What Does a Sonogram Technician Do?
A sonogram technician or sonographer is a healthcare professional who conducts ultrasound examinations to help physicians diagnose and screen medical conditions. A sonogram technician employs medical equipment using sound waves to capture images of internal tissues within the human body. These images are then used to diagnose such conditions such as cancer or heart disease, or to monitor fetal development in pregnancies.
After explaining the procedure to the patient, the technician uses ultrasound equipment to scan the part of the body that is under examination. Once an image suitable for diagnostic purposes has been captured correctly, the sonographer analyzes the ultrasound data. This analysis must also take into account the patient's history and clinical data, and generally concludes with an oral or written summary of the findings to the physician.
In addition to performing procedures and interpreting diagnostic images, a sonographer's duties often include the gathering and record keeping of patient histories, including computerized image archiving. Sonographers may also assist with electronic clerical scheduling, and as they advance in their careers they may also have managerial and supervisorial duties.
What's the Difference Between Sonography and Ultrasound? What is Radiology?
Ultrasonography, also referred to as ultrasound or sonography, is a medical procedure used in diagnostic medicine. It can produce images of organs, internal tissues, and blood flow inside the human body by sending high-frequency sound waves into the area under examination and recording the echoes that are returned. Traditional ultrasound images appear thin and flat, but advancements in the technology have led to machines that can produce three-dimensional images, and even four-dimensional images, which are three-dimensional ultrasound images in motion.
Sonography allows physicians to look inside the human body without using an X-ray. The difference is that ultrasound scanning gives a clear and detailed picture of internal soft tissues, while X-rays can only record bones. Sonography is increasingly preferred to radiologic procedures, as patients and physicians seek healthier and safer treatments. Unlike radiology, sonography is noninvasive, and does not use radiation. This greatly reduces the risk of harmful side effects from repeated use, both for the patient and the technician.
Major Specializations
Sonography is used to examine various structures of the body, commonly including the abdomen, heart, blood vessels, and female reproductive system. It is also used to assist with tissue biopsies, helping medical professionals guide needles into organs to collect sample cells for lab testing. Different parts of the body require different techniques, so there are several major specializations that a sonographer can choose:
- Obstetric or gynecology ultrasound is used in the examination of the female reproductive system. Obstetric sonographers examine fetuses, tracking the growth and location of the baby as well as monitoring for birth defects and other potential problems.
- Cardiovascular technicians assist in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and blood-vessel conditions, such as heart attacks, heart disease, and vascular diseases that can lead to strokes.
- Neurosonographers evaluate the nervous system, examining the brain and spinal cord. They specialize in screening and testing to diagnose neurological and nervous system disorders. In neonatal care, they check for abnormalities in premature infants, and scan the blood vessels of infants diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia, checking for strokes.
- Ophthalmologic sonographers evaluate the structures and muscles of the eye, helping to diagnose and monitor tumors, separated retinas, and other ailments of the eye and neighboring tissues. They use ultrasound equipment made especially for the examination of the eye, which is much smaller than the equipment used in other specialty areas.
What Type of Person Would Do Well in This Career?
Sonographers need to be good communicators, compassionate people, and be able to work independently. Since they need to interact one-on-one with patients, those entering the field should have good interpersonal skills. They need to be able to explain technical procedures and the results of examinations to patients, physicians, and the other members of a healthcare team. As with most healthcare professions, being a sonographer requires interacting with patients who may be experiencing pain, so compassion and patience are essential.
Although sonographers do share their ultrasound findings with a physician, they must be able to work independently, as scans and the correct interpretation of images are expected to be handled by the technician. As many doctors have busy schedules, sonographers must be self-sufficient and able to perform diagnostic procedures independently. To keep up with the rapidly growing field of diagnostic medicine, sonographers should also be lifelong learners, willing to commit to the evolving field of ultrasound by constantly expanding their knowledge base and expertise.
Article Resources:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Radiology info