance of a doctor or dentist' specified in the definition of the 'Act on Medical Technicians, etc.' is realistically appropriate. radiological technologist receive specialized college education on radioligical science & medical imaging. The training hours for radiolgical science student are greater than medical students. In addition, radiological technologists are continuously developing their competencies for new knowledge and skills through continuing education in clinical fields. In particular, radiological technologist are making steady research efforts to reduce patient exposure and improve medical image quality. As a result of this investigation, it is considered that the term "guided by a doctor or dentist" as currently defined in the 'Act on Medical Technicians, etc.' may need to be revised in consideration of the professionalism of the radiological technologist.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2021

According to the changes of the medical environment of the times, it is necessary to discuss the issues of the doctor's medical guidance and to conduct continuous research so that alternatives can be prepared systematically. Furthermore, in order to enhance the professionalism of radiological technologists and to develop the medical technician system, the new Radiological Technologist Independent Act has been established, which contains the overall contents of the scope of work, professional qualifications, and specialized education of radiological technologists, and provides quality medical services to patients through professional procedures and treatment. In order to increase the level of medical care, the purpose, definition, mission, role, and scope of work specified in the Medical Act, Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act, the Enforcement Decree, and the Enforcement Rules were variously analyzed and new directions were presented. First, the definition of a medical technician should use a generic term so that the factors of conflict and prejudice could be resolved. Second, change the doctor's guide to doctor's prescription; and then legislate the authority to sign and write medical records after examination by radiological technologists, thereby prohibiting unlicensed technicians that seriously endanger patient safety. Third, an accurate definition of radiological technologists' roles should be established; not only selection and management of radiological technologists' work but also procedures and treatment for each radiology field should be specified to suit the current medical system. Fourth, a professional radiological technologists' qualification system and a specialized education system should be established in order to secure human resources that could provide patients trust in procedures and treatment based on professional knowledge and experience in the field of radiology. Fifth, the Education and Evaluation Institute should be operated in Korea education system to educate the professional knowledge and competency for students. In addition, it is necessary to in-depth analysis of foreign cases could be applied to the medical system and education system in Korea; it could strive to nurture systematic human resources.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.503-512
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to check the extent to which "instruction of physician or dentist" defined in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act is applied in relation to radiography examination procedures for radiological technologists. In addition, it is intended to present basic data on the requirement to revise the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act in the radiological technologist's duty area and scope of work, The subjects of this study were radiological technologists with license, and the response data were collected after sending the questionnaire link written on the online questionnaire form. The final number of respondents were 1,018, and the response rate was 6.8%. Most of the negative responses were "I have never received 'instruction' for radiologic examination by a physician or dentist, including a radiologist in a medical environment." There were a high perception that "the professionalism in radiation examination on radiological technologists are higher than that of a physician or dentist." They answered that the current continuing education has a great impact on maintaining and continuing professionalism and learning new knowledge in the radiology field. In addition, the radiological technologists provide a very high level of education in areas related to radiography procedure ethics such as patient care, patient safety, and patient privacy protection, as well as specialized fields such as radiation-related examination methods, radiography examination dose, and patient exposure dose. Radiological technologists replied that they were receiving it consistently. In conclusion, in the current medical environment, the 'instruction' of a physician or dentist cannot be seen as being realistically performed. The phrase 'instruction' of a physician or dentist as defined in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act is considered inappropriate in respect of the fact that the state recognizes the qualifications of the medical service technologist through a license. It is thought that revision to a new term suitable for the current medical environment is necessary.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2012

Perception level and social position of radiological technologist influence satisfaction level of their job. This study aims to use foundational data to improve perception level and social position of radiological technologists. We conducted interviews and a fill-out survey with 233 students who have been majoring in health-related fields at five universities and colleges located in Busan and who finished internship programs. The study analyzed 233 answer sheets excluding 17 inadequate answer sheets using T-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis with SAS9.1. The mean score of perception level was $3.33{\pm}0.56$. The personal image of radiological technologist showed the best score($3.43{\pm}0.56$) whereas the social image showed the worst($3.12{\pm}0.58$). According to the classification of the subject, the answer, "radiological technologist is specialized job", showed the best score($3.99{\pm}0.79$). The answer "radiological technologist suffered from less stress and workload than others when they work usually" showed the worst score($2.88{\pm}0.98$). According to the classification of each health-related major, the mean score of students who are a major in the department of the radiological technologist was the best($3.46{\pm}0.46$) and the students who are major in department of the physical therapy was the worst($3.24{\pm}0.40$). The radiological technologist have to effort to make positive image in the hospital. It is possible to be developed their knowledge and professionalism by cooperating between school and hospital as well as advertising with mass madia.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.55-68
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• 2017

In recent years, medical practice has seen a drastic change due to the rapid, exponential expansion of scientific and medical technologies. Specially, the role of medical technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists and/or clinical laboratory scientists) are increasing in the development of science of medical technology. As such, their responsibility has also been increasing. Therefore, given their highly specialized knowledge and skills, they are not regarded solely as doctor's assistants. Their independence and deeper specialization have been increasing, as they perform medial practices under the guidance of doctors or dentists pursuant to the "Act on Medical Service Technologists." From a legal point of view, medical guidance and scope of work were examined. As a conclusion, the definition of doctor's superintendency on the "Act on Medical Service Technologists" is required, and the qualification for the Korean license examination and their roles should be stated clearly. Moreover, communications among health professions regarding the roles of medical technologists are necessary to further facilitate clarification of their role. There is a need for independent legislation to expand the field of medical technologists and to strengthen their professionalism.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to examine and analyze the infection management status of Jeju-area general hospitals, and in order to convey the importance of infection management, and to determine role plans of medical technologists as infection management staff, the infection management status was examined through surveys targeting 7 general hospitals located in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The infection management of Jeju-area medical institutions showed excellence in that all institutions operated an infection management room, there was dedicated manpower, and hospital infection management guidelines were established and executed. However most institutions were operating their infection management room with only 1 nurse, reporting many difficulties in securing dedicated manpower, microbe-related culture deciphering, frequency of multiple-resistance bacteria, infection statistics, and details on microbe testing. Accordingly, it is believed that the medical technologist who can perform the practical tasks of infection management has sufficient qualification and experience in infection management as per the medical law enforcement regulations, and in operation of an infection management room. If medical technologists (infection control microbiological technologist) with expert knowledge on microbes and infection control nurses can execute the tasks as dedicated personnel, the operation of the infection management room will be more advanced. In addition, for proper infection management in the future, the introduction of a medical system specialized in infection management and full support for infection management of vulnerable small/medium hospitals in addition to general hospitals across the country is considered important.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2015

This study analyzed the total number of 19,636 patients and radiation technologists, 11,433 of male and 8,203 of female by examined body parts, age, types of detectors, the using contrast enhancement and working condition of the technologists, regular staffs or rotation-duty staffs, based on the K-DOS program distributed by FDA with the DLP value of diagnostic evaluation. The result shows that the effective radiation dose was 0.7mSv~41.7mSv for each region and male patients had more radiation exposure than females. And the amount of exposure was also affected by the types and the method of detectors. Furthermore, the regular staffs took the role of helping the patient to get reduced amount of radiation exposure than rotation duty-staffs. Computed tomography (CT) use has increased dramatically over the past several decades. In this reason, to support the patients and the workers' health in the field, the hospitals should apply specialized regular working radiation technologist system and manufacturing companies of those CTs should develop low medical radiation exposure devices.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.15-23
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• 2019

Purpose: As the medical laboratories in general hospitals have made an efforts on quality management and employee health, they recognized the need of design guideline for clinical laboratory. As laboratories are prohibited to patients, their environments are becoming more congested and deteriorated as time goes by. So, this study investigates the current status of facility and equipment of laboratory medicine focusing on less than three hundred patient bed hospitals, and searches the improving matters. Methods: Questionnaires to technologist captains and field surveys to medical laboratories in korean hospitals have been conducted for the data collection. 18 answers have been analysed statistically by MS Excel program. Results: The result of this study can be summarized into followings. Clinical laboratory functions are all hematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, transfusion and urine microscopy, and except for three including microbiology for infection and bio safety level. Average man power of lab are 12.3 man including lab director and captain. Patient bed number, space area and total specimen numbers are not correlated with each other, but specimen numbers and employee number are correlated with. Work space distances are usually good, but exit distances are not adequate for escape owing to obstacles. Specimen delivery system by courier, test method by automatic analyzer, access floor for exposed plumbing and electricities are more practical. Open lab layed out in the center and lab support layed peripheral in space diagram. Lab space configuration by SD method showed that lab support area and employee support area are dissatisfied. Implications: Specialized hospital and yearly total specimen numbers are related to the space area and organization for laboratory planning and design.