Essay about Career in Ultrasound

My interest in x-rays and ultrasounds led me to pursue a career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

The process of becoming an ultrasound technician can be one that is intimidating. However, it doesn’t have to be. With the help of an organization called American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), those seeking to be a sonographer can achieve their goals. Although there are many steps to take, it can be done. This paper will help instruct individuals who wish to go through the sonography principles and instrumentation (SPI) examination (Sonography Principles & Instrumentation [SPI], (2015).

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a career that falls within the medical and health field. Diagnostic medical sonographers utilize machinery known as sonographic scanners. These scanners create images of the patient's internal organs. There are a few other names that this specific career may be referred to as, which are Ultrasound Tech and/or Medical Imaging. Although though there are advancement possibilities, there are pros and cons about the career. The work environment may be difficult, and differential diagnosis is found within sonography. There is a lot of time and dedication needed as well as important information to know and understand about the career before deciding whether or not this is the chosen path that will be taken. I have decided that DMS is the career I want to be successful in because I have always had the interest of becoming a prenatal sonographer. I love working with people and I also wouldn’t mind being the person that could potentially save someone else’s life by

In 1801 Thomas Young described “phase shifting” in relation to light. Christian Doppler in 1842 created the “Doppler effect” which is how blood flows in pelvic vessels and the fetus. Pierre Curie in 1880 described the piezoelectric effect, where ceramic to generate ultrasonic waves.Paul Langevin in 1915 built the first hydrophone, microphone designed to be used to listen to underwater sound ,also related to measurement of the fetus and abdominal masses. Watson-Watt developed the radar in 1943 using electromagnetic waves. John Read published the first 2D images in 1952. 3D ultrasound was first developed by Olaf von Ramm and Stephen Smith in 1987.

Another form of imaging is ultrasound. Ultrasound, which uses very high frequency sound, is directed into the body. And because the tissue interference's reflect sound, doctors are able to produce, by use of a computer, a photograph or moving image on a television. Ultrasound has many application uses on the body, but is more commonly used in examinations of the fetus during pregnancy, because use of radiation may affect the outcome of the baby. Some other practices for ultrasound include examination of the arteries, heart, pancreas, urinary system, ovaries, brain, and spinal cord. And because sound travels well through fluids it is a very useful technique for diagnosing cysts( which are filled with fluid), and fluid filled structures such as the bladder. And since sound is absorbed by air and bone it is impossible to use a ultrasound on bones or lungs.

Sonography is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses the echoes of high-frequency sound waves to construct an image of internal organs or body structures. The employment rate is is expected to grow 26 percent from 2014 to 2024. Since ultrasound is non-invasive, it is more encouraged than other methods so the career is always in demand. Diagnostic medical sonographers duties are to prepare and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment, taking a patients medical history, answering questions about the procedure, operating the equipment, review images and test results, know the difference between normal and abnormal images, analyze diagnostic information, record findings, and keep track of patient records. Hospitals, offices of physicians, medical

Dr. Fox is an emergency physician at UCI Medical Center, treating and diagnosing patients using an ultrasound. His scope of research involves looking at patients’ internal organs via ultrasound, which is much quicker and less harmful than using x-ray scans that are traditionally used in emergency departments. He is also a part of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (“Faculty and Staff”). Dr. Fox is also a director of instructional ultrasound and is the assistant dean at the UCI School of Medicine (“John Christian Fox”). He started an ultrasound rotation at the UCI School of Medicine, and with a grant given by SonoSite, Inc., the ultrasound curriculum is now embedded within the UCI School of Medicine curriculum (“Faculty and Staff”). He went to Tufts University School of Medicine, receiving his MD in 1997 (“John Christian Fox”). His main research focus is to try to incorporate ultrasound more into the emergency department, and tries to find revolutionary ways to utilize ultrasound, especially because it is very cost-efficient and images are seen real-time, unlike MRI scans or x-rays, which can emit harmful radiation or results take much longer to acquire. Eric Viquez is one of the Bio 199/EMRAP (Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program) students in Dr. Fox’s ultrasound lab. He is currently a 4th year undergraduate biological sciences major who is going to medical school in the fall; he shadows shifts with Dr. Fox and

Diagnostic medical sonography is a profession where sonographers direct high-frequency sound waves into a patient’s body through the use of specific equipment to diagnose or monitor a patient’s medical condition. As described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this examination is referred to as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram. The high-frequency sound waves emitted from the handheld device, called a transducer, bounce back creating an echo and therefore produce an image that can be viewed on the sonographers computer screen. This image provides the sonographer and physician with an internal image of the patient’s body that will be used in the diagnosis. The most familiar use of ultrasound is used in monitoring pregnancies

Over the last few years ultrasound technicians as a career has upgraded a lot because of the advancements in the technology. We have learned besides seeing what is going on inside the body we can use the sound waves, that ultrasound technology used to produce the image, to provide therapy to correct a problem which Emma Lloyd talks about in her article Benefits of

2D Ultrasound Images: Also known as sonography, ultrasounds work by using sound waves to develop an image of what's inside the body—in this case, a baby! When you think of a stereotypical pregnancy ultrasound, this is probably what comes to mind. The 2D ultrasound technique has been used for years and provides a two-dimensional,

Detailed oriented individuals with biological science and mathematic backgrounds contribute to the field of sonography.

Diagnostic medical sonographers who are also known as ultrasound technologists, play a very pivotal role in the health industry. Sonographers use specialized 3D imaging machines to generate images of internal body organs and structures which works hand-in-hand with doctors in gathering the necessary data needed for a diagnosis (Reece & Hobbins, 2007). Diagnostic medical sonography has many different branches you may pursue such as obstetrics/gynecology, breast sonography, cardiovascular sonography, and abdominal sonography to name a few (Brent, Jensh, & Beckman, 1991). The limits of authority and legislated scope of practice for sonographers has recently been revised in May 2013 by sixteen representatives from multiple sonography organizations throughout the country (2016). A diagnostic medical sonographer must be a qualified individual who is academically credited as well as clinically skilled before they begin to practice. Affirmation, demonstration, continuing education as well as re-certification from a nationally accredited organization is required for every sonographer (2016).

The Ultrasound technician will facilitate the abdominal ultrasound to produce images of the organs for interpretation.

Medical sonographers’ scope of practice indicates that all professionals in this field must be educationally prepared and must have all the certifications and credentials from accredited schools. It also states that sonographers are entrust agents of doctors and they can’t practice independently. One of the responsibilities of a sonographer is to evaluate patients’ information, like confirming their identification and assure that the procedure that the patient will receive is the one that the physician indicated. Also they are accountable for the performing of a suitable examination, applying the correct protocol, evaluating and documenting the results of the ultrasound and deliver excellent quality of care to patients. Diagnostic medical sonographers must also maintain their license and certifications updated and collaborate with the

Gill, R., 2012. The physics and technology of diagnostic ultrasound: a practitioner's guide. Abbotsford, N.S.W.: High Frequency Publishing.