What do you know?

Hi,

Its been a while I know, I haven't had the inclination or the time to write, and this has been because my life has been, well, interesting.

When I became a Radiographer in 1990, the life wasn't interesting really. Oh don't get me wrong, the day to day stuff is always stimulating, and get me in the right mood, and I have got a million stories of the heart stopping stupidity and brilliance of the people I share the planet with, but basically we take x-rays.

That is basically it.

Well, not any more. You see over the last 15 years, Radiology has got all "high tech" and "computery". We no longer use film, we image using magnetic fields of mind blowing power, we image using radioactive indictable materials, and we use ultrasound. We also use all of these things together in interesting and varied ways. Also, we now produce literally thousand's of images per exam. These are all stored electronically.

Which brings me to my job.

I am the PACS Administrator for Hawkes Bay District Health Board. I was stepped down from the Charge Radiographer role in favour of my new boss, who I call "Boss" or Paula, (I am convinced this was the right choice, having worked with her for the last month), and now I do all the "techy" stuff. Which I love, being Aspergers (and capable of concentrating on a task without a break for 6+hours) I am suited for it.

But the thing with hi tech equipment, is it costs a lot of money. Someone has to choose the gear we buy, and that is me (supported by my clinical team, who I have a sneaking feeling actually do all the work whilst I take the glory). In order to choose new gear, I have to see it, which means I go to where it is installed and operating.

Which means next month I am going (with 2 other clinical team members) on an expenses paid trip to Melbourne, Adelaide and (drum roll) Rochester, in upstate New York!!!!!!!

To say I am excited about this trip is a bit of an understatement!! I have never been to the USA, and to be taken there, business class to a hospital 60 miles from Niagara Falls is a bit of a fantastic stroke of luck.

I haven't been to Oz either, but I am not so excited about that one. They have spiders and snakes and things....Ewwww!

Oh, it will be work, and it will be knackering, and I will be an ambassador for my employer and everything..

But I still am counting the days. Watch out America! The Redcoats are coming!! (Actually my coat is brown suede leather, but that hasn't got such a ring to it)

Be Good