8th November 2020
Today is World Radiography Day (WRD) which marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-radiation by Willhelm Roentgen in 1895.
We interviewed our CT Mobile Operations Manager, Dhaanish Parvez to find out what is it like working at the leading edge of radiography for medical imaging charity Cobalt?
When did you decide you wanted to become a radiographer?
“I first came across Radiography in a science lesson at school. I was intrigued at the vast variation of medical imaging techniques used for diagnosis. I think choosing a degree is one of the hardest decisions you will ever make. With Radiography, I felt that not only was I doing something that I would enjoy, but also something which guarantees me a stable start to a progressive profession as an adult.”
Where did you study?
“Cardiff University, and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. To be perfectly honest I was not the most studious at University but being on clinical placement and getting thrown into the real world from an early stage has really shaped my career. I also believe University teaches you to become a lot more independent and provide a platform for social experiences that really help build your confidence and character.”
Why did you choose Cobalt?
“I first came across Cobalt when my agency sent me here to fill a temporary locum position. From my very first day I noticed the welcoming environment and positive ethos that was embedded within Cobalt and its employees. I was welcomed with a full introduction and tour by the CEO and was confident that this was an organisation I was going to enjoy being a part of. From then until now I have experienced nothing but endless support and encouragement. Cobalt provides multiple opportunities to explore various career paths which will allow you to reach your full potential. They do this by taking an individual’s skill set into consideration to get the most out of their employees.”
What is the most important part of your job? / What is the most challenging part of your day?/ Day to Day activities
“My current role involves assisting in the daily operations of our fleet of CT mobile scanners. When one of our CT scanners arrives at a new site there are several tasks which need to be completed before the service can become operational. I will firstly liaise with Cobalt’s IT Manager as well as the trust’s PACS team to ensure a successful network connection. This will enable workflow access and the transfer of images.
Each trust also has their own set of imaging protocols that I will need to programme onto the scanner. Each protocol needs to meet the radiologist standard which varies between trusts. A site folder is created with the appropriate risk assessments, Emergency procedures, important contacts, PGD’s for contrast administration, Radiographer guides and operator details. The unit will also need to be stocked with consumables and a method of clinical waste disposal will need to be organised. This is all carried out through liaising with trust managers, Resus officers and hospital staff. Our maintenance team ‘Quest’ ensure the safe delivery of the mobile unit as well as establishing sufficient power and water supply.”
Teamwork is at the centre of all our operations. We aim to give the best possible service through listening and supporting each other throughout the entire delivery of our service.
“Another important part of my job is delivering CT training. This has been particularly important in the past few months as we have had to provide a rapid CT training programme for Cobalt MRI radiographers. This has aided our contribution towards the fight against Covid19. Each site also employs two healthcare assistants that are trained to assist in the patient’s pathway during their scan. I will continuously monitor our sites ensuring that we are always providing an efficient and optimum service to all our patients.”
What do you like most about your job?
“I enjoy the variety of people I have the opportunity of meeting and interacting with. This has not only increased my knowledge but given me a better understanding of how different trusts operate. It has also been a pleasure to represent Cobalt on a national level and to share the standard of quality service that we provide.”
What presumptions do people make about what you do?/ What do you do now that you did not realise was part of the role when you were at university?
“Presumptions that people often make about radiographers in general is that we’re button pushers. What people do not realise is the extensive training we go through learning about the inner workings of the human body so that we can provide optimal imaging for patients. There are also constant advancements in medical imaging, so we are always learning new ways of delivering an efficient and low risk service. We also play a vital role in assisting early detection for diagnosis. All our sites have an urgent reporting system where we can flag up any incidental findings made apparent to the Radiographer.”
What do you think the future will bring for medical imaging?
“There is a growing demand for CT nationwide. As a result, we are seeing great work being done to reduce radiation dose within medical Imaging, and this is something which will continue to improve. At Cobalt we have several Siemens Somatom go. scanners which have all been manufactured with the world’s leading technology in ultra-low dose CT with optimum image quality. There is also an increase of Artificial Intelligence technology being developed. This is software that is used to analyse and predict what medical issues exist helping to create a more accurate diagnostic report. We will also see an improvement in technology for Virtual reality and 3D software. This will give a more realistic view of the human body for more accurate diagnosis.”
What do you do in your spare time?
“If I’m not travelling the country for work, I’m travelling the world for leisure. I like to make the most of my time off and if it isn’t spent exploring new places then its time not well spent. More recently, I have been using my spare time for personal development through a variation of books, online resources, and podcasts. I think that constant self-improvement really helps you attain key attributes to a successful life.”
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you.
“I love problem solving. Whether it be resolving issues at work or during a game of Mafia, one of the best feelings I get is when I have cracked the code.”
#wrd #worldradiographyday #cobalthealth #imaging #myradcolleague