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To
be a successful Diagnostic Medical Sonographer you should:
- Enjoy providing one-on-one care to a variety of people
ranging from healthy to critically ill.
- Be able to use high-tech instrumentation.
- Enjoy working as a key member of a health care team.
- Be committed to lifelong learning.
- Communicate effectively with patients and other health
care professionals.
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| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
Diagnostic medical sonographer/ultrasound technologists
receive their education through academic programs at hospitals,
community colleges, and colleges or universities. Advanced
certificate programs for persons with prior training are
usually one year in length. |
| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is not required in the State of Connecticut.
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| Where
can I get more information? Society of
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
12770 Coit Road, Suite 708
Dallas, TX 75251-1319
(800) 229-9506 www.sdms.org
American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
51 Monroe St
Plaza East One
Rockville, MD 20850-2400
(800) 541-8754
ardms.org |
| What
is the salary for this career? $41,600-$66,560
(Source: 2003 Connecticut Hospital Association
Compensation Survey) |
|
| What
will my job be like? Diagnostic medical sonographers
use specialized equipment to create images of structures
inside the human body, which are used by physicians to
make a medical diagnosis. Ultrasound technology produces
high frequency sound waves (like sonar) that are reflected
by internal organs in varying patterns. These are then
converted by a computer into a moving picture, or image,
which sonographers are trained to examine for subtle signs
of problems. Sonographers prepare patients physically
and mentally, explain procedures, position patients, and
obtain medical images used for diagnosis.
Specialties include:
- Neurosonology (the brain)
- Vascular Technology (blood flows)
- Echocardiography (the heart)
- Abdominal (the liver, kidneys, spleen, and pancreas)
- Obstetrics/Gynecology (the female reproductive system)
- Ophthalmology (the eye)
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| Where
could I work? Sonographers can work in clinics,
hospitals, private practice physician offices, public
health facilities, laboratories, and other medical settings
performing examinations in their areas of specialization.
They may perform ultrasonic examinations at the bedside
or in surgery.
Other workplace settings:
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| What
is the future of this career? Employment of
medical sonographers is expected to grow as fast as the
average through 2008. |
Where
can I get the education and/or training?
- Capital Community College, Hartford
- Gateway Community College, New Haven
- St. Vincent's College, Bridgeport
- Yale-New Haven, New Haven
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