Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
The diagnostic medical sonographer occupation has been recognized by the American Medical Association since 1974, and accredited programs have been offered since 1982. Sonography is the least invasive medical imaging technology in use today, and is considered to be the safest and most comfortable for patients. It uses a combination of sound waves and echoes to create digital images of soft tissues, including muscles, tendons and areas filled with fluid, which other diagnostic imaging techniques cannot easily record.
What does a sonographer do?
Sonographers operate specialized high-frequency sound wave equipment, which includes using a hand-held device containing acoustic transducers that send sounds and receive echoes. These signals are converted into electronic signals that create digital images of internal organs, structures, blood vessels, and other organic masses. The sonographer is trained to record and select the images that contain the most useful information for the supervising physician, who then interprets them to diagnose or monitor a variety of conditions. The most common sonography procedure is tracking fetal health and development in pregnant women.
Job duties of a diagnostic medical sonographer
The job responsibilities of a sonographer include working directly with patients, taking patient medical histories, and describing the equipment and procedures. The sonographers must observe the images as they are being created, evaluate their quality and usefulness, monitor the imaging equipment, and communicate with the patient if an adjustment needs to be made to provide a better view.
They then evaluate the preliminary results to select the most useful images for the physician to review. In addition, they maintain the equipment in optimal working order. Experienced sonographers may be involved in purchasing equipment, supervising less experienced colleagues, or managing the department.
Sonography specialties
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers focus on the female reproductive system, including tracking the health and development of the fetus during pregnancy.
Abdominal sonographers specialize in imaging the abdominal cavity and internal organs such as gallbladder and bile ducts, liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, the male reproductive system, and some areas of the chest, excluding the heart. Cardiac (heart) sonography or vascular (blood vessels) sonography are separate imaging specialties that require additional training in cardiovascular equipment and techniques.
Neurosonographers image the brain, carotid arteries and central nervous system, using more specialized equipment and higher frequencies than abdominal or gynecologic sonography. Neurosonography is used in neonatal care to diagnose congenital defects and other abnormalities in premature and newborn infants.
Breast sonographers also use higher frequency equipment to produce more accurate higher resolution images of blood supply, cysts, and tumors. Breast sonography is used in conjunction with mammography during cancer diagnosis and treatment.
