Frequently Asked Questions:
Exerpts of the following description has been copied from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographery Website. For a more through explaination, please click on this link http://sdms.org. Sonographers provides direct patient care to a variety of people ranging from healthy to critically ill. Using high-tech instrumentation to create and provide images from inside the human body that are used by physicians to make a medical diagnosis. The sonographer is a key member of the allied health profession. Committing to life-long learning in order to maintain competency, knowledge and expertise in a rapidly growing health care profession.
specializes in scanning particular areas in the body. A sonographer can be dedicated to one specialty area such as the abdomen or heart. The sonographer can also be multiskilled in several specialty areas. The process involves placing a small device called a transducer against the patient's skin near the body area to be imaged. The transducer works like a loudspeaker and microphone because it can transmit sound and receive sound. The transducer sends a stream of high frequency sound waves into the body that bounce off the structures inside. The transducer detects sound waves as they bounce off the internal structures. Different structures in the body reflect these sound waves differently. These sounds are analyzed by a computer to make an image of the structure(s) on a television screen or that can be recorded on film, videotape or digitally.
Sonographers have extensive, direct patient contact that may include performing some invasive procedures. They must be able to interact compassionately and effectively with people who range from healthy to critically ill.
is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to produce two-dimensional visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body. This type of procedure is often referred to as a sonogram or ultrasound scan. Sonography can be used to examine many parts of the body, such as the abdomen, breasts, female reproductive system, prostate, heart, and blood vessels. Sonography is increasingly being used in the detection and treatment of heart disease, heart attack, and vascular disease that can lead to stroke. It is also used to guide fine needle, tissue biopsy to assist in taking sample of cells from an organ for lab testing (for example, a test for cancer in breast tissue). Unlike X-rays, sonography is a radiation-free imaging modality.
Abdomen - Evaluation of all the soft tissues, blood vessels and organs of the abdominal cavities (for example, liver, spleen, urinary tract, pancreas)
Obstetrics/Gynecology - Evaluation of the female reproductive system
Echocardiography - Evaluation of the anatomy and hemodynamics (blood flow) of the heart, its valves and related blood vessels
Vascular Technology - Evaluation and analysis of the hemodynamics (blood flow) of peripheral and abdominal blood vessels
Neurosonology - Evaluation of the brain and spinal cord
Ophthalmology - Evaluation of the eye, including orbital structures and muscles
For more information about sonography, visit the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Website at http://www.sdms.org