Requirements Of Ultrasound Technician Schools In California
So now lets say you’ve decided you want a career in ultrasound and have decided on a school, you might ask, “what are the ultrasound technician requirements”? Well, for starters all potential employers require that you have at least a basic Associate Degree in sonography. For Ultrasound Technician Schools in California, this is in fact a two year vocational program where you study basic sciences and general sonography, followed by a clinical internship before you get your degree.
Now if want to extend your practice, and be able to carry out specialized procedures, then you will need to obtain a Bachelors Degree. These programs will then train you to perform specific procedures such as abdominal ultrasound, OB-Gyne ultrasound, Cardiac ultrasound etc. If you are in the healthcare practice already such as in medicine or nursing you have the option of going for a certificate program in ultrasound technology.
Associate of Applied Science Degree
An associate degree is a two year program. The following requirements must be completed prior to or during the program.
Course Description with Credit Hours
Human Anatomy and Physiology I – 4 credit hours with laboratory Human Anatomy and Physiology II – 4 credit hours with laboratory Medical Terminology- 3 credit hours Basic Physics College Algebra
Ultrasound Technician Schools
Average Ultrasound Technician Salary
Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelors degree is a 4 your course that would have these requirements.
Course Description with Credit Hours
Human Anatomy and Physiology I – 4 credit hours with laboratory Human Anatomy and Physiology II – 4 credit hours with laboratory Medical Terminology- 3 credit hours Basic Physics College Algebra
One overlooked aspect of ultrasound technician requirements is fitness. The fact that you will spend a lot of time on your feet and performing repetitive procedures and movements as well as moving and lifting often heavy and bed ridden patients to get good images, means you need to have a certain degree of fitness.
After graduating you will then need to take other ultrasound technician requirements such as sitting in and passing exams for registration with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) which will provide you with credentials not just for general ultrasound, but for specialization as well. Take note that state certification for associate and bachelors degree is not a mandatory requirement, however, most employers will prefer certification because it gives them a better and more objective guarantee of your skills. Maintaining your certification also means you have to participate in continuing education for ultrasound technicians.
Depending on employer requirements and profession interests, you might want to join a professional organization. A professional organization is typically a group of specialists in a chosen career field that share common interests and needs. For example, for diagnostic medical sonographers, they need continual information on the latest technologies, patient care, regulations that affect them, and even discounts on things like insurance.
Here are some of the organizations you might want to belong to:
SDMS Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography http://www.sdms.org
This is the main professional organization for sonographers. They accept practicing sonographers as well as students. Some benefits of being a member include subscriptions to the Journal of Medical Sonography, industry salary and benefits reports as well as continuing medical education for sonographers.
AIUM American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine http://www.aium.org
The AIUM is also a leading organization dedicated to the advancement of safe and effective use of sonography in medicine. They offer the same benefits as the SDMS. They also provide accreditation standards thru their AIUM Ultrasound Practice Accreditation.
Certification Organizations:
The following organizations award certification credentials to those who pass the given exams. Becoming a registered sonographer is the best way to guarantee employment.
ARDMS American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography http://www.ardms.org http://ardms.org/credentials_examinations/
They award the following credentials:
RDMS – Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer RDCS – Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer RVT – Registered Vascular Technologist RPVI- Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation
Benefits of Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound benefits in four primary ways. It increases the blood flow of the treated area to speed up the healing process by delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the area and removing cell waste. Though vibrations, it reduces swelling and edema to reduce pain. It increases the recovery rate of damaged tissue without adding strain and softens any scar tissue. It can be used to transfer topical medicines into the body, which is a process known as phonophoresis.
How to Select the Frequency
The frequency determines how deeply the ultrasound waves can penetrate the body. The lower the frequency, the longer the wave; therefore, lower frequencies can penetrate the body deeper. For sports injuries, chronic inflammation, and arthritis, the frequency typically used is 1-3 MHz. Ultrasound Technician Schools go into more in depth frequency issues. At 1 Mhz, the ultrasound waves can penetrate up to 1.6” into the skin. This frequency is recommended for acute or chronic injuries and pain, such as bone injuries and arthritis. At 3 Mhz, the ultrasound waves can penetrate up to 0.8” into the skin. This frequency is recommended for beginners and post-exercise recovery. It can treat the same conditions as the 1 Mhz waves but at a milder intensity. At 5 Mhz, the ultrasound waves can penetrate up to 0.2” into the skin. This frequency is recommended for skin & facial rejuvenation, fat removal, cellulite, scars, scar tissue, sunburn, bruises, and superficial cuts and scrapes. The waves at this frequency don’t penetrate deeply enough to affect the tendons, so it’s not used for treating injuries.
Conditions Treated and Length of Treatment
What can be Treated Injuries to the tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage heal very slowly. The problem is that people will try to continue to use the already injured body part, so the injury is continually stressed. Ultrasound Technician Schools often focus on the differences between the different muscles. Treating with therapeutic ultrasound helps reduce pain and swelling and speed up the healing process by relaxing the affected area. Professional athletes use it before and after strenuous exercise to prevent and protect against these types of injuries. Chronic ailments, including arthritis and swollen disks, in which swelling and pain are present can also be treated with therapeutic ultrasound. It can increase flexibility in atrophied joints, which are joints that are unused and frozen. Athletes with chronic ailments from previous injuries will use it to prevent the affected area from impacting their performance. Therapeutic ultrasound relives muscle strains, muscle tension, and trigger points effectively. Trigger points are sensitive spots in the muscle where there’s poor circulation and atrophy. Those who suffer from muscle tension headaches and migraines can use the machine on the back of the neck and across the upper back for relief. The machine releases the trigger points, which are usually the cause of pain. Releasing the trigger point means draining the buildup of lactic acid and toxins in that particular sensitive spot in the muscle and increasing circulation and nutrients to the area.
Length of Treatment
Each session of ultrasound therapy lasts about 5-10 minutes and is administered 2-4 times per day until the treated area heals. Treatments can either be done in a professional clinic or at home. Ultrasound Technician Schools teach how to use ultrasound in a clinical setting. At home, the patient can use a light weight, handheld portable ultrasound machine along with ultrasound gel or therapeutic gel to treat himself/herself. Pain relief is noticed immediately when using therapeutic ultrasound, and it should gradually decrease over a 2-3 week period depending on the severity of the injury or condition. Even after the pain is gone, it is recommended that the ultrasound therapy continue once or twice a week to ensure that the pain doesn’t recur.
Using Phonophoresis to Enhance Treatment
Phonophoresis is when the ultrasound machine is used to deliver topically applied medicines. By using therapeutic ultrasound for a longer period of time with the phonophoretic medicine, more medicine can be delivered and deeper as well. The medicines can either be contained within or under the ultrasound gel. They are pushed by the sound waves and driven deep below the skin into the tissues. This method is more effective than massaging in the medicine with bare hands. Many natural analgesics and anti-inflammatory medicines are more effective when delivered this way. Oral medications drug the entire body, while phonophoresis ensures that the part of the body that needs the medicine is the part that receives it. However, not all topical medications can be administered phonophoretically. Medicines that require very exact dosing shouldn’t and can’t be administered this way. Although Ultrasound Technician Schools are licensed by the State where courses are taught, ultrasound technicians are not allowed to prescribe medication. The medicine’s molecule size determines whether or not the ultrasound waves can pick up the medicine to pass it through to the tissues. The medicine can’t react with the ultrasound gel and has to be able to survive the ultrasound’s thermal effects and vibrations.
Warnings for Use
In over 60 years, the medical community has found no adverse side effects associated with therapeutic ultrasound. Unlike painkillers and other medicines, therapeutic ultrasound doesn’t interact with systemic medications and hasn’t demonstrated habit-forming behavior. Using the portable ultrasound machine without ultrasound gel can damage the round-headed probe, so the machines should never be used without gel. The machine should never be cleaned with water or submerged under water. Ultrasound Technician Schools teach students how to properly care for ultrasound equipment. It should never be used on anyone under the age of 18 without a physician or therapist’s recommendation and supervision.