Ultrasound Technician Job Description

In the medical field, ultrasound technicians are also called diagnostic medical sonographers. If you are a mother or if you are pregnant, then you probably have come in contact with an ultrasound technician. They specialize in the application of medical sonography, which is a procedure performed to inspect the internal organs of the body. By using a device called transducer that emits sound waves into the body, technicians are able to produce images of targeted areas on a sonogram’s computer.

The use of ultrasound for diagnosis of medication conditions is deemed to be extremely effective and safe. Ultrasound technicians work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories and physician offices. In recent years, their job scope is expanding gradually owing to the high demand for qualified diagnostic imaging professionals. so what is an ultrasound technician’s job description?

Ultrasound technicians produce images of the body using sound waves. These images can be used to diagnose the patient’s medical conditions. They perform a number of duties. The responsibilities of ultrasound technicians include the following:

carrying out diagnostic procedures as ordered by the physician
performing analysis of highly technical information
operating sonographic machines
explaining procedures to the patients
keeping record of a patient’s medical history
positioning the patients properly for diagnostic imaging
choosing the correct sonographic techniques to be used in each case
determining whether the images are good enough for diagnosis
selecting the images that would be shown to the physician
supervise others that are working as sonographers.
stay up to date with the latest information in the industry

How to become an Ultrasound Technician

There are different pathways to becoming an ultrasound technician. One can enroll in postsecondary certificate programs for ultrasound technicians. These individuals tend to have past work experiences in the medical field and have obtained a degree in their specialty area, such as radiography. Certificate programs focus mainly on operating equipment and gaining experience through clinical studies.

Many colleges and universities are also offering programs for ultrasound technicians leading towards an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. Associate’s degrees in medical sonography take 2 years to complete while the bachelor’s degree is a four year program. Students graduating from the bachelor’s program often possess the deepest level of knowledge in the ultrasound field and upon completion, access to more advanced and high paying jobs.

Ultrasound Technician Training

The duration for the training vary depending on the degree that is awarded at the completion of the program. During the training, the students are taught medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, basic physics, patient care, instrumentation, medical ethics and how to interpret sonographic images. Clinical and more hands-on training are also taught in these programs in order to provide practical skills needed to work in the field.

Ultrasound Technician Certification

Obtaining a certification in this field is voluntary. Ultrasound technicians wanting to be certified should graduate from accredited program and take the certification exam offered by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Certification is available in different specialty areas. Naturally, those who do pursue this route will obtain higher salaries and better job opportunities in the sonography field.