Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Trudy Daughenbaugh
Mrs. Lininger
World Lit
7 March, 2017
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
In the medical field, new developments and techniques are discovered and improved everyday. The medical field has always brought together the brightest and best of society to help those in need along with making and using the tools provided to help patients. Diagnostic medical sonography is one of the many advanced technological tools that is used today to help capture live images of the inside of the body, seek out problems, and diagnose patients. Seeing that this modern technology is used often today, there are various job opportunities for this area of study, a very intricate way of how it works along with what is studied, and there are multiple ways as …show more content…
to how it benefits the lives of patients.
Diagnostic medical sonography is also known as an ultrasound test or medical imaging. Ultrasounds are powerful tools used to see beyond the skin into the depths of almost all parts of the human body(World Book). Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles that are involved in the sonar used by bats, ships, and fishermen(Obstetric pg 2). In a better sense, sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation that navigates, communicates with or detect objects. There are two different types of sonar, one being passive sonar which is listening for the sound made by vessels. Active sonar is producing pulses of sounds and listening for echoes. When a sound wave strikes an object, it bounces back, or in other words, echoes(Obstetric). By measuring these echo waves, it is possible to determine how far away the object is as well as the object's size, shape, and consistency, meaning whether or not the object is solid or filled with fluid(Obstetric). In medicine, ultrasound is used to detect changes in appearance, size or shape of organs, tissues, and vessels and also to detect masses in the abdomen. It involves the use of a small transducer, also known as a probe, and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin(Bendick). High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body(Obstetric) The transducer collects the waves that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound examinations do not use radiation like an x-ray, so there is no radiation exposure to the patient(Decker). Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels(Decker). Ultrasound is best known for viewing the fetus in a pregnant woman, checking the progression and health of the fetus, and to discovering the exciting news of the sex of the fetus. There are many different fields of ultrasound possible to specialize in: musculoskeletal sonography, breast sonography, echocardiography, neurosonology, vascular technology, abdominal sonography, obstetrics, and gynecology(Decker). Musculoskeletal is a very common use for ultrasound. It is used for a variety of problems for patients from tendon tears, muscle tears, and ligament tears to looking at benign and malignant soft tissue tumors. Breast sonography is mainly used to determine the nature a of breast abnormality, for ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, or for supplemental breast cancer screening which is also known as a mammography. Echocardiography would be used to look at a the heart’s structure, the size and shape of the heart and check how well the heart is working overall. It could potentially look for problems like a heart murmur, heart attack, unexplained chest pains, rheumatic fever, congenital heart defect(What is Echocardiography). Neurosonography is the most complex ultrasound process because the brain is one of the most complex parts of the human body. Neurosonography images of the brain and other neural structures. Vascular technology focus on areas like carotid, venous and arterial imaging and provide essential information regarding the blood supply to and from the tissues in these areas and of the vital organs of the body. Abdominal sonography looks at all the organs in the abdomen including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas and kidneys along with the blood vessels that lead to these organs. Obstetric ultrasound is the most well known field of sonography. Obstetrical ultrasound tests are most useful for establishing the presence of a fetus, estimate the age of the pregnancy, diagnose abnormalities of the fetus, evaluate the position of the fetus and placenta, determine if their are more than one fetus, the amount of amniotic fluid, check cervix and assess the growth and well-being of the fetus as a whole(Obstetric). Gynecologic sonography is very similar to obstetrical. It provides images to physicians of the female reproductive system. The images include the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the developing fetus if the patient is pregnant. Daughenbaugh stated that she got an ultrasound done to check her ovaries for ovarian cysts and the ultrasounds detected where they were and the severity of them. Ultrasounds are a handy tool whether it be for something very little or something big and is a very diverse field of study with a wide variety of options to study and focus on.
Sonographers have the second best job in the health care support job’s according to the U.S News.
Using the most updated technology, caring for patients, and working in a lively healthcare environment make sonography an enjoyable career. Sonographers are challenged daily to provide the best possible examination and care towards their patients. The field of ultrasounds and career opportunities are widely growing. Sonography offers a wide range of workplace options, along with a variety of specialties. Seeing that this job would not just be found in an emergency room or an operating room, sonographers can work at private offices, clinics, medical laboratories, and sometimes mobile ultrasound companies(Jobs). Most sonographers are hired for full-time, but some must work nighttime and weekends(Jobs). The degree field for this profession is sonographic and radiologic technology. The degree level isn’t as high as what most medical careers require, but having an associate's or bachelor’s degree and sometimes certificate programs for those who have experience is what is needed. There is no required experience before becoming a sonographer other than the schooling and training. Very little states require licensure for this job, although sonography certification is required by many employers, along with basic life support and CPR certification. Being a sonographer also comes with a strong average salary of $69,000. As medical careers flourish, the need for technicians in many fields of medicine are increasing. “Most new sonographers enter the field with a two-year associate degree in sonography or the equivalent military training program” stated Decker, “Some already hold related degrees in other fields, and can qualify in sonography by taking a one-year certificate program”(Decker). Some sonographers begin by training as generalists, then learn specialized skills in the workplace. Sometimes sonographers complete training programs focused on just one specialty. Specializing
in a type of sonography can be very beneficial to patients who need their skills and specialty.
Sonography is used in a variety of places, and there are many ways as to how it benefits patients. Ultrasounds are a noninvasive technique to view the inside of the bodies and are never typically painful. “It doesn’t feel like anything. They just put jelly on your skin, then move the doppler around.”(Daughenbaugh T). They are widely available to patients and are easy to use along with being inexpensive as opposed to other techniques of imaging. Most of the other types of imaging uses ionizing radiation and can potentially be harmful to the patients, while ultrasounds give a better and more clear image of tissues that typically do not show up on xrays. Ultrasounds are the most efficient and harmless way to monitor a pregnant women along with the fetus and inside the uterus. Daughenbaugh stated how getting ultrasounds to look at the fetus is so exciting because you get to see your baby and discover the gender. Ultrasound has opened certain areas up to more precise evaluation and diagnosis. All of these benefits have made ultrasound an indispensable tool in medicine.
Diagnostic medical sonography will continue to be an essential tool in the medical field. Technological advances are creating more expeditious, lighter machines with more recollection, and new transducer probe designs which will result in better tissue access and images. Researchers are withall developing hand-held ultrasounds and heads-up ultrasound displays that doctors can use during operations and procedures. Choosing a career in sonography brings with it the opportunity to watch these innovations unfold and to contribute to even more effective diagnosis and successful treatment of patients in the future.
Mrs. Lininger
World Lit
7 March, 2017
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
In the medical field, new developments and techniques are discovered and improved everyday. The medical field has always brought together the brightest and best of society to help those in need along with making and using the tools provided to help patients. Diagnostic medical sonography is one of the many advanced technological tools that is used today to help capture live images of the inside of the body, seek out problems, and diagnose patients. Seeing that this modern technology is used often today, there are various job opportunities for this area of study, a very intricate way of how it works along with what is studied, and there are multiple ways as …show more content…
to how it benefits the lives of patients.
Diagnostic medical sonography is also known as an ultrasound test or medical imaging. Ultrasounds are powerful tools used to see beyond the skin into the depths of almost all parts of the human body(World Book). Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles that are involved in the sonar used by bats, ships, and fishermen(Obstetric pg 2). In a better sense, sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation that navigates, communicates with or detect objects. There are two different types of sonar, one being passive sonar which is listening for the sound made by vessels. Active sonar is producing pulses of sounds and listening for echoes. When a sound wave strikes an object, it bounces back, or in other words, echoes(Obstetric). By measuring these echo waves, it is possible to determine how far away the object is as well as the object's size, shape, and consistency, meaning whether or not the object is solid or filled with fluid(Obstetric). In medicine, ultrasound is used to detect changes in appearance, size or shape of organs, tissues, and vessels and also to detect masses in the abdomen. It involves the use of a small transducer, also known as a probe, and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin(Bendick). High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body(Obstetric) The transducer collects the waves that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound examinations do not use radiation like an x-ray, so there is no radiation exposure to the patient(Decker). Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels(Decker). Ultrasound is best known for viewing the fetus in a pregnant woman, checking the progression and health of the fetus, and to discovering the exciting news of the sex of the fetus. There are many different fields of ultrasound possible to specialize in: musculoskeletal sonography, breast sonography, echocardiography, neurosonology, vascular technology, abdominal sonography, obstetrics, and gynecology(Decker). Musculoskeletal is a very common use for ultrasound. It is used for a variety of problems for patients from tendon tears, muscle tears, and ligament tears to looking at benign and malignant soft tissue tumors. Breast sonography is mainly used to determine the nature a of breast abnormality, for ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, or for supplemental breast cancer screening which is also known as a mammography. Echocardiography would be used to look at a the heart’s structure, the size and shape of the heart and check how well the heart is working overall. It could potentially look for problems like a heart murmur, heart attack, unexplained chest pains, rheumatic fever, congenital heart defect(What is Echocardiography). Neurosonography is the most complex ultrasound process because the brain is one of the most complex parts of the human body. Neurosonography images of the brain and other neural structures. Vascular technology focus on areas like carotid, venous and arterial imaging and provide essential information regarding the blood supply to and from the tissues in these areas and of the vital organs of the body. Abdominal sonography looks at all the organs in the abdomen including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas and kidneys along with the blood vessels that lead to these organs. Obstetric ultrasound is the most well known field of sonography. Obstetrical ultrasound tests are most useful for establishing the presence of a fetus, estimate the age of the pregnancy, diagnose abnormalities of the fetus, evaluate the position of the fetus and placenta, determine if their are more than one fetus, the amount of amniotic fluid, check cervix and assess the growth and well-being of the fetus as a whole(Obstetric). Gynecologic sonography is very similar to obstetrical. It provides images to physicians of the female reproductive system. The images include the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the developing fetus if the patient is pregnant. Daughenbaugh stated that she got an ultrasound done to check her ovaries for ovarian cysts and the ultrasounds detected where they were and the severity of them. Ultrasounds are a handy tool whether it be for something very little or something big and is a very diverse field of study with a wide variety of options to study and focus on.
Sonographers have the second best job in the health care support job’s according to the U.S News.
Using the most updated technology, caring for patients, and working in a lively healthcare environment make sonography an enjoyable career. Sonographers are challenged daily to provide the best possible examination and care towards their patients. The field of ultrasounds and career opportunities are widely growing. Sonography offers a wide range of workplace options, along with a variety of specialties. Seeing that this job would not just be found in an emergency room or an operating room, sonographers can work at private offices, clinics, medical laboratories, and sometimes mobile ultrasound companies(Jobs). Most sonographers are hired for full-time, but some must work nighttime and weekends(Jobs). The degree field for this profession is sonographic and radiologic technology. The degree level isn’t as high as what most medical careers require, but having an associate's or bachelor’s degree and sometimes certificate programs for those who have experience is what is needed. There is no required experience before becoming a sonographer other than the schooling and training. Very little states require licensure for this job, although sonography certification is required by many employers, along with basic life support and CPR certification. Being a sonographer also comes with a strong average salary of $69,000. As medical careers flourish, the need for technicians in many fields of medicine are increasing. “Most new sonographers enter the field with a two-year associate degree in sonography or the equivalent military training program” stated Decker, “Some already hold related degrees in other fields, and can qualify in sonography by taking a one-year certificate program”(Decker). Some sonographers begin by training as generalists, then learn specialized skills in the workplace. Sometimes sonographers complete training programs focused on just one specialty. Specializing
in a type of sonography can be very beneficial to patients who need their skills and specialty.
Sonography is used in a variety of places, and there are many ways as to how it benefits patients. Ultrasounds are a noninvasive technique to view the inside of the bodies and are never typically painful. “It doesn’t feel like anything. They just put jelly on your skin, then move the doppler around.”(Daughenbaugh T). They are widely available to patients and are easy to use along with being inexpensive as opposed to other techniques of imaging. Most of the other types of imaging uses ionizing radiation and can potentially be harmful to the patients, while ultrasounds give a better and more clear image of tissues that typically do not show up on xrays. Ultrasounds are the most efficient and harmless way to monitor a pregnant women along with the fetus and inside the uterus. Daughenbaugh stated how getting ultrasounds to look at the fetus is so exciting because you get to see your baby and discover the gender. Ultrasound has opened certain areas up to more precise evaluation and diagnosis. All of these benefits have made ultrasound an indispensable tool in medicine.
Diagnostic medical sonography will continue to be an essential tool in the medical field. Technological advances are creating more expeditious, lighter machines with more recollection, and new transducer probe designs which will result in better tissue access and images. Researchers are withall developing hand-held ultrasounds and heads-up ultrasound displays that doctors can use during operations and procedures. Choosing a career in sonography brings with it the opportunity to watch these innovations unfold and to contribute to even more effective diagnosis and successful treatment of patients in the future.