Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Ever since my very first pregnancy ultrasound, I was fascinated by diagnostic sonography. Over the years I have had not only the pregnancy-related ultrasounds performed, but also abdominal and vascular. It was when I had an echocardiogram performed though, that I was hooked and knew that it was something I wanted to do one day. The following will explain what diagnostic sonography is and a little about my career choice.

A diagnostic medical sonographer is a highly-skilled professional who uses specialized equipment to create images of structures inside the human body that are used by physicians to make a medical diagnosis. The process involves placing a small device called a transducer against the patient's skin near the body area to be imaged. The transducer works like a loudspeaker and microphone because it can transmit sound and receive sound. The transducer sends a stream of high frequency sound waves into the body that bounce off the structures inside. The transducer detects sound waves as they bounce off the internal structures. Different structures in the body reflect these sound waves differently. These sounds are analyzed by a computer to make an image of the structure(s) on a television screen or that can be recorded on videotape.

The standards for obtaining a degree in diagnostic medical sonography have increased in course, load, content and clinical rotations over the years as the minimum curriculum and clinical education standards recognized by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers have become more stringent over the years, such as requiring more physics and computer-related courses as technology continues to change.

In addition to excellent career opportunities, salaries for sonographers are competitive with or higher than other professionals with similar levels of education. The salary range for an ultrasonographer varies greatly from one area of the country to the next, but according to the SDMS Salary and Benefits Survey report (released March, 2005), the median salary for sonographers is $61,984. This income includes: 1) hourly salary, 2) overtime and, 3) on-call pay. The typical hourly pay rate is $29, and the number of overtime hours worked per week by sonographers is 3. The typical on-call pay rate is $3.00 per hour, and the call-in rate of pay is $42 per hour.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2010 as the population grows and ages, increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology.

Hospitals will remain the principal employer of diagnostic medical sonographers. However, employment is expected to grow more rapidly in offices and clinics of physicians, including diagnostic imaging centers. These health-care facilities are expected to grow very rapidly through 2010. This is due to the shift toward outpatient care made possible by technological advances that permit more procedures to be performed outside the hospital.

There are many opportunities for growth in this field as well with many advanced accredidations in different areas of specialization available with additional coursework.

Areas of Specialization in the Field of Sonography

Abdomen
Breast
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Echocardiography
Vascular Technology
Neurosonology
Ophthalmology