The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a skilled professional who uses equipment producing high-frequency sound waves to create diagnostic images and data that help health care professionals diagnose patients with disease. Ultrasound imaging is used on many parts of the body, including the abdomen, blood vessels, and the developing fetus of a pregnant woman.
When determining normal and abnormal findings, the sonographer must demonstrate sectional anatomy through transducer manipulation. The sonographer uses independent judgment in recognizing the need to extend the scope of the study according to the diagnostic findings. These professionals participate in the reading sessions with physicians, contributing technical and professional knowledge and observation to the final diagnostic impression.
The sonographer spends extended time with the patient obtaining a thorough history of symptoms, explaining the exam, answering questions, and performing the exam. He or she must also recognize emergency patient care situations and institute lifesaving first aid when necessary.
Extended patient contact and added professional responsibility are only a couple of the many rewards found in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
The field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography provides a wonderfully challenging career with many opportunities for employment and advancement. According the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to increase by about 19 percent through 2016—faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $57,160 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $48,890 and $67,670 a year. More than half of all sonographers are employed by hospitals, and most of the rest are employed by offices of physicians, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and mobile imaging services. Sonographers have advancement opportunities in education, administration, research, sales, and technical advising.
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