Ultrasound Technician News

If I Become An Ultrasound Technologist, How Can I Specialize?

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vascular-systemThe DMS field encompasses many specialties, and you could choose to be specialized or generalized.

Each Ultrasound Tech specialty has its strengths and weaknesses. The saying goes, “You can learn a little about a lot of things or a lot about a few things”.

As a generalized DMS technologist, you could work in hospitals and imaging clinics where a variety of ultrasound procedures need to be known and practiced with skill and speed. You would be more marketable and have more employment options available as a licensed generalized Sonographer, so you might have more freedom in choosing where to live and work. However, you would have to pass more ARDMS exams to be considered competitive in the field. The most common ARDMS specialty exams are Abdominal/Small Parts, OB/Gyn, Vascular, and Breast. There is a cardiac specialty as well, but that requires a completely different training program than DMS programs.

It Is the Golden ticket for Sonographers

Once you have passed a specialized ARDMS exam, you are considered a registered Sonographer in that area. It is the golden ticket for Sonographers. The more specialty exams you pass, the less competition. You might see titles such as Sonographer II on job listings. This refers to the number of ARDMS credentials you have, not including the SPI Physics exam. Sonographer III, for example, means that the Sonographer has three credentials (aka registries) in addition to the SPI Physics exam.

More hospitals and centers are requiring Sonographers to have not only the Abdominal/Small Parts and OB/Gyn specialties, but now are expecting the Vascular (RVT) and Breast specialties as well. The last two specialties have additional requirements such as a certain number of specialty ultrasound exams recorded in a log and the signature of a supervisor already in this specialty. These two specialties are only briefly touched on in most certificate programs, so there will be a great deal more studying needed to pass an exam such as these.

As an ultrasound specialist (vs generalist) there are less jobs and places to find them. Smaller communities may not have a need for a specialized Sonographer. But the good news is that a specialist might get paid more than a generalized Sonographer. An example of a specialist would be a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) who decided to work only in a vascular lab. These Sonographers only examine the cardio-vascular system. There are many intensive types of exams and measuring equipment used to evaluate the vascular system, particularly in the aging population, and it is expected there will be much growth in this field.

What Is The Job Description Of An Ultrasound Technologist?

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ultrasound-medical-sonographyAs a Medical Sonographer, you would perform a wide variety of procedures on patients to aid the Radiologist’s job of identifying the illness, disease, or injury. Throughout the ultrasound procedure, you would actively make diagnostic decisions that would highlight the patient’s condition or lack thereof. Your images would be read by the Radiologist who relies on your expertise in “painting a portrait” of the patient’s medical condition.

A typical appointment would look like this: Your patient arrives for his ultrasound appointment, possibly prepped for the exam (full bladder or 6 hours of fasting are the most common). If the patient had a previous ultrasound for the same condition, you would access that report and ideally look at the images as well.

You would examine the doctor’s order which will state the reason for this procedure, and also read the patient’s written history form. The ultrasound room would need to be set up in advance for that particular ultrasound exam. The patient would be brought into the room where they might change into an exam gown. You would get a verbal medical history pertaining to the reason for the exam (ie, 3 days persistent abdominal pain below the right ribcage) and additional pertinent information (pt has hepatitis, pt had gall bladder removed 2 years ago). You would explain to the patient what is involved in the procedure and what is expected from the patient (Like patient will need to hold there breath at times).

The patient will need to understand that it is the radiologist that interprets the ultrasound images, not you.

The patient might need assistance in moving from a wheelchair to the exam table. Once the patient is on the table, you would ask the patient to lie in a position that is best suited for that particular procedure. Next, you would select the proper equipment and technical settings to obtain ultrasound images of optimal quality.

Ultrasound Technician Job Description:

The study involves using a handheld transducer which is placed on the body part along with transmission gel to allow the sound waves to penetrate the patient’s skin. You would proceed with the study, based on a very specific protocol for that type of study, probably including many measurements of specific body parts.

Ultrasound technician jobs protocols are standardized throughout the profession, but each radiologist or hospital may request or omit specific images. Once done, you would tell the patient that their doctor (the ordering doctor) will get a report from the Radiologist. You would clean the room for the next exam, edit the study if needed, and fill out a worksheet stating what you found. The Radiologist might discuss the study with you.

Additional responsibilities would include observing patient information confidentiality, maintaining a professional and respectful relationship with the patient, observing patient and staff safety practices, proper cleaning and sterilization of machinery and ultrasound room, keeping up to date on recent advances in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound by attending conferences and/or completing continuing medical education courses.

What Do Ultrasound Technicians Do All Day?

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ultrasound techAs an Ultrasound Technologist, you would typically work regular hours, M-F 8-5pm and not usually weekends or evenings. In the morning you will be give a schedule of that day’s patients with the type of ultrasound ordered. There will be some kind of check-in system, which quite likely will be electronic.  If the patient has had previous ultrasounds for the same reason, you would first review that study. You would call the patient in, explain and then prepare the patient for the procedure.

The particular ultrasound exam would be performed and then you would review the study and complete a worksheet explaining your findings to the radiologist. You would be responsible for setting up the room and then cleaning it afterwards, also ordering and stocking supplies, refilling ultrasound gel bottles, cleaning probes and replacing disinfectants when expired.

Working As A Ultrasound Technologist

There will be some physical lifting and pushing heavy equipment. In a hospital setting, you would be responsible for moving the ultrasound machine to various locations such as the intensive care unit. In any setting, the machine will have to be adjusted for best scanning of the patient. You may need to help the patient transfer from chair to examine table.

Every clinical setting has its own ultrasound protocols but this gives you an idea of what to expect.