The radiographer must obtain high-quality images so that the patient's condition can be diagnosed accurately, says Ms Leong. (Photo: Chong Jun Liang)

She applied for it, was accepted and studied at the London South Bank University for three years.

“It was an opportunity of a lifetime, studying overseas. Living away from home for the first time, I quickly learnt to be independent. I also got to experience and learn about the health-care system of another country,” says Ms Leong, 25.

She graduated with first class honours in her Bachelor of Science degree (Diagnostic Radiography) and is now working as a radiographer at Changi General Hospital, an institution under the SingHealth Group.

During the final year of her university course, she served a three-week attachment in the radiology department at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, in Sydney, Australia.

Diagnostic radiography is the use of the different types of imaging including x-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to produce images of the body for diagnosis and treatment.

A diagnostic radiographer is an important member of the health-care team because she is responsible for taking diagnostic images of a patient, as referred by a medical practitioner, for a specific radiographic procedure.

The procedure may range from simple X-rays for skeletal examinations such as for a minor bone fracture to highly specialised examinations for such conditions as brain tumours and haemorrhages.

Ms Leong explains: “Radiography is an important component of diagnosis and treatment. The radiographer has a great responsibility to obtain clear, distinct images.

Images of poor diagnostic quality can lead to misdiagnosis of the patient’s condition.

“Obtaining high -quality images can sometimes be difficult when a patient is in pain. We need to have good bedside manners. Often, patients are anxious.

We have to comfort and calm them, and explain the procedure clearly to reduce their anxiety. “We also have to take note of the patients’ medical history and check to make sure that X-rays or other imaging techniques do not pose any risk to them.

For example, certain precautions have to be taken for a woman who is pregnant so that the radiation will not affect the foetus.”

Her desire to help others goes way back to her school days when she was often involved in community work such as organising street camps for children and visiting charitable homes.

Passionate about her job, Ms Leong says: “I like the special combination of technology and human touch especially when working with patients in the frontline.

It is nice to be able to interact with patients to make scanning a more pleasant experience for them. Taking X-rays is not just about lying on a cold hard table while the radiographer presses the button!”

Just over three years into her profession, she appreciates the opportunities that exist for training and career development. She explains: “According to his particular interest, a radiographer can choose to advance into clinical work, teach, go into research or branch into management.”

As a radiographer, there are numerous opportunities for continuous learning through job rotation. When she first came back after her radiography course, she was in the frontline, working directly with patients. Since then, she has moved on to an administrative role and is now managing the Radiology Information System at CGH.

“The operations of the Radiology Department depend heavily on this system, which manages patient registration, appointment scheduling, billing, and medical reporting.

Part of my role involves training staff, the extraction of operational statistics and optimising the workflow of the department. “My experience as a radiographer helps in anticipating any relevant issues.

My work also involves constant communication with my colleagues to understand the work processes and improve on them, eventually leading to better patient care,” says Ms Leong.

She is currently involved in a SingHealth project involving the other institutions like the Singapore General Hospital and the National Cancer Centre Singapore, for electronic ordering of radiological procedures, which requires her to know her departmental operations well.

She is also looking forward to doing MRI scanning next year. The job is strenuous, and to keep fit, she jogs, cycles and swims regularly for exercise and recently started playing ball games — futsal and captain’s ball with her colleagues.

She describes herself as a typical girl who goes shopping and to the movies. To unwind, she meets her friends at cafés or over dinner, and listens to music.

Article contributed by SingHealth, the largest public health-care group in Singapore. For more information on careers with SingHealth, visit www.singhealth.com.sg/career or call 6225-0488.