Medical sonographers provide diagnostic patient care using ultrasound equipment.
Sonography is the use of sound waves to generate images of the human body. The technique helps doctors evaluate and develop treatment plans for illnesses. Sonography is also used to produce ultrasound images during pregnancy. Professionals trained to operate the equipment that produces these images are known as diagnostic medical sonographers. Prospective students in California can choose from among nine institutions accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
University of California San Diego
The University of California San Diego Medical Center offers a certificate in diagnostic medical sonography (DMS). Students are assigned to an affiliate hospital for clinical training, and are qualified to sit for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) exam at the completion of their studies.
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College has a 21-hour certificate DMS program. The program requires applicants to have completed either a two-year health education program such as nursing or a bachelor's degree with training in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and patient care. International applicants with medical degrees equivalent to those in North America also satisfy the prerequisite.
Orange Coast College
The DSM associate in science degree at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa is a four-semester program that trains students for work as sonographers in hospitals, doctor's offices and clinics. Students must complete math and general education requirements before applying to this program, which also provides education in the use of vascular ultrasound.
Merced College
Merced College has offered a certificate in DMS with two tracks: general (obstetrics/gynecology/abdomen) and cardiac (adult echo). Core courses have included basic ultrasound physics, introduction to sonography, abdominal sonography and the basics of vascular sonography. The program was placed on a temporary moratorium in the beginning of 2011.
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University has a department of radiation technology that confers certificates in two programs: a 24-month DMS and vascular technology track and a 12-month cardiac sonography track. The DMS and vascular technology track trains students to operate ultrasound equipment for obstetrics and gynecology, as well as general sonography. The cardiac sonography track focuses on sonography of the heart and includes comprehensive study in heart anatomy and disease processes. Students learn use color and spectral Doppler to evaluate blood flow and detect abnormalities.
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences in Richmond provides campus and distance learning for students interested in careers in radiography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and sonography. The general program in sonography spans 18 months and prepares students to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers national registry exam. First-year classes include patient care and ergonomics, ultrasound physics and instrumentation, and introduction to abdominal and pelvic sonography. Second-year classes include vascular sonography and obstetrics sonography.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science
Los Angeles' Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is one of the few schools in the country to offer a bachelor of science in DMS. Applicants must have an associate of science degree in a science-related field from an accredited school, a minimum GPA of 2.0 and prerequisites in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, medical terminology, college algebra and English composition.
Cypress College
Cypress College offers an 18-month DMS certificate program that covers sonography physics, abdomen scanning, ethics and pathology. Clinical training is provided at hospitals affiliated with the college, and is performed in nine-hour shifts.
Foothill College
Los Altos is home to Foothill College, which offers a 96-unit DMS certificate and a 126-unit associate in science in DMS. Students are trained to pursue careers working as sonographers in hospitals or clinics or as independent contractors. In addition to core classes in sonography, both programs add classes in gynecology, obstetrics, patient care and sectional anatomy.
Tags: patient care, Allied Health, associate science, Allied Health Sciences, American Registry, American Registry Diagnostic