RAs can also undertake certain peripheral venous diagnostic procedures and place feeding tubes in patients without complications. Once the examination has taken place, the RA may be involved in determining image quality and may also provide preliminary observations—but purely in the context of assisting the radiologist and not for presentation to the patient.
While a certain amount of controversy inevitably surrounds their emergence as distinct midlevel practitioners, RAs are currently recognized in 10 states, each with its own requirements for education and accreditation. RAs must obtain at least a bachelor’s degree, and master’s degrees are fairly common.
It should be noted that PAs frequently perform many of the tasks for which RAs are trained. PAs, of course, have a broader educational background than RAs and possess certain advantages in the breadth of their capabilities and privileges as health care practitioners. However, within the narrower scope of radiologic duties, the RA may be regarded as having more specific training than the PA. What impact this will have on PAs who practice in radiology remains to be seen.