SHINE A LIGHT BLOG

Imaging Technologists: Building the Relationship of Trust with Patients and Why it Matters

By Doug Hussey, a PET-CT Imaging Technologist

I am Doug Hussey, a PET-CT imaging technologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the largest cancer hospitals in the world.

Although we see patients for a short time, building the relationship of trust is extremely important. From our side, having patients trust us makes them more relaxed, which makes it a better experience for them in the department. It also helps image quality, which is often affected if someone is more anxious and tense. It’s a 2-way street: it helps the exam goes smoothly, and it also helps their exam get done more accurately. Princess Margaret is an oncology hospital, so 90% of our work is with cancer patients.On our side, it’s important to understand what they are going through, explaining everything to them and getting them into a trusted environment.

This month, I’m joining Satheesh Krishna in the Radiologists studio to talk about about how to become an imaging technologist, the skills and knowledge you need, our work with radiologists, the role of empathy and building the relationship of trust with the patient and much more.