What is a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Diploma?
A diploma in diagnostic medical sonography will give you the training and knowledge to operate sophisticated ultrasound equipment to assist in diagnostic medical examinations of patients. Upon completion of the diploma program, you will have the necessary skills to become a sonography technician and use ultrasound to examine the body's internal organs and aid doctors in making diagnoses related to pregnancy, the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, and other organs and tissues.
Skills You Will Learn
Sonographers use high frequency sound waves to examine the internal organs of patients. In a diagnostic medical sonographer diploma program, you will learn how to operate ultrasound equipment, examine the images produced and recognize healthy and unhealthy areas, make determination regarding the quality and efficacy of ultrasound images, and prepare preliminary reports to aid physicians in making diagnoses.
Courses
In the typical diagnostic medical sonographer program you will encounter the following courses:
- Acoustic Physics
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Practice
- Obstetrics Sonography
- Abdominal Sonography
Why Get a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Diploma?
Ultrasound technicians and sonographers use sophisticated medical equipment that requires specific instruction in its operation. A diploma program in the use of sonography equipment ensures that you have the necessary knowledge and experience to be a diagnostic sonography technician, and shows employers that you are qualified.
What Can I do with a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Diploma?
Those with this diploma go on to land positions in hospitals, imaging centers and other OB/GYN clinics, and other healthcare facilities as ultrasound technicians. It is possible to specialize in a certain area of sonography, such as obstetric sonography.
Job Outlook and Salary
As part of the rapidly expanding healthcare system, sonographers can expect a robust and healthy career outlook for many years to come. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) expects the demand for sonographers to increase much faster than the national average until at least the year 2014. The median annual income for diagnostic medical sonographers was around $52,490 in 2004.
