17 Jul 2011
By Tan Bah Bah
If you are about to go for surgery, however minor, you will be thankful for the skills and dedication of a radiographer like Ms Sally Lee Hsuen Er (left), 26.
As a radiographer with Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), the largest radiology department in Singapore with more than 40 imaging procedure rooms, she makes radiographs, the photographic images which help a surgeon decide whether or not surgery is needed and, if so, where exactly, what procedure and how it will be done.
Her interest in biology, which started when she was in secondary school and junior college, turned into one for radiography after she attended the Nanyang Polytechnic open house and went to a hospital to find out more about diagnostic radiography.
Says the MOH Health Science Scholar: “I spent a day in Diagnostic Radiology SGH to observe the daily work of a radiographer. I was fascinated by the modalities used to image and view the human anatomy. Every organ, muscle, blood vessel could be seen in so many possible ways.
“Radiography plays a very important role in the diagnosis of a patient’s condition as the diagnostic images would assist the clinicians in the management of the patient.”
To fulfil her career dream, she accepted the MOH Health Science Scholarship to study Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Sydney in Australia where she graduated with first class honours for a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences (Diagnostic Radiography) degree.
The company paid for her airfare, tuition fees and compulsory fees, maintenance allowance, clothing allowance and book allowance. In return, she signed a six-year bond, two-and-a-half years of which she has already served working at SGH.
She describes her working environment as very dynamic. “Every day, I interact with patients from all walks of life and in different physical conditions. I need to consider how I can communicate with them so that we can understand one another better,” she says.
“My colleagues and I usually work as a team to facilitate the procedure and ensure the safety of the patient. As ours is a busy department, remembering the hospital’s slogan — Patients. At the Heart of All We Do — helps a great deal.”
There are six imaging centres in her department — general imaging, emergency imaging, advanced imaging, inpatient imaging, interventional radiology and satellite imaging.
She has done shifts in inpatient imaging and emergency imaging, both of which operate round the clock. Currently, she does ultrasound scans in general imaging.
The company identifies their learning needs during their annual appraisals. The avenues for improvement may include conferences, workshops and courses, which may include personal development.
She says: “For instance, we have the leadership programme, Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People, which encourages us to adopt seven good daily habits to be more effective and productive.”
What are the key qualities for anyone to excel in her type of work? “Radiographers should have good interpersonal skills to deal with patients of all kinds and ages. Many patients need considerable reassurance and counselling as well as an explanation of the radiographic procedure with which they are being examined or treated,” she says.
“One also needs to be compassionate and have great sense of urgency and responsibility. Critical analysis, supervisory leadership and pursuit for excellence are important qualities to excel in radiography. These leadership qualities can be developed in service.”
Career opportunities for radiographers can range from clinical practitioners to department administrators, lecturers to marketing consultants and application specialists. With the right professional qualifications, going overseas for work experience and exposure is also a possibility, she adds.
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