Online ultrasond training programs prepare students for a variety of medical sonography career options.
Diagnostic medical sonography involves using ultrasound techniques to perform non-invasive diagnostic procedures, according to Education-Portal.com. Sonographers use sound waves to generate an image, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Professionals can apply these techniques not only in working with pregnant patients but also in observing soft tissues such as the kidney, heart or even the eyes. In fact, this kind of technology can be more effective than magnetic resonance imaging or radiology, according to CollegeBoard.com. Several universities offer online programs that conveniently teach students the technical skills they need for this growing field.
Programs
Students who are interested in the field of medical diagnostic sonography can complete online courses through various colleges and universities. Programs can lead to a certificate, associate degree or bachelor's degree, according to Mountain State University in West Virginia. Two-year programs are the most common. Once a student has completed an online program, he or she can apply to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers for exams in sonography principles and instrumentation, abdomen and obstetrics as well as gynecology, vascular and echocardiography. To enroll in an online program, some schools require students to have a competitive cumulative grade point average, to have completed their prerequisite courses, to have some patient care or shadowing experience and to successfully complete an interview or an entrance examination. Programs should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and meet the standards of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
Benefits
An online ultrasound program is convenient for individuals who want to pursue postsecondary education while juggling other personal and professional responsibilities. Many of these programs also allow students to complete the clinical portion of their education at healthcare facilities close to them. Some colleges do require students to visit their campuses at some point during the program. Because two-year programs are the most prevalent, students can choose to complete their ultrasound training relatively quickly.
Courses
Courses in online ultrasound programs cover topics such as introduction to ultrasound, human disease, physics and instrumentation, general sonography procedures, vascular sonography procedures and cardiac sonography procedures, according to Washburn University in Kansas. Introductory courses teach students anatomy, related medical terminology, scan plan orientations, hospital organization and basic patient care principles.
Job Prospects
With an online ultrasound degree, students can pursue a variety of roles in the field. They can work as obstetric/gynecological sonographers, abdominal sonographers, neurosonographers and breast sonographers. Neurosonographers focus on the brain and nervous system, while breast sonographers study the diseases of the breast. Diagnostic medical sonographers also can manage work and patient schedules or even manage an entire imaging department, according to CareerOverview.com. Jobs are available primarily in hospitals, but more doctor offices and medical and diagnostic laboratories are projected to use this technology in coming years.
Outlook
Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to climb by about 18 percent through 2018. The median salary for these professionals in May 2008 was $61,980.
Tags: online ultrasound, sonography procedures, American Registry, American Registry Diagnostic, breast sonographers, medical diagnostic
