Diagnostic Medical Sonography Careers
Diagnostic medical sonography involves using non-invasive, high-frequency sound waves, called ultrasound, to generate images of the human body for diagnostic purposes. Diagnostic medical sonographers are responsible for operating the ultrasound equipment that produces dynamic visual images of tissues, blood flow and organs for the attending physician to review. Diagnostic medical sonography careers typically require specialized training.
Job Duties
Diagnostic medical sonographers are responsible for explaining diagnostic procedures to patients as well as positioning the patients to receive the best images. The sonographers then use specialized ultrasound equipment to perform the scan, keeping their eyes open for subtle visual cues that contrast unhealthy areas with the healthy ones. Diagnostic medical sonographers must then analyze the images and decide which ones will help the doctor make an accurate diagnosis. Sonographers are typically responsible for keeping accurate patient records and maintaining their ultrasound equipment.
Specializations
Diagnostic medical sonography professionals can specialize in various sonography areas. Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers focus on imaging the female reproductive system, frequently helping obstetricians examine the growth and health of a fetus. Abdominal sonographers evaluate the organs and soft tissues in the abdominal cavity, including the liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen and gallbladder. Neurosonographers evaluate the brain and spinal cord, while echocardiographers inspect the heart and related blood vessels. Breast sonographers, sometimes called mammographers, use ultrasound equipment to evaluate breast abnormalities.
Education
A majority of diagnostic medical sonographers earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography or an AAS in Diagnostic Ultrasound. Associate's degree programs take about 2 years to complete and are offered through community colleges, technical institutes, vocational schools or junior colleges. Some universities offer a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Diagnostic medical sonography training programs should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP; see Resources section).
Certification
Diagnostic medical sonographers can register with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) after passing a credentialing examination (see Resources section). The examination is about 2 hours long and contains about 120 multiple-choice questions about sonography instrumentation and principles. The ARDMS also offers credentialing examinations in the specialty areas of obstetric and gynecologic sonography, breast sonography, neurosonography and abdominal sonography. Sonographers must attend continuing education (CE) classes, workshops or seminars to maintain their ARDMS registration.
Required Skills
Diagnostic medical sonography professionals should possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills because they must be able to explain technical diagnostic procedures to patients and imaging results to diagnosing physicians. Sonographers must also possess excellent hand-eye coordination to capture quality images. A sonographer should be in good physical shape because they have to stand on their feet for long periods of time. They should also be able to shift patients and help them on and off the examining tables.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts employment opportunities in the diagnostic medical sonography field to grow more quickly than average. This job increase is due to the continued development of new medical technologies and the increased use of non-invasive diagnostic procedures. While hospitals will remain the primary employer of diagnostic medical sonographers, the BLS predicts there will be more job openings in diagnostic clinics, medical laboratories and doctors' offices. According to the BLS, the median annual salary of diagnostic medical sonographers was about $57,000 in 2006.
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