DEGREE
- A.S.—Diagnostic Medical Sonography
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Program Description
The CRC Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program includes didactic, laboratory, and practicum components that are structured to facilitate the achievement of educational and career goals. According to the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), sonographers are "highly-skilled professionals who use specialized equipment to create images of structures inside the human body that are used by physicians to make a medical diagnosis." Sonographers have extensive, direct patient contact that may include performing some invasive procedures. They must be able to interact compassionately and effectively with people who range from healthy to critically ill.
Organizations such as the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) certify the competency of sonographers through registration.
Career Opportunities
Adopted from the ARDMS website: Sonography is a dynamic profession that has grown significantly over the past 20 years. With rapidly developing new technologies and increased use of diagnostic ultrasound procedures, growth is projected to continue in the future with employment opportunities for qualified sonographers in both urban and rural areas nationwide.
Sonographers and vascular technologists can choose to work in clinics, hospitals, private-practice physician offices, public-health facilities, laboratories, and other medical settings performing examinations in their areas of specialization.
Adapted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition: More than half of all sonographers were employed by hospitals, and most of the rest worked in offices of physicians or in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers.
Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012 as the population grows and ages, increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology.
Enrollment Eligibility
To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:
- Complete the application process for enrollment in the DMS program;
- Fulfill all requirements set forth by the CRC Allied Health Practicum Guidelines including but not limited to: background clearance, physical examination, immunization clearance and drug screening;
- Successfully complete with a "B" grade or better all pre-requisite courses as outlined below:
- College-level Intermediate Algebra (or higher math course)
- Interpersonal Communications (or equivalent communications/speech course)
- Anatomy & Physiology (one year)
- Medical Language
- Human Disease or Pathophysiology
- Conceptual Physics