MRI Technologist Program Policies

Student Withdrawal/Refund Policy

If a student withdraws from the program voluntarily within the first 2 weeks and has paid the tuition in full, they are entitled a refund. They will be refunded the amount of tuition paid for the months they did not attend less $200 fee for administrative fees. A student who is dismissed for poor academic or clinical performance or disciplinary problems waives the right to a tuition refund.

Student Benefits

Students enrolled in the MR program are granted some of the same benefits as students attending the University of Utah. MR students will be invited to departmental functions during holidays and enjoy library privileges and the use of the book store. Students are responsible for their own health insurance and parking permits.

Attendance

The six-month program begins the second week of January and July each year. Students are required to attend a hospital orientation prior to the start of the program. A detailed calendar will be available on the day the program begins. Past calendars are available for student review upon request.

The student is responsible for their clinical and academic attendance. All clinical time is recorded as a positive number and the student is finished when they have reached 550 hours and all of the required competencies have been completed. Students are eligible to graduate early if all competencies have been completed and if all didactic work is complete. This decision is made by the education director. The student is expected to be responsible to the clinical site by being punctual, dependable and cooperative. Students are never scheduled more than a total of 40 hours a week between didactic and clinical instruction.

Employment Policy

In the event that a MRI position becomes available through the University Health Care, a MRI student who is currently enrolled full-time within the MRI program and has satisfactorily completed 50% of the program may be eligible to apply and be hired for the position. The student must have successfully completed fifty percent (50%) of the total didactic and clinical program. More details on the employment policy are found in the student handbook.

Students finding employment outside of the University may also exercise the employment option.

Academic Performance

Students are provided with educational resources to learn the fundamentals and details of magnetic resonance imaging. The student is responsible for the failure or success of their academic progress. Students must maintain an overall acceptable progress throughout the program. Failure to do so will be cause for involuntary withdrawal from the program. At the end of the program practice MRI exams are conducted.

Transfer Credit

Due to the difference in program structures, there is no transfer credit available for other MRI programs.

Graduation Requirements

In order to receive a Certificate of Completion students must do the following:

• Complete the clinical experience requirement documentation form with the appropriate signatures and number of cases in order to be eligible to complete the ARRT Magnetic Resonance exam.*
• Pass all course sections
• Complete the required number of clinical hours

* The forms must be available in case the student is audited. The education director will ensure that all competencies and forms are completed.

Potential Workplace Hazards Associated with Magnetic Fields

Occupational exposure to the energy fields of MRI is considered safe, however, because MRI is still developing, all of the radiobiological questions are not completely answered. Clearly, the most recognizable potential hazard to a MRI examination is the potential for injury by projectiles. Regardless of size, ferromagnetic material can come under the influence of the static magnetic field and become a projectile or missile. Because of the attractive force of the primary magnetic field, ferromagnetic materials accelerate to the bore of the magnet if they are not properly shielded. If an employee or a patient is in the way, injury can occur.

All potential MR students are to undergo an MR screening process as part of their interview/application process to ensure their own safety in the MR environment. MR student applicants should discuss potential hazards with the MR medical director if they have been a member of an occupational risk group in the past to include: auto mechanic, machinist and welder or have been a patient with previous surgeries where prosthetics, surgical clips or other forms of metal were utilized. MR imaging is considered a safe procedure although the practice is relatively new. Therefore any pregnant student must take caution not to be in the MRI room when scanning.

Dress Code

The dress code varies between affiliate institutions and students will be advised to the requirements at time of their rotation. Students are always required to be neat and professional in appearance while in the MRI department.