Utrasound Technology at Community Colleges
Ultrasound technology, or sonography, is one of the non-invasive imaging systems doctors use to look inside living human bodies. Rather than performing exploratory surgery, physicians can now rely on high-tech images generated by sound waves to arrive at a diagnosis.
Medical Imaging and Sonography
Medical imaging is the term for technologies like sonography and MRIs, which create images of living body tissues. Sonography equipment does this by pulsing very high-frequency sound waves into the body then analyzing how the echoes change direction. The machine can create real-time images of tissues in the body by interpreting these echoes. The technician is responsible for deciding what the doctor needs to see, getting good images of the important areas, and attaching written descriptions for the doctor's guidance.
Schools for Ultrasound Technicians
It is possible to become an ultrasound technician without formal schooling, but most study at vocational schools or community colleges. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs provides accreditation to schools offering two-year associate science degrees and four-year bachelor's degrees with this concentration. The curriculum will include a general grounding in science, as well as specialized courses in human physiology, anatomy and related topics. Supervised clinical experience is also part of the program.
Certification for Graduates
Nationally, there is no requirement for diagnostic sonographers to be licensed, but it may be necessary in some jurisdictions and is always desirable. Several professional organizations offer credentialing to technicians, including the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and Cardiovascular Credentialing International. Each certification is slightly different in detail but similar overall. Each provides a means for the technician to demonstrate the necessary skills and experience to practice in the field.
Advanced Training
Many ultrasound technicians return to a community college to upgrade their training, either by cross-training in another technology or by learning a specialized form of sonography. Cancer clinics use ultrasound to detect, measure and monitor tumors; cardiac sonographers diagnose problems of the heart; neurosonographers study the brain; and obstetric ultrasound monitors the growth of babies in the womb. There are many non-medical industries making use of sonography as well for highly technical applications such as non-destructive testing of structural components.
Tags: American Registry, sound waves, Technology Community, Technology Community Colleges, Utrasound Technology
