Ultrasound Technology |
Who are Ultrasound Technicians?Is This Program in My Area?What do Ultrasound Technicians Do? Ultrasound technicians operate special sonography equipment to collect images through sound waves that are then videotaped, transmitted, or photographed and interpreted by a physician for a medical diagnosis. First, technicians meet with patients and explain the ultrasound procedure and record the patient’s medical history. After collecting the appropriate information, the ultrasound technician selects appropriate equipment settings and situates the patient in a way that will allow for the best view. The technician performs an exam by using a transducer to transmit sound waves in a beam, often using a special gel to aid with the sound wave transmission. While performing the exam, the technician views the images on a screen and looks for visual cues to assist in a medical diagnosis. The technician then chooses which images to save for the physician for diagnostic purposes. The technician may also take measurements, calculate values, and analyze preliminary results for the physician. In addition to closely working with patients, technicians may also keep records, maintain and adjust equipment, prepare staff schedules, evaluate equipment purchases, or manage a sonography or diagnostic imaging department. Ultrasound technicians will often specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography, abdominal sonography, neurosonography, breast sonography, vascular sonography, or cardiac sonography. Ultrasound Technician Training Ultrasound technicians enter the occupation from a variety of different avenues as there is no preferred level of ultrasound training. However, while there is no preferred level of education, employers do prefer ultrasound technicians who are trained in accredited ultrasound programs and who are registered. Ultrasound technicians may train in hospitals, the Armed Forces, vocational-technical programs, specific ultrasound technician schools, and traditional and online colleges and universities. Some ultrasound programs prefer applicants with a mathematics or science background or experience in the health care industry. Colleges and universities offer medical ultrasound training in both two- and four-year programs, which result in an associate or bachelor’s degree. Most often ultrasound technicians only complete a two-year program. The curriculum often includes course work in anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, physics, patient care, and medical ethics. There are also a few one-year certificate programs accepted by employers, but these programs are usually intended for workers already in health care and who want to improve their marketability. These one-year programs are not usually accredited. The Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) lists 157 accredited programs in diagnostic medical sonography throughout the country. These accredited programs are usually formal training programs offered through colleges and universities or programs offered by hospitals. The ultrasound training required for a technician depends on the medical setting of the position and the specialty. Ultrasound Technician Certification While it is not required that ultrasound technicians have a specific license in diagnostic medical sonography, there are organizations that provide this type of certification. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) provides a credential to sonographers, which includes registration. Some employers prefer to hire registered sonographers, so this credential can be worthwhile. To take the national certification exam offered by ARDMS you must have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. ARDMS offers credentials for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers, Registered Vascular Technologists, and Registered Physician Vascular Interpretation. Each credential has specific academic and professional experience requirements. Technicians must complete a required number of continuing education hours to maintain their registration and stay knowledgeable about technological advancements in their field. Ultrasound technicians also need strong communication and interpersonal skills for explaining procedures and results to patients and good hand-eye coordination for operating equipment. Ultrasound Technician Job Prospects Demand for ultrasound technicians continues to increase and according to the Bureau of Labor’s 2008 Occupational Outlook Handbook, “faster-than-average employment growth is expected.” Employment for ultrasound technicians is expected to increase by about 19 percent through 2016, which is faster than average for all occupations. In addition, the demand for this type of technology will continue to increase as a larger segment of the population ages. Additional job opportunities are opening up as patients use sonography as an alternative to radiologic procedures, which have more harmful side effects and complications. Sonographic technology is also rapidly evolving to create new procedures, which will be beneficial to the job market. The primary employer of ultrasound technicians will continue to be hospitals, but jobs will also grow more rapidly in physicians’ offices and in medical and diagnostic laboratories and imaging centers. Ultrasound Technician Job Security and Salary The job market for ultrasound technicians is expected to grow significantly in the next decade because of the strong shift towards outpatient care which will allow for more technological procedures to be performed outside the hospital. In addition, there will be some growth because of the need to replace retiring ultrasound technicians and replace technicians leaving the field for other industries. Those technicians who are registered and credentialed or who have a bachelors or masters degree will mostly likely experience accelerated career advancement. Salaries of ultrasound technicians vary according to their responsibilities, location, and the specialty in which they work. Ultrasound technicians can expect to earn between $40,960 and $77,520 a year. On average, technicians who work in the offices of physicians earn more per year than technicians who work in general medical and surgical hospitals. |