Sonography Schools

Specialties

Medical sonographers use many different types of equipment and procedures to diagnose patients. MRIs, ultrasounds, and ultrasound machines use radio waves magnets and sound waves to help diagnose many health problems.

Sonographers use ultrasound equipment, utilizing the machine's high frequency sound waves going through the patient's body to record images that can later be viewed on video or still image by a doctor. A sonographer is responsible for:

• Preparing patients to see a doctor
• Collecting the patient's medical history
• Examining the affected area of the body with a transducer
• Reviewing the images and edit them accordingly to make sure the doctor gets only the most important footage

Sonographers have different specialties to choose from:

Ophthalmologic Sonography

Involves examining the eyes which helps physicians get extremely accurate measurements of a patient's eyes with prosthetic lenses, and getting a loser look at the retina, blood vessels, tumors or any other abnormalities of the eye. The instruments used to examine eyes are much smaller in scale.

Abdominal Sonography

Deals primarily with the abdominal organs like the pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, liver, and kidneys. A neurosonographer images the brain, and obstetric/gynecological sonographers examine female reproductive systems.

Sonographers must use neurosonography to check for brain disease or disorders. Strokes can be easily detected by scanning the brain and observing blood vessels.

These are only a few of the skills that sonographers will learn while earning a degree or certificate. The student will also learn how to manage the imaging department, patient schedules, and records. They will be dependent upon to service the imaging equipment, and contribute input when it comes to purchasing new equipment.

Education

Some educational programs for sonographers require a background in health or science while others will take high school graduates and train them. Students hoping to become sonographers can receive a two-year associate's degree or a four-year bachelor's degree. Most working sonographers prefer to receive a two-year degree. The program covers topics ranging from ethical issues, physiology, anatomy, and the development of personal skills used to enhance bedside-manner and patient care. Basic instruction in physics and the care and service of sonography equipment are also covered.

Professional Affiliations

Sonographers should register with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as many doctors, labs, and hospitals prefer to hire sonographers who are registered. To qualify for registered status, a sonographer must pass a basic equipment and procedure exam and be tested in their specialty.

Sonographers should continue to pursue additional educational opportunities to stay current on technological advances. The job outlook for this career is positive as more sonographer jobs are available due to the large number of elderly patients. Experts estimate increased job growth in this field well through 2012.