Ultrasound Technologist Career Facts

by Nicholas

An ultrasound technologist is trained to use equipment that directs high frequency sound waves into a patient’s body. The echoes are interpreted by the equipment to form an image on screen of the internal makeup of the body, which is used for medical assessment and diagnosis. Another part of the job description is to view the fetus in the womb of a pregnant woman. Ultrasounds are commonly used in the field of obstetrics but are also used for diagnostics in gynecological, abdominal, neurological and ophthalmic areas of medicine.

An ultrasound technician is not only required to operate the machinery and interpret the results. Other parts of the job include talking to the patient and explain the procedure, directing the patient in order to obtain the best images, selecting images for other medical professionals to review and maintaining the ultrasound equipment.

To be successful in this career, there are various skills that every technician needs to be proficient in. These include the ability to operate the ultrasound machine and interpret the images; attention to detail to select appropriate images and spot areas to concentrate on; good verbal and social skills in order to communicate effectively with patients; and the physical ability to help patients into an optimum position.

Doctor and ultrasound technologist looking at ultrasound machine

Ultrasound technicians must receive appropriate training and certification before being allowed to practice. This training can either take place in a hospital or in a university or vocational college. Most training programs will take 2 – 4 years to complete. After completing training, it is possible to achieve certification from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) which requires passing both a general examination and an exam in the specialty in which the individual wishes to practice (obstetric sonography, abdominal sonography etc).

Most trained medical ultrasound operators will work mainly in hospitals. There are also job opportunities in physicians’ offices and diagnostic imaging centers. The average yearly salary in the United States is around $50,000 per year, with the top earners earning over $66,500 per year. Salary prospects vary depending on the industry sector in which the individual is employed.

There is an increasing demand for ultrasound technologists due to the aging population and the increasing demand for this type of diagnostic imaging as an alternative to x-rays and other more dangerous procedures. Job prospects therefore are extremely good and there are an increasing number of opportunities at private imaging centers offering ‘reassurance scans’ for pregnant women as well as hospitals and other medical establishments.

Ultrasound Jobs

, , , ,

Related Posts:

Comments

Leave a Reply