Sim Hoffman - Becoming a Nuclear Medicine Technician

Nuclear medicine technologists like Sim Hoffman of Buena Park, California, are highly specialized healthcare professionals. They prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals and other medications to their patients. These medications, along with specialized equipment, help them monitor the functions and characteristics of tissues and organs. The field of Nuclear Medicine technology requires specialized training to gain certification before becoming a nuclear medicine technician.

For those interested in becoming a technician in nuclear medicine, it is important to enroll in a program that has been accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Both Associate and Bachelor programs in Nuclear Medicine technology will provide you with the experience and training needed to enter into this field. During your course of study, you can expect to take classes in tomographic imaging, radiopharmaceuticals, radiation physics and human anatomy.

Once you have complete your classes, you will have to take two national certification exams, and pass at least one. Obtaining both credentials from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Nuclear Medicine Technologist Certification Board will help improve your employment prospects. While not all states require nuclear medicine technicians to be licensed, the requirements for those that do will vary. It is important to check with your state to see what may be required for you.

Sim Hoffman, the Medical Director for the Advanced Professional Imaging Medical Group, has been a certified specialist in Nuclear Medicine since 1984 after completing his fellowship in Nuclear Medicine at the USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.
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Sim Hoffman on the Role of a Radiologist

When Sim Hoffman started out his impressive career, the role of a radiologist was still rather traditional in its nature. This meant – almost exclusively – the creation and interpretation of diagnostic images. This notion is rather obsolete now, as the role of today’s medical radio imaging experts, if anything, is ever-evolving. Radiologists are now expected to do more and be more, but that is not only a professional requirement but also a personal mission inspired by improving technology and the evolving roles that today’s medical professionals fill, which are also different compared to how they were even a couple of decades ago. 
Change Since the Mid 90’s
There have been marked changes in medicine in the last two decades. The technology and the funding for diagnostic tools have increased significantly. This changed the role of the radiologist as well.

Better Collaboration
The need to develop better working relationships with the ordering doctors (those who order certain imaging tests) has significantly increased as well. As a result, a radiologist today is required to survey other specialists to guarantee the standard of procedure expected of them.

Their Unique Role
As the number of outpatients increase, radiologists need to contribute more to their care, especially when it comes to developing and maintaining well-functioning working relationships with referring doctors. A hospital department that wants to function well involves radiologists at every phases of the decision making process.

As an expert radiologist himself, Sim Hoffman welcomes these new challenges that require more and more from him and his fellow radiologists.

Sources:
https://www.advisory.com/research/imaging-performance-partnership/studies/2012/the-changing-radiologist-role
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Sim Hoffman on Fetal Heart Evaluation

As an experienced radiologist who has seen his fair share of interesting medical cases, Sim Hoffman fully understands just how important it is to successfully evaluate the heart development of fetuses. Discovering certain conditions early on can save lives and create the possibility of long term health.

Fetal Heart Abnormalities 

In about 0.4%-1.1% of live births the doctors find some kind of heart abnormality. These problems are unfortunately leading causes of high infant mortality rates. Congenital heart defects are often hard to see, despite the consistent medical imaging efforts that try to discover preexisting conditions. An accurate and early diagnosis is extremely important because it allows the doctors to prepare for various scenarios. However, there are certain obstacles that make the imaging process challenging.

Heart size, High heart rate, Movement and Position 

In the early stages of pregnancy, the size of a fetus’ heart is very tiny, often only 2 centimeters (not even an inch in its diameter). Furthermore, it beats extremely fast. A fetus’s healthy heart rate varies depending on its age, but it can be as high as 180, which makes the imaging process even harder.

Then there are factors like the movement of the fetus and its position, all having a huge impact on the quality of the images.

4D is the future

4D imaging technologies are currently revolutionizing the field, making the early evaluation of fetuses - with special emphasis on the condition and development of their heart – quicker and more accurate. As an expert radiologist with a private practice, Sim Hoffman likes to take advantage of the latest technologies.

Sources: http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/fruit-womb/importance-fetal-heart-evaluation
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