About Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Diagnostic medical sonographers, also called ultrasound technicians, operate special equipment to create images of inside the body. They work closely with physicians and surgeons, who view the images to assess and diagnose medical conditions.
Duties
Diagnostic medical sonographers typically do the following:
- Prepare patients by explaining the procedure to them and answering their questions
- Prepare exam rooms and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment
- Properly position patients for imaging
- Operate equipment to obtain diagnostic images
- Review images to check for quality and adequate coverage of the areas needed for diagnoses
- Analyze results for abnormalities and other diagnostic information and provide a summary of findings to physicians
- Record findings and keep track of patients’ records
Diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in creating images, known as sonograms or ultrasounds, that depict the body’s organs and tissues. Sonography is often the first imaging test performed when disease is suspected.
Sonography uses high-energy sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sonographer uses an instrument called a transducer to scan parts of the patient’s body that are being examined. The transducer emits pulses of sound that bounce back, causing echoes. The echoes form an image on a computer that physicians use for diagnosis.
The following are types of diagnostic medical sonographers JSCC is preparing students for:
Abdominal sonographers specialize in imaging a patient’s abdominal cavity and nearby organs, such as the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. Abdominal sonographers may assist with biopsies or other examinations requiring ultrasound guidance.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in imaging the female reproductive system. For example, many pregnant women receive sonograms to track the baby’s growth and health.
Vascular technologists (vascular sonographers) create images of blood vessels and collect data that help physicians diagnose disorders affecting blood flow. Vascular technologists often evaluate blood flow and identify blocked arteries or blood clots.
The DMS program consists of basic general education courses, DMS major courses taught on campus, on campus attendance for student labs, and clinical experiences in several hospitals and clinics across the state and in the Birmingham, AL area. This program has a two-step admission process.
Step 1: students must first apply for admission to the college during any semester and register for general education requirements and prerequisites for the DMS Program. Official transcripts must be sent to enrollment services for transfer evaluation.
Step 2: Submit the DMS Program application by the deadlines listed on the application. June 18 for Fall admission.
The application can be downloaded from this website and emailed to [email protected]. Admission to the professional sequence requires a grade of ‘C’ or higher on the required general education courses that include English 101, Biology 201, Math 100 or higher-level math, Technical Physics 115, General Psychology 200, and Speech 106 or 107. Students still taking courses by the application deadline may be considered on a conditional basis if courses are in progress with the intent to complete by the end of Summer Semester and before the professional phase begins. Students must also have an overall ‘C’ (2.5 GPA) or higher on all general education requirements.
Successful completion of the program leads to an associate in applied science degree. Currently, students are not eligible American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®).