RT2200 Digital Imaging & PACS Course Outline

Review the weekly objectives, learning activities, graded work, point values, and estimated time required throughout the course.

This course outline provides insight into the weekly objectives, assignments, point values, due dates, and estimated time required for each week's tasks.

Grade Distribution

Below is the grade distribution for this course:

Assignments

25% of the final grade

Assessments

45% of the final grade

Discussions

30% of the final grade


Weekly Course Schedule

Instruction: Select each weekly panel to review its objectives, learning activities, graded work, point values, and estimated time on task. All panel content will automatically appear when the page is printed.

Week 1 Objectives

1.1    Define the term digital imaging.

1.2    Explain latent image formation for conventional film/screen radiography.

1.3    Compare and contrast the latent image formation process for storage phosphor, flat panel with thin-film transistor (TFT), and charge-coupled device (CCD) digital imaging systems.

1.4    Explain what a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is and how it is used.

1.5    Define digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM). 

1.6    Explain the process of photostimulation, reading, and erasing in the imaging plate. 

1.7    Define a thin-film transistor (TFT) flat panel digital image detector.

1.8    Describe the construction of direct and indirect TFT flat panel detector systems.

1.9    Differentiate between direct and indirect image capture.

1.10    Describe the components of a charge-coupled device (CCD).

1.11    Explain the function of a CCD.

1.12    Define complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS).

1.13    Describe the basic construction and function of a CMOS.

Module 1: Introduction to Digital Radiography

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 1 Key Points 1.1–1.5 1 hour
 Week 1 Module 1 Video 1.1–1.5 15 minutes
Chapter 1: Introduction to Digital Radiography and PACS 
1.1–1.5 2 hours 50 minutes

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 1 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 1.1–1.5 30 minutes

Module 2: Photostimulable Phosphor Image Capture

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 2 Key Points 1.6 1 hour
Week 1 Module 2 Video 1.6  15 minutes
Chapter 4: Photostimulable Phosphor Image Capture 1.6  3 hours 20 minutes

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 2 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 1.6 30 minutes

Module 3: Thin-Film Transistor Flat Panel Array Image Acquisition

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 3 Key Points 1.7–1.9 1 hour
Week 1 Module 3 Video 1.7–1.9  15 minutes
Chapter 5: Thin-Film Transistor Flat Panel Array Image Acquisition 1.7–1.9  1 hour 50 minutes

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 3 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 1.7–1.9 30 minutes

Module 4: Charge-Coupled Device

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 4 Key Points 1.10–1.13 1 hour
Week 1 Module 4 Video 1.10–1.13 15 minutes
Chapter 6: Charge-Coupled Device/Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Image Capture 1.10–1.13 1 hour 45 minutes

Week 1 Module 4 Clover Lessons

1.10–1.13 5 hours

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Module 4 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 1.10–1.13 30 minutes

Do

Title Points Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 1 Discussion 100 points 1.1–1.13 2 hours
Week 1 Assignment 50 points 1.1–1.13 2 hours
Week 1 Test 50 points 1.1–1.13 1 hour

Week 2 Objectives

2.1    Define pixel and image matrix, and characteristics of each.

2.2    Define image brightness.

2.3    Identify the differences between spatial resolution and contrast resolution.

2.4    Explain the implications of image noise, modulation transfer function, and detective quantum efficiency (DQE).

2.5    Define exposure latitude.

Module 1: Characteristics

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 2 Module 1 Key Points 2.1–2.5 1 hour
Week 2 Module 1 Video 2.1–2.5 15 minutes
Chapter 2: Digital Imaging Characteristics 2.1–2.5 2 hours 40 minutes

Week 2 Module 1 Clover Lessons

2.1–2.5 5 hours

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 2 Module 1 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 2.1–2.5 30 minutes

Do

Title Points Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 2 Discussion 100 points 2.1–2.5 2 hours
Week 2 Assignment 50 points 2.1–2.5 2 hours
Week 2 Test 40 points 2.1–2.5 1 hour

Week 3 Objectives

3.1    Describe the formation of an image histogram.

3.2    Explain automatic rescaling.

3.3    Compare image latitude in digital imaging with film/screen radiography.

3.4    List the functions of contrast enhancement parameters.

3.5    State the Nyquist theorem.

3.6    Describe the effects of improper algorithm application.

3.7    Explain the purpose and function of image manipulation factors.

3.8    Describe the major factors in image management.

Module 1: Processing and Manipulation

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 3 Module 1 Key Points 3.1–3.8 1 hour
Week 3 Module 1 Video 3.1–3.8 15 minutes
Chapter 3: Digital Radiographic Image Processing and Manipulation 3.1–3.8  2 hours 40 minutes

Week 3 Module 1 Clover Lessons

3.1–3.8  1 hour

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 3 Module 1 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 3.1–3.8 30 minutes

Do

Title Points Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 3 Discussion 100 points 3.1–3.8 2 hours
Week 3 Assignment 50 points 3.1–3.8 2 hours
Week 3 Mid-Course Progress Report
10 points 30 minutes
Week 3 Test 38 points 3.1–3.8 1 hour

Week 4 Objectives

4.1    Distinguish between different types of networks (geographic and component roles).

4.2    Identify common network hardware components.

4.3    Describe different types of network cabling and their uses.

4.4    Define network protocol.

4.5    Differentiate between the common network topologies.

4.6    Explain the use of digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) in medical imaging.

4.7    Define Health Level 7 (HL-7) and describe its use in health care information systems.

Module 1: Computer Basics

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 4 Module 1 Key Points 4.1–4.5 1 hour
Week 4 Module 1 Video 4.1–4.5  15 minutes
Chapter 8: Networking and Communication Basics 4.1–4.5  2 hours 30 minutes

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 4 Module 1 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 4.1–4.5 30 minutes

Module 2: Medical Informatics

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 4 Module 2 Key Points 4.6–4.7 1 hour
Week 4 Module 2 Video 4.6–4.7  15 minutes
Chapter 11: Medical Informatics 4.6–4.7  1 hour 10 minutes

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 4 Module 2 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 4.6–4.7 30 minutes

Do

Title Points Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 4 Discussion 100 points 4.1–4.7 2 hours
Week 4 Assignment 50 points 4.1–4.7 2 hours
Week 4 Test 35 points 4.1–4.7 1 hour

Week 5 Objectives

5.1 Explain display monitor principles by identifying optimal viewing conditions including proper viewing angles and ambient lighting requirements.

5.2 Define brightness and contrast parameters and their relationship to diagnostic image quality.

5.3 Define Medical Image Management and Processing System (MIMPS), formerly known as picture archiving and communication system (PACS).

5.4 Compare and contrast the various types of MIMPS and Medical Image Communications Devices display workstations.

5.5Differentiate among the different types of digital imaging workflow.

5.6 Define system architecture and recognize the three major models.

5.7 Describe the common functions found on a MIMPS workstation.

5.8 Describe the situations and users that may require advanced MIMPS workstation functions.

6.1    Explain when downtime procedures are used.

6.2    Describe common downtime tasks.

Module 1: Fundamentals

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 5 Module 1 Key Points 5.1–5.8 1 hour
Week 5 Module 1 Video 5.1–5.8  15 minutes
Chapter 9: Medical Image Management and Processing System, Medical Image Storage Devices, and Medical Image Communications Devices Fundamentals 5.1–5.8  3 hours 30 minutes

Week 5 Module 1 Clover Lessons

5.1–5.8 2 hours

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 5 Module 1 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 5.1–5.8 30 minutes

Module 2: Downtime Procedures

Learn

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 5 Module 2 Key Points 6.1–6.2 1 hour
Week 5 Module 2 Video 6.1–6.2  15 minutes

Practice

Title Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 5 Module 2 Self-Assessment Practice Quiz 6.1–6.2 30 minutes

Do

Title Points Objective(s) Approx. Time on Task
Week 5 Discussion 100 points 5.1–5.8, 6.1–6.2 2 hours
Week 5 Assignment 50 points 5.1–5.8, 6.1–6.2 2 hours
Week 5 Test 50 points 5.1–5.8, 6.1–6.2 1 hour