2012.
2 EFRS Statement on RADIOGRAPHER ROLE DEVELOPMENT
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EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF RADIOGRAPHER SOCIETIES
BACKGROUND
advanced practitioner roles are to be found within the areas of ultrasound, mammograIncreasingly radiographers are performing phy, and the reporting of muscular-skeletal duties which were previously performed by images. More and more countries are relying other health professionals including radiolo- on these radiographer roles to develop and gists. This development of the radiographer improve service development and delivery. advanced practitioner role has become an Recently the interest shown in these roles by integral part of modern imaging and radio- health professionals and management has intherapy treatment service. Some of these creased across Europe [1].
BENEFITS OF THE ADVANCED PRACTITIONER IN AREAS OF THE PROFESSION
Advanced practice is the career progression from EQF level 6 (entry to the profession) to EQF level 7 (post-graduate level). At this level practitioners have developed expert knowledge and skills in relation to the delivery of care in diagnostic or therapy. to carry out the education required to underpin them. According to research, radiographers working at this level have increased job satisfaction thus aiding retention of staff3 and also enable radiologists to deal with more complex procedures [3]. In addition This career progression is the same for ra- radiographers working at advanced pracdiographers with posts in the non-clinical tice in an Accident and Emergency departareas of work such as radiographer manag- ment can improve the patient journey not ers, academic staff and researchers. only within imaging but also in the wider health care environment [4]. Formal post-graduate university education is essential for radiographers to learn The advanced practitioner has an essenthe skills and overall competencies required tial role in enabling the advancement of into take on these roles [2]. National Societ- novative practice where this can contribute ies will continue to promote and develop to improvements in service delivery and these new roles and encourage Universities quality patient care.
CONCLUSION
The advanced practitioner is an integral part of the imaging [5] and radiotherapy treatment team [6] and encourages a multi-disciplinary approach both at local departmental level and in the wider health care environment.
[1] Challen V. A European perspective on the role of radiographers in imaging departments. Imaging Management 2011;11(3):14-17. [2] European Federation of Radiographer Societies(EFRS) Development of the Radiographer Role: EFRS Guidance Document 2011. [3] McKenzie GA, Mathers SA, Graham DT, Chesson RA (1998) An investigation of radiographers performing barium enemas. Radiography 1998;4:17-22. [4] Snaith B. Radiographer led discharge in accident and emergency The results of a pilot project. Radiography 2007;13: 13-17. [5] The Royal College of Radiologists and Society and College if Radiographers. Team Working in Clinical Imaging. London: The Royal College of Radiologists and Society and College of Radiographers.2012 [6] Price R et al. Scope of Radiographic Practice 2008. London: The Society and College of Radiographers (UK) 2008
2012.2 EFRS Statement on Radiographer role development
