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The Career

Mission Statement

General Sonography

Definition

The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a skilled member of the imaging health care team. The sonographer must possess in-depth knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and pathology to apply to imaging procedures. As there are several specialties within the realm of ultrasound, a sonographer's specific specialty area(s) will be determined by personal interests, background, and training.

The sonographer comes into close contact with patients, which necessitates excellent interpersonal skills. Ultrasound procedures are performed with real-time B-mode and Doppler instrumentation, utilizing a transducer assembly against the anatomical part of interest and recording the images with ancillary devices, such as laser disks, video recorders, and color printers. Most ultrasound procedures are non-invasive in nature, although with continuing advances in technology, the addition of more invasive studies increases each year.

Employment opportunities are varied. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers may be employed in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and industry. There is also a need for suitably qualified educators, researchers and administrators. The demand for registered sonographers continues to exceed the supply, and sonography has become a beneficial skill in the multi-modality health care environment. The supply and demand ratios affect salaries, depending upon experience, job description and geographic location. In the southeastern region, entry-level diagnostic sonographers earn $40,000-45,000 annually. The following is an example of the courses that students are required to take. As technology changes so may the classes .

Summer

• Introduction/Orientation to General Sonography                                                       

Fall Semester

• Abdominal Sonography I
• Scan Lab I    
• Gynecological Sonography             
• Applied DMS  I -  Clinical                                                                            

Spring Semester

• Abdominal Sonography II
• Obstetrical  Sonography                                                                    
• Sonography Physics I
• Applied DMS II - Clinical                                                                 

Summer Semester                               

• Sonography Registry Review Seminar
• Sonography Physics II
• Small Parts Sonography
• Breast/Neuro Sonography
• Applied DMS III - Clinical      

DMS courses:

Introduction to Sonography & Patient Care
This is an introductory course to familiarize the student to the ultrasound department, instrumentation terminology, hospital policies and procedures, working relationships within the hospital, and professional ethics.

Sonographic Physics and Instrumentation
The basic principles of medical sonography. Instrumentation of machine controls, transducer, color flow, Doppler ultrasound principles and hemodynamics, as well as the photographic processing and various methods of permanent storage of sonographic images, quality assurance, and bio-effects will be discussed.    

Abdominal Sonography I & II
These courses show the use of medical sonography in diagnosing of diseases of the abdomen. General principles of medical sonography scanning procedures and ultrasonic characteristics of the various organs and pathology will be covered. Laboratory values related to patient disease processes and ultrasonic finding will be reviewed.

Applied DMS Sonography I, II, III
Consecutive courses which are an internship of supervised clinical practicum hours in which the student acquires the knowledge and skills relevant to abdominal, small parts, gynecological and obstetric sonography specialties.

Gynecological Sonography - Anatomy, Physiology and Imaging
Learn applications & scanning methods including transabdominal and endovaginal. Gynecology pathology including tumors, pelvic inflammatory diseases, & congenital pelvic pathology will be presented. The menstrual cycle & its relationship to the sonographic appearance of reproductive organs & surrounding anatomy will be studied, as well as use of sonography in the 1 st trimester of pregnancy.

Sonography Registry Review
This course is a review class to prepare students for the diagnostic medical sonography examinations. The students will participate in the actual preparation of this review. Topics covered include but not limited to: Abdominal, OB/GYN, and general sonography physics and instrumentation.

Obstetrical Sonography
Applications and scanning methods of medical sonography in early pregnancy examination, estimation of gestation age, the placenta, late pregnancy, abnormal growth and development, and special procedures. Pathology associated with pregnancy will be discussed. Embryology will be reviewed. Infertility & the application of sonography in diagnosis and treatment will be studied.

Breast/Neuro Sonography
This course provides the knowledge of disease states and the associated scanning procedures used to assist in diagnosing illnesses and diseases. Students will learn the pathology of various areas of the breast and neurologic tissues, diseases which may affect these areas, and how to best apply the various scanning techniques to ensure optimum imaging results.