We are Women’s offers the WCH community a chance to get to know each other and share our stories.
Name: Anita Colquhoun RTNM, MRT(N), CDT
Pronouns:
Title & Department: Team Lead Bone Density
On the WCH team for: 30 years
1. What does your typical workday look like?
I start the morning by making sure that Quality Control has been done and has passed. This ensures that the machine is in working order and that patient results are reliable. We have three bone density machines and each one has their own schedule of patients. If a patient has had a bone mineral density (BMD) scan here at WCH we have to scan them on the same machine they have been done in the past. I check the schedule for the day to make sure the patients are scheduled on the correct machine and print labels, and any requisitions as needed. Once the patient has arrived, I will take them into the BMD room, take their height & weight and administer a questionnaire before I scan them.
At the end of the day, I make sure I have each of the patient’s questionnaire and printouts of their DXA scans and give them to the reporting physician. I also field any queries the other techs or physicians may have regarding BMDs.
2. What excites you the most about working at WCH?
My patients. We have such wonderful and diverse patients who are appreciative of the work we do here at WCH. They understand that we deliver the best quality BMD scanning and because of that they are willing to wait to have their test done here despite our waiting list.
3. How does your work contribute to creating a positive patient experience?
The team and I always deliver the highest quality and best practise scanning in BMD, and this is noted and commented on by our patients. We are fortunate to have scanning rooms that have windows so that is usually a pleasant surprise for the patients who in other locations are typically scanned in small windowless rooms. We thoroughly explain what we will be doing and answer any questions they have related to BMDs. All of these create a very positive experience for our patients.
4. What do you want #TeamWCH to know about bone health?
For good bone health you need to have a balanced diet, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake( as per Canada’s Food Guide) and exercise. Unfortunately, some conditions/diseases or medication can contribute to bone loss and in those cases, there may be a need to take medication to stop their affect on bone.