Sonography Guide
As with an ultrasound, the field of sonography is concerned with the use of high-frequency sound waves to produce a graphic representation. Sonographic technology was first developed in WWII to locate objects under water. Its applications within the medical industry are invaluable. Besides its use in obstetrics to measure the age and health of a fetus, sonography is commonly used to guide procedures like fine-needle biopsies or to detect heart disease. It can also help detect abnormalities in the body.
Sonography in the Past
Though he is principally famous for the mathematical theorem bearing his name, Pythagoras was the first to develop a sonometer for measuring sound. But it wasn't until 1877 that French physicist Pierre Curie discovered piezoelectricity: the true beginning of ultrasound. By the beginning of the twentieth century, professor and physicist Paul Langevin, one of Curie's students, developed sonographic imaging. X-rays were discovered in 1895, but it took a tragedy to spur the further development of ultrasound. With the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, people began to take an interest in recovering submerged objects. Langevin developed a basic sonar (Sound NAvigation And Ranging) device in 1917. Sonar was further developed in WWII.
Earnest medical applications of sonography began in the 1950s as doctors explored its uses on the heart. 2-D echo was introduced in the 1970s, while the 1980s brought real-time ultrasound into the picture.
Accredited Sonography Programs
While sonographers (also called ultrasound technicians) work closely with physicians and other medical professionals, they do not need to complete medical school. One option for obtaining your schooling is to go through the renowned Mayo School of Health Sciences College of Medicine. The Mayo Clinic, widely recognized for its excellence in the medical community, offers two campus locations with accredited sonography programs in Rochester, Minnesota and Jacksonville, Florida. These programs offer training from ultrasound departments of Radiology, Vascular Medicine, and Obstetrics & Gynecology.
If you choose to take a different route to certification, dozens of accredited sonography programs exist in top schools like New York University, and Argosy University. The best programs offer associates degrees or certificates in Sonography Technology and will prepare you to work in a hospital or physician's office as a Sonography Technician. NYU's Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, while Kaplan offers both degree and certificate programs. Additionally, Argosy's Twin Cities campus offers and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Argosy also offers an online interactive live chat service where you can discuss any questions you may have about the school. Check these schools out online for specific information about each program's accreditation and requirements for obtaining your sonography degree.
You will emerge from your sonography program as a medical professional qualified to interact with physicians as you provide them with the necessary information to determine an appropriate diagnoses. Additionally, you will learn to work with patients in an ethical and professional manner as an integral part of a health care team. Top sonography programs are typically completed in about two years.
After you've completed your education from an accredited program, you'll need to sit for one the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography's (ARDMS) various examinations. Each exam covers a different piece of the spectrum of medical sonography, including adult echocardiography, abdominal sonography, OB/GYN sonography, and the physics and instrumentation examinations that correspond to each major division of the field.
The Future of Sonography
The technology of sonography itself is rapidly evolving. Smaller and more streamlined electronics are being developed in virtually all fields, and sonographic equipment is in line with the trend. Don Baker of the University of Washington writes of developments in sonography in the SDMS News Wave, a periodical for sonographers. According to Baker, the days of 400-pound sonography machines are soon to be over as smaller, handheld devices are developed. A major advantage of handheld sonographic and ultrasound equipment is its capacity for portability and instantaneous information. A technician with portable equipment could go to the patient, whether he or she is in the emergency room, on a plane, or in the battlefield. A quicker diagnoses means faster treatment, and that saves lives.
Furthermore, as equipment evolves, it will be able to transmit higher-quality 3-D and even 4-D images. Still, according to Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, "the high costs of producing sonographic equipment may limit how fast new technologies are adopted."
Job Outlook
According to ARDMS, employment of sonographers is expected to grow faster than the national average through 2016. A growing and aging population will increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging. Furthermore, since sonography is a safe and noninvasive procedure, many patients are choosing it over radiation techniques.
Nearly 50,000 certified sonographers were employed in 2008. While hospitals are the main employers for sonographers, outpatient care is a growing field which will create more job opportunities in physician offices and obstetric clinics.