3 answers
Ja’Kailyn
Student
Rowlett, Texas
2
Questions
Updated
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What do u look forward too?
As I think about my future career as an X-ray tech specializing in pediatric patients, I'm curious about how advancements in technology and changes in healthcare practices might impact my role. What skills do you think I should focus on developing to ensure I can provide the best care for young patients, and how might the field evolve in the next decade to improve diagnostic imaging for children?
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3 answers
Cameron Cooley
IT Field Technician
8
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Cameron’s Answer
What a meaningful career path you’re choosing—working with pediatric patients as an X-ray tech is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Looking ahead, one of the most exciting developments in medical imaging is the shift toward minimally invasive, lower-dose imaging technologies, especially important when working with children. Over the next decade, we’re likely to see growth in portable imaging devices, improved 3D and motion-compensated imaging, and even personalized imaging protocols that are safer and more accurate for younger patients.
To stay ahead, you might want to focus on a few key areas:
Tech Adaptability – Imaging equipment will continue evolving quickly, so becoming comfortable with learning new tools, software updates, and digital imaging systems (like PACS) is crucial.
Child-Specific Communication Skills – Kids don’t always understand what’s happening in a medical setting, so practicing how to explain procedures in age-appropriate ways can make a huge difference in their comfort and cooperation.
Collaboration with Pediatric Teams – Build strong teamwork skills, since you’ll often be working alongside nurses, pediatricians, and sometimes child life specialists. Understanding your role within a broader care team is key to providing the best experience for your patients.
Cultural Competency & Trauma-Informed Care – As healthcare becomes more patient-centered, learning how to tailor your approach to meet different emotional, cultural, or developmental needs will make you stand out.
Ethics and Data Sensitivity – As imaging tech becomes more digitized and AI-assisted, you’ll want to be confident in understanding patient privacy, data handling, and the ethical use of imaging technologies.
You’re entering the field at a fascinating time—technology will keep evolving, but your ability to connect, adapt, and care will always be at the heart of great healthcare. Keep that curiosity alive—it's your best tool moving forward! Hope this helps!
To stay ahead, you might want to focus on a few key areas:
Tech Adaptability – Imaging equipment will continue evolving quickly, so becoming comfortable with learning new tools, software updates, and digital imaging systems (like PACS) is crucial.
Child-Specific Communication Skills – Kids don’t always understand what’s happening in a medical setting, so practicing how to explain procedures in age-appropriate ways can make a huge difference in their comfort and cooperation.
Collaboration with Pediatric Teams – Build strong teamwork skills, since you’ll often be working alongside nurses, pediatricians, and sometimes child life specialists. Understanding your role within a broader care team is key to providing the best experience for your patients.
Cultural Competency & Trauma-Informed Care – As healthcare becomes more patient-centered, learning how to tailor your approach to meet different emotional, cultural, or developmental needs will make you stand out.
Ethics and Data Sensitivity – As imaging tech becomes more digitized and AI-assisted, you’ll want to be confident in understanding patient privacy, data handling, and the ethical use of imaging technologies.
You’re entering the field at a fascinating time—technology will keep evolving, but your ability to connect, adapt, and care will always be at the heart of great healthcare. Keep that curiosity alive—it's your best tool moving forward! Hope this helps!
Caleb Lindsey
Nursing Assistant
18
Answers
Bloomfield, Indiana
Updated
Caleb’s Answer
Hi Ja'Kailyn
This is such an insightful and important question so I am so glad you asked it! In speaking with many doctors I work with as a medical scribe and from the dramatic changes in technology that are occurring around the world, I think the best skills to focus on going forward would be the ones that make you human.
AI has already begun changing healthcare, with AI medical assistants being used in areas with shortages of medical assistants and AI computer programs being used to increase the efficacy of breast cancer screenings and other diagnostic imaging tests. I think this will be the largest changes occur in your field as a X-ray tech: You will see a greater use of AI in use when interpreting and maybe even in ordering imaging studies.
Because of these changes, I think it will be important to really lean into the interpersonal skills that separate us from machines. Talking with patients and their families, listening to them, and offering supportive and encouraging words are all things that no AI or machine can replace. Especially in dealing with pediatric patients as you will be doing, being that supportive, kind voice will be the greatest skill that you yourself will need to keep with you.
As AI advancements are made, they will educate you on new technologies and techniques that you will need to learn, but I fear they will put less emphasis on the human-side of medicine as AI takes on a larger role.
I am curious to hear what your thoughts are, as I am in the beginning of my healthcare journey and am curious to see how technology changes healthcare as well.
Hope this was helpful!
This is such an insightful and important question so I am so glad you asked it! In speaking with many doctors I work with as a medical scribe and from the dramatic changes in technology that are occurring around the world, I think the best skills to focus on going forward would be the ones that make you human.
AI has already begun changing healthcare, with AI medical assistants being used in areas with shortages of medical assistants and AI computer programs being used to increase the efficacy of breast cancer screenings and other diagnostic imaging tests. I think this will be the largest changes occur in your field as a X-ray tech: You will see a greater use of AI in use when interpreting and maybe even in ordering imaging studies.
Because of these changes, I think it will be important to really lean into the interpersonal skills that separate us from machines. Talking with patients and their families, listening to them, and offering supportive and encouraging words are all things that no AI or machine can replace. Especially in dealing with pediatric patients as you will be doing, being that supportive, kind voice will be the greatest skill that you yourself will need to keep with you.
As AI advancements are made, they will educate you on new technologies and techniques that you will need to learn, but I fear they will put less emphasis on the human-side of medicine as AI takes on a larger role.
I am curious to hear what your thoughts are, as I am in the beginning of my healthcare journey and am curious to see how technology changes healthcare as well.
Hope this was helpful!
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
47
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
The most important attributes of radiology technologists are their people skills. As technology changes, one certainly must learn it, but there are training programs to teach and update folks as these changes occur.
Focus on listening deeply to others. Putting patients, adult or children, through different imaging procedures can be scary, uncomfortable, and even painful. Learn to take time to understand the emotions people are expressing, and work on empathy.
You should consider learning process improvement skills. In many settings, there are productivity requirements, so working on how to shave a minute or two out of each imaging procedure adds up to being able to speed up when a patient can get the study they need.
See if you can spend some time shadowing, or at least talking with child life specialists in your area. They are experts at how to make healthcare experiences easier for children.
Focus on listening deeply to others. Putting patients, adult or children, through different imaging procedures can be scary, uncomfortable, and even painful. Learn to take time to understand the emotions people are expressing, and work on empathy.
You should consider learning process improvement skills. In many settings, there are productivity requirements, so working on how to shave a minute or two out of each imaging procedure adds up to being able to speed up when a patient can get the study they need.
See if you can spend some time shadowing, or at least talking with child life specialists in your area. They are experts at how to make healthcare experiences easier for children.