Ultrasound Technician Job Information
Ultrasound technicians, who are also known as diagnostic medical sonographers, use sonography equipment to assist doctors in making more accurate diagnosis. Although ultrasounds are most associated with obstetrics and pregnancy, technological advances in sonography are making ultrasounds a useful diagnostic tool in a broader range of medical specialties. The need for trained technicians also continues to increase as the usefulness of this technology expands.
Other People Are Reading
-
Duties
-
Ultrasound technicians are trained to use special sonography equipment to take pictures (ultrasounds) of different structures within a patient's body. Ultrasound technicians use their judgment to determine the best ways to position the patients to achieve the view necessary for diagnosis. They also must view and analyze the images they are creating to determine if and when additional images are needed, and take measurements, perform calculations and create preliminary finding reports to be reviewed by the physician. In addition, ultrasound technicians may be asked to do clerical work, discuss with and record a patient's medical history, answer phones, and otherwise support the administrative areas of the hospitals or clinics where they work.
Training
-
Ultrasound technicians can be trained in a variety of manners, including on-the- job training, vocational or technical school programs, or four-year university or college programs. Two-year college programs are the most common training method. These programs often include coursework, such as anatomy, physics, medical ethics, patient care and physiology. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography recommends that students seek a program that follows the minimum standards and curriculum recognized by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) and encourages students to make sure the program they pursue provides opportunity for extensive hands-on clinical rotation. Ultrasound technicians are not required to be state licensed; however, most employers prefer to hire technicians who have become registered through one of the professional associations, such as the ARDMS.
-
Skills
-
Ultrasound technicians need to be very comfortable with interpersonal communication since they are required to work closely with patients, doctors and other members of the medical team. Patient interaction especially requires them to have a patient, diplomatic and comforting demeanor. Patients are often nervous and scared when having ultrasounds performed, and an ultrasound technician must be able to reassure the patient without directly confirming or denying any diagnosis. Ultrasound technicians must be physically able to maneuver the ultrasonography equipment and to assist patient on and off examine tables. Technicians must also be comfortable standing for long periods, capable of hearing differences in audio sounds and capable of distinguishing visual differences in images.
Specialties
-
Ultrasound technicians can choose to specialize in one of several areas. The most familiar specialty is obstetrics and gynecology, in which technicians use sonography to help track the development of a growing fetus. Neurosonographers focus on creating images of the brain and other areas of the nervous system. Breast sonographers use sonography to examine breasts for aiding in detecting breast cancer and monitoring noncancerous tumors as well. Abdominal sonographers focus on imaging the abdominal cavity to help with diagnosis of the male reproductive system, gallbladder, spleen, liver and kidneys.
Employment And Salary
-
Most ultrasound technicians are employed by hospitals, but ultrasound technicians can also be employed in private practices, outpatient care centers and medical/diagnostic labs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment outlook for ultrasound technicians is expected to grow faster than the average for other careers. The median income for ultrasound technologists, based on the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics in 2008, is between $52,000 and $73,000 a year.
-
