Ultrasound technicians assess patients' internal organs.
Ultrasound technicians use medical imaging equipment to assess the internal state of patients’ bodies. These images help physicians diagnose a range of diseases. Ultrasound techniques are often used to assess the health of unborn babies but are also used to assess problems of the liver, kidneys and pancreas. Ultrasound technicians are also known as medical sonographers. The average salary of an ultrasound technician as of July 2010 was $57,000, according to Indeed, the job and salary information website.
Patient Care
Ultrasound technician courses typically begin with classes on patient care. Students are taught communication skills when dealing with patients and learn about the ethical and legal issues that affect the work of sonographers. The patient care class includes modules on medical terminology used in ultrasound treatments and an overview of diagnostic imaging techniques used on fetuses and blood vessels.
Ultrasound Physics Module
Advanced ultrasound technician programs cover areas of acoustic physics, with a concentration in a specific branch of ultrasound technology. Specific subjects in this class include three-dimensional applications, diagnostic imaging, the mechanics of ultrasound devices and studies in sound transmission. Students learn and maintain ultrasound devices by using them on fellow students.
Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy classes offer detailed descriptions of bodily structures and how each component works together to help the body function. Students examine ultrasound images via X-rays and other imaging techniques to locate the liver, thyroid and kidneys, or the developing brain of a fetus. The anatomy and physiology course sometimes includes a clinical element, where students gain practical experience in anatomical sonography. This course is typically offered within the first few semesters of an ultrasound technician degree.
Clinical Practicum Classes
The clinical practicum program is typically available toward the end of an ultrasound technician degree. Classes are usually conducted in a hospital or physician’s office, where students work with patients, doctors and nurses. Students work in vascular, cardiac and general ultrasound areas to understand how specific diagnostic imaging procedures are used. Students are also taught to assess health issues in patients, including blood clots, cancers and indications of stroke, as stated on the Education Portal website. Clinical classes cover the identification of deformities in early infant growth.
Variations
Ultrasound technician programs usually lead to a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree. Programs are approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and available at colleges and universities across the United States. Candidates can also take a one-year vocational program at a technical institute. However, these courses are typically available only to people already employed in a health care setting who wish to expand their skills, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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