Ultrasound Technician
A Look Into the Future of an Ultrasound Technician
In a nutshell, the job prospects of an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer look favorable with majority of these technicians being employed in hospitals. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show that employment opportunities for technicians is expected to have an 18% increase by 2018. Sonography is fast becoming a preferred alternative to radiological procedures. Hospitals, colleges, universities, and even in the Armed Forces have been instrumental in providing the education and training for those individuals who want to get into this medical profession.
Ultrasound Tech Job Description
An ultrasound technician applies the technology of sonography to generate images from within the human body. It is commonly associated with ultrasound images during pregnancy where sound waves are utilized to create the image for assessment and diagnosis. However, the same procedure can be applied to the whole body. In the process, the diagnostic medical sonographer operates the equipment that directs high frequency sound waves to the target area of the body. These sound waves are then echoed back to transmit the image that can be recorded on photo or in video which is then subsequently interpreted by a physician.
The role of an ultrasound technician generally covers two areas: patient care and administrative responsibilities.
Patient care generally covers working with patients with four objectives – Explain, position, analyze, and record. It is essential that the ultrasound technician is able to explain to the patient what exactly is going to happen and the objective of the ultrasound to be done. The sonographer should also be able to identify patient’s conditions and medical history that may be relevant to the procedure. The patient is then positioned appropriately to ensure that the equipment is able to capture the target area. The technician uses a transducer to transmit these sound waves to be able to create the image.
The most crucial part of the process is the ultrasound technician’s analysis of the image echoed back to the equipments. He or she should be able to identify cues that would indicate healthy areas against the unhealthy ones. The diagnostic medical sonographer should be able to take measurements, tabulate values, and analyze the images to be able to identify what photos or videos are to be taken and stored for the physician to be able to provide a diagnosis for the patient.
On the other hand, sonographers are also responsible for the safekeeping of patient’s records and with the upkeep of the equipments used in sonography. It may include the evaluation of equipment purchases and even management of the department.
Job Specialization
An ultrasound technician is provided with the opportunity to specialize in the field.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers focus on the female reproductive system imaging. This includes the most popular use of ultrasound – the imaging of the baby inside the womb of a mother. This imaging provides information on the baby’s welfare inside the womb.
Abdominal sonographers specialize in the imaging of the abdominal cavity. This field of sonography primarily focuses on ailments that involve the gallbladder, kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, and the male reproductive system. In some cases, he or she can also conduct imaging of the heart.
Neurosonographers conducts imaging for the nervous system and the brain. These technicians use a different kind transducer to create the image. Neonatal care provides information on disorders in the nervous and neurological systems of babies born prematurely.
Breast sonographers are able to assist in the early detection of breast cancer among women. Informations are used to monitor the developments of tumor, blood supply conditions, and in the biopsy of breast tissues.
Work Environment
Work for an ultrasound technician usually lasts average of 40 hours a week with a majority of them working in hospitals. There are some sonographers who work on a contractual basis while shuffling from one healthcare to another in his or her area. In some cases, some provide mobile ultrasound imaging services for areas where the services are not available.
Ultrasound Technician Schools and Certification
To pursue a career as an ultrasound technician, one need not have a specific path of entry. Ultrasound technician education, certification and training can be acquired from hospitals, vocational and technical schools, colleges, university, and even in the Armed Forces. Although there is a preference for technicians who had education from accredited ultrasound technician schools, a formal education, actual training program, or a combination of both can land an individual a job as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
Educational institutions offer Associate and Bachelors degree for the field that covers subjects in anatomy, basic physics, instrumentation, physiology, patient care, and medical ethics. Individuals who take formal education have preference for the two year course.
Most employers prefer sonographers who are certified because it provides a valid scholastic standing for the profession however there are no state requirement for licensure is needed to pursue a career as a medical diagnostic sonographer.
Job Prospects
In 2008, the demand for ultrasound technician jobs reached 50, 300 having about 59% of them employed in hospitals. The rest were employed by private clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and outpatient care centers.
It is expected to have an 18% increase in job demands by 2018 with hospitals being the primary employer. However, it is projected that there will also be a steady increase in the demand coming from health care facilities primarily driven by a shift towards outpatient care. This will also be driven by the availability of ultrasound machines that are less expensive resulting to more procedures being done outside the hospitals.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers who can provide multiple specialties and credentials will have higher opportunities for employment.
The truth is that as the population ages, there will also be an increase in the demand for digital imagery. This demand will spawn the growth of job opportunities of an ultrasound technician among healthcare providers who prefer to use ultrasound imagery as a safe and cost efficient option against that of radiological procedures. This growth will be further enhanced with technological advancements that will give birth for new sonography procedures that will allow diagnostic medical sonographers to scan and create image from areas that initially is not available for present day users of the ultrasound.