What is a Sonography (Ultrasound) Technician?
17 December 2009
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Ultrasound or sonography technicians are professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to use ultrasound equipment in a diagnostic setting. Ultrasound technicians have an important role in the health sector and work in many different areas of medicine.
What do ultrasound technicians do?
There are various skills ultrasound technicians must possess. First of all, they must have a thorough understanding of how ultrasound technology works and must be able to use ultrasound machinery, being able to influence the quality of the image to their advantage for a fast and effective diagnosis. To do this, an in-depth understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body is required along with the ability to use the equipment. Ultrasound technicians must know where the relevant internal organs are for effective visualization.
Additionally, it is important that ultrasound technicians also possess one of the most essential skills to all medical workers (doctors, nurses etc) – the ability to deal with patients. This means ensuring patients are comfortable and at ease. Ultrasound technicians also sometimes have to move patients to get access to certain areas of the body, meaning they must be able to physically cope with moving patients on their own.
How to become an ultrasound technician
The first thing you need to do to become an ultrasound technician is to graduate high school. After this, you have two options. You can either go straight from high school to a sonography tech program at college accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography or you can do another degree at a higher education institution and then enter into an accredited sonography tech program.
For those who gain a degree before entering into a sonography training program, it is sometimes possible to complete the course within one year rather than within the normal two year time frame. To do this, you must have a degree in either biology or physics.
When you graduate, you will be awarded an associate’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography. You have the option here of registering with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Registration can be achieved by sitting an exam, which covers the physics of ultrasound technology as well as your specialty.
What do ultrasound technicians do?
There are many specialties that ultrasound technicians can go in to. Common specialties include obstetrics, cardiac ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound. However, there are many other areas that use ultrasound technicians. Obstetrics is the most common application of ultrasound, but ultrasound technologists make up important parts of the medical personnel in a huge variety of departments within hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices.
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