What Does a Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer Do?
A diagnostic cardiac sonographer uses ultrasound to assess a person's cardiovascular system in a noninvasive technique called echocardiography. Within the industry, cardiac sonographers often are called echo techs. They operate the equipment and record a series of images for the physicians, working closely with patients. Most cardiac sonographers are employed in hospitals.
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Identification
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Diagnostic cardiac sonographers collect reflected echoes and Doppler signals from images and tracings of a person's heart, using ultrasound equipment. They use these images to assess the cardiac chambers, valves and major blood vessels, along with pumping effectiveness and timing of blood flow. The sonographers explain the procedure to patients and record any medical history that the patient gives. They attach electrodes to the patient's chest and shoulders to record the echocardiogram, then apply gel to the chest and use a microphone-shaped tool called an echo transducer to make recordings from several views of the heart. Because the technique does not involve inserting instruments into a person's body, it is called noninvasive.
Function
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Ultrasound emits high-frequency sound waves into the cardiac structures and then reflects echoes of the sound waves to form images, along with an audio swishing sound. Sonographers view the image on a screen and record it or photograph it for interpretation by a physician. While performing the scans and recording the images, the cardiac sonographer watches the image for any problem areas, deciding which images to include in the report to the physician. The procedure takes anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes depending on the case.
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Features
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Diagnostic cardiac sonographers need to complete a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate's degree to learn the skills and knowledge necessary. Courses include essentials of cardiovascular care, electrocardiogram analysis, echocardiography, physical principles of medicine, noninvasive cardiovascular technology fundamentals, clinical procedures, and an internship or externship. Successful completion allows the person to take an exam to become a registered cardiac sonographer, which most employers require.
Benefits
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Starting median salary for a diagnostic cardiac sonographer is about $48,000, with an increase to $55,000 after five years of experience. The average yearly salary is about $64,000. Most work in hospitals, while others find employment in clinics, physician's private practice and government agencies.
Potential
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Employment outlook is excellent because of the aging population requiring more medical care and the high incidence of heart disease. Cardiac sonographers typically work during the day, but their schedules can include rotating weekends and holidays. Most positions are full-time, although people looking for part-time or limited-term employment will be able to find those opportunities as well.
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