My department operates under the control of a physician advisory committee
composed of Vascular Surgeons, Neurologists and for the past 8 years
Radiologists.  Prior to having the Radiologists join our reading team the
Radiology Dept did Carotid and Venous Duplex.  There were problems associated with
this duplication and patients frequently went to the wrong area for testing.  The
hospital exec. staff  made the decision that the Vascular Lab would perform
Carotid and Venous Duplex and the Radiology Depart would do the abdominal, OB etc
work.  I admit that I was very skeptical about inviting Radiologists into our
department because they just think different than the Vascular Surgeons that we
have traditionally worked with.  However, shortly after our change we began to
appreciate the relationship with the Radiologists and have learned a great deal
from them in the process.  The Radiologists (4) are interventional Radiologists
and perform arteriography on most of the patient population that we serve that
need that service.  There are two technologists in our department who are RVT and
RDMS and who work in Radiology Ultrasound at times and take call for them when
they need help.
The Radiologists have as much influence in how things are done in our department
that the Vascular Surgeons do, there are also 4 Vascular Surgeons.  It has been a
great experience for me working with the Radiologists.  I am not of a Radiology
background, my only experience with ultrasound is as a Vascular Tech.  Although I
don't work there, I am welcome and feel right at home in the Radiology Special
Procedures unit and frequently go to observe arteriography in a case that I have
an interest in.  For me and my department, it has been a very positive experience
and I would not like to see a change from how we do things.

Jerry McGonnell, RVT
Tech Dir  Vascular Lab
Mercy Medical Center
Canton, OH