Vascular sonography is a growing career specialty within the medical field. The projections for job opportunities in the field are growing, and it represents a well-paid and rewarding career which can be attained without attending medical school. In fact, in many instances, it is possible to enter the field with less than a four-year college or university degree.
What Is Vascular Sonography?
Vascular sonography, sometimes referred to as vascular ultrasound, uses sound waves as a diagnostic tool to produce image of blood flow within blood vessels. Vascular sonography is used as a test for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other vascular disorders. It can also be used to test whether a patient is a good candidate for angioplasty, graft transplantation or bypass surgery, and to determine the rate of blood flow to chronic wounds or tumors.
Training for Vascular Sonography Jobs
Many two-year and four-year educational programs are available for training in vascular sonography, although two-year programs are much more common. It is also possible to train for vascular sonography jobs in the armed services. Students come to the field from various backgrounds. Training usually consists of courses in anatomy, basic physics physiology, patient care, medical ethics and instrumentation.
Workplaces for Vascular Sonography Jobs
The vast majority of vascular sonography jobs are available in hospitals. However, as technology allows more medical care to be performed in clinics and other non-hospital settings, positions for diagnostic medical sonographers are becoming more available in these locations as well. In some instances, diagnostic medical sonographers are employed to work for private physician practices of one or more doctors.
Earnings for Vascular Sonography Jobs
Vascular sonography jobs represent an opportunity for workers with less than four years of college to earn fairly high wages. The median salary for diagnostic medical sonographers in 2006 was $57,160, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Earnings were slightly lower for diagnostic medical sonographers employed in private physician's offices. The highest paid diagnostic medical sonographers earned more than $67,000 annually in 2006.
Employment Outlook for Vascular Sonography Jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for jobs in vascular sonography is favorable, with opportunities expected to expand more rapidly than the national average. Projections through 2016 call for nearly 9,000 jobs to be added, increasing from 46,000 positions in 2006 to 54,000 in 2016.
Tags: diagnostic medical, diagnostic medical sonographers, medical sonographers, Vascular Sonography Jobs, blood flow
