Download A Career in Ultrasound - Echo ED: Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Become an Ultrasound
Technologist
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What’s in a name?
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Sonographer
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Scanner
Ultrasound Technologist
– Ultrasound “tech”
• Ultrasound Technician
Description of the Profession
What is Sonography?
What does a Sonographer Do?
What are the Career Opportunities?
What is Diagnostic Medical
Sonography?
It is a perfect blend of Art and Science.
Very operator dependent.
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What is Sonography?
Ultrasonography, commonly called
Sonography, is a diagnostic medical
procedure that uses high frequency
sound waves (ultrasound) to produce
dynamic visual images of organs,
tissues, or blood flow inside the body.
What is Sonography?
Sonography can be used to examine
many parts of the body, such as the
abdomen, breasts, female reproductive
system, prostate, heart, and blood
vessels.
Obstetrics
Obstetrics
Gynecology
Abdomen
Vascular
Cardiac
Echocardiography
Obstetrics
Procedures
What is Sonography?
The process involves placing a small device
called a transducer against the patient’s skin near
the body part to be imaged. The transducer
works like a loudspeaker and microphone
because it can both transmit and receive sound.
The transducer sends a stream of high
frequency sound waves into the body
that bounce off the structures inside.
The transducer detects sound waves as
they bounce off the internal structures.
What is Sonography?
What Does a Sonographer Do?
Hmmmmm
What Does a Sonographer Do?
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A diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a highlyskilled professional who uses specialized
equipment to create images of structures inside
the human body that are used by physicians to
make a medical diagnosis.
What Does a Sonographer Do?
Sonographers have extensive, direct
patient contact that may include
performing some invasive procedures.
They must be able to interact
compassionately and effectively with
people who range from healthy to
critically ill.
There are several areas of specialization in the field of
Sonography.
 Abdomen-evaluation of all
the soft tissues, blood vessels
and organs of the abdominal
cavities (for example, liver,
spleen
urinary
tract,
pancreas)
 Breast-frequently used to
evaluate breast abnormalities
that
are
found
with
screening or diagnostic
mammography.
 Obstetrics/Gynecologyevaluation of the female
reproductive system
 Vascular Technology-evaluation
and analysis of the hemodynamics
(blood flow) of peripheral and
abdominal blood vessels.
 Neurosonography evaluation of
the brain and spinal cord.
 Ophthalmology-evaluation of the
eye. Including orbital structures and
muscles.
 Echocardiography-evaluation of
the anatomy and hemodynamics
(blood flow) of the heart, its valves
and related blood vessels.
Professional Responsibilities
Providing
an oral or written summary
of the technical findings to the physician
for medical diagnosis
Providing quality patient care
Collaborating
with physicians and
other members of the health care team.
 Obtaining and recording an
accurate patient history
 Performing diagnostic
procedures and obtaining
diagnostic images
 Analyzing technical
information
 Using independent judgment in
recognizing the need to extend
the scope to the procedure
according to the diagnostic
findings.
Technical Standards
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Lift more than 50 pounds routinely
Push and pull routinely
Bend and stoop routinely
Have full use of both hands, wrist and shoulders
Distinguish audible sounds
Adequately view sonograms, including color distinctions
Work standing on their feet 80% of the time
Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick or injured
Assist patient on and off examining tables
Communicate effectively with patients and other health care
professionals
 Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a
Sonographic procedure in the proper sequence.
What is required to be a Diagnostic
Medical Sonographer?
• A knowledge of pathology and physiology (human
anatomy and physiology).
• Good analytical and problem solving skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Compassion, high degree of personal integrity and
professionalism.
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What are the Career Opportunities?
 Sonographers, Echocardiographers, and Vascular
Technologists can choose to work in clinics, hospitals,
private practice physician offices, public health
facilities, laboratories, and other medical settings
performing examinations in their areas of
specialization.
 Career advancement opportunities exist in education,
administration, research, and in commercial
companies as education/application specialists, sales
representatives, technical advisors, etc.
 Full-time, part-time, and per diem positions are
available.
 A sonographer must be willing to be on call.
What are the Salaries for
Sonographers?
 In addition to excellent career opportunities, salaries for
sonographers are competitive with or higher than other
professionals with similar levels of education.
 According to the SDMS Salary and Benefits Survey report
(released March, 2005); the median salary for sonographers is
$61,984. This income includes: 1) hourly salary, 20 overtime,
and 3) on-call pay.
 The typical hourly pay rate is $29.
 The typical number of overtime hours worked per week by
sonographers is 3.
Ultrasound Programs
Choose carefully…
Where to start looking for a
school?
• Start here:
– CAAHEP
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
Programs
• Caahep.org
– JRC-DMS
• Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic
Medical Sonography
• Jrcdms.org
An Associate in Science Degree is the
standard
Education needed prior to attending an Ultrasound
program
• Accredited programs require a high school
diploma and a sound academic standing in
high school English, algebra and biology. An
understanding of computers and technology is
also a necessity.
Admission Requirements
May vary depending on program type
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High School transcript/GED
College Transcript (if attended college)
Three letters of reference
Application essay
SAT score
TEAS score (Entrance Test)
College placement test/if required
Do You Want to Become a Registered
Sonographer?
If the student wants to become a ‘registered’
sonographer upon graduation, the student
needs to know the accreditation status of the
education program before they apply for
admission to the program.
Increasingly,
employers
require
their
sonographers to become registered or hire
only registered sonographers.
Registration
• Taking a test to show that you have the ability to perform
competent diagnostic tests on humans.
• You may be asked to take many tests
– ARDMS (The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical
Sonography)
• SPI-Sonography principles and Instrumentation
• Specialty exam (Ab, Ob/Gyn, Br, RVT, RDCS, …)
• ARDMS.org
– CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International)
• cci-online.org
– ARRT(S) – American Registry of Radiologic Technologists –
Sonography Primary
• arrt.org
General Educational Phase (Includes CAAHEP and AS Required
Courses) Courses may vary depending on Program type
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Medical Terminology
Patient Care
Anatomy and Physiology Part I
Anatomy and Physiology Part II
English Composition I
English Composition II
College Algebra
Statistics
Elements of Physics
Psychology
Sociology
Introduction to computers
Pathophysiology
Humanities Elective
Professional Phase
Core Courses may vary depending on program type
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Health Care Today (on-line)
Introduction to Sonography
Cross-Sectional Anatomy
Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I and II
Ultrasound of the Abdomen I and II
Ultrasound of the Female Pelvis (Gynecology)
Obstetrical Sonography I and II
Ultrasound of Superficial Structures I and II
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Vascular
Breast
Neurosonography
Musculoskeletal
• Registry Review
• Clinical Sonography I, II, III, IV, & V
What Are the Job Opportunities?
• For the present graduates, there are many
opportunities around the country. There are
shortages particularly in the Midwest and in
the South. The market in New Jersey is tighter
due to the number of schools in this area.
However, with baby boomers about to retire,
shortages of sonographers are even predicted
for New Jersey.
In conclusion
• Sonographers must possess:
– the ability to empathize with a patient while remaining
focused on the completion of the examination.
– a strong background in anatomy and physiology
– excellent communication skills.
– problem solving and critical thinking skills
– ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Characteristics needed to be a sonographer
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Leadership and organizational skills
People skills
Patience
Flexibility
Compassion
Problem-solving skills
A sense of humor
The ability to stay calm in a crisis
What does it take to be a
successful Ultrasound Student?
• Be sure to speak up so that you can have as
much “hands-on” time as possible/
• Be ready to take criticism, sometimes harsh, at
something you may be proud of.
• Be ready to spend many hours every night and
weekends studying material for your courses.
• Be ready not to be discouraged by negative
minded technologists.
• Be sure your family and friends are ready to support your
endeavor.
• Be ready to adapt (be flexible) with each new clinical
internship (clinical assignment).
• Be ready to consider all the time involved (including drive,
class, and study time).
• Be ready to practice, practice, practice your scanning skills.
The techniques to be successful clinically may be more
difficult than the bookwork.
• Be sure to be very patient, with yourself and others.
• Be sure to have a high level of motivation and self-direction.
• Be ready for a rigorous, challenging program.
Ask yourself…’Am I ready for this challenge? Do I have the
initiative to strive for excellence?’
In conclusion
 Love what you do
 Whatever it is!!!!