Do you want to help patients? Do you enjoy working with technology? If so, consider becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer. Every day, diagnostic medical sonographers help improve the lives of their patients by providing critical medical and administrative duties in medical offices. They support the physician with vital information to make better diagnoses and treatment decisions. So, what does a diagnostic medical sonographer do?
What Does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Do?
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers play a crucial role in the medical field. They use sonograms or ultrasound machines to create digital images of the human body using high-frequency sound waves. These images help physicians diagnose illnesses. Some of their day-to-day responsibilities include:
Meeting and Greeting Patients
The diagnostic medical sonographer meets the patient in the waiting room and walks them back to the testing room. Before the preparation begins, they educate the patient about the procedure, so the patient has minimal anxiety about the process. They answer any questions the patient may have. Then, the diagnostic medical sonographer has the patient lie down to prepare for the sonogram.
Patient Preparation
The diagnostic medical sonographer prepares the patient by positioning them on the exam chair and requesting the patient remove any clothes that obscure the image area. They clean the area with alcohol and then rub the sonogram gel, so the sonogram transducer doesn’t cause friction during the test. The gel can be cold, so the diagnostic medical sonographer prepares them for the sensation.
Conducting Sonograms
During the sonogram, the diagnostic medical sonographer moves the transducer over the image area to scan the part of the body requested by the physician. The transducer sends out pulses of sound that bounce back, causing echoes. The echoes are in the form of an image and are shown on the sonogram screen. When the images are complete, the diagnostic medical sonographer wipes off excess gel and helps the patient as needed.
Image Analysis
The diagnostic medical sonographer takes the images, interprets the results, and passes them to the patient’s doctor. Part of the image analysis process is to identify abnormalities in the images. If abnormalities are found, the physician may request additional sonogram images. The sonographer records the images in the patient’s electronic health records for physicians to access and use for diagnostic purposes. Recording the images also helps reduce the number of redundancies caused by duplication of images.
Disinfection and Sterilization
The diagnostic medical sonographer cleans the touched surfaces to disinfect them for the next patient. New sheets of parchment are pulled onto the exam chair, and the imaging equipment is calibrated as needed. The diagnostic medical sonographer also restocks the medical supplies and orders additional inventory as needed.
Patient Education
Throughout the testing process, the diagnostic medical sonographer educates the patient about what will happen and when they will receive the sonogram results. Keeping the patient calm reduces anxiety and helps the diagnostic medical sonographer complete the sonogram efficiently and effectively.
How Do You Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?
Completing the degree program at Meridian College is a great way to prepare for a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer. Meridian College students build a strong foundation of knowledge in the classroom and then participate in hands-on training to practice their learned skills. Experienced instructors offer students guidance because they know how to prepare students for the daily challenges they will face as a diagnostic medical sonographer. From assisting doctors with patients to critical administrative tasks, Meridian College trains students for a rewarding new career as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what a diagnostic medical sonographer does, it is time to learn more about Meridian College. Classes are enrolling now, and it is time to change your life with career college training. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. We even help you prepare for job interviews and find a job you are passionate about after graduation. If you enjoy helping others and want to have a lifelong career in the medical field, Meridian College can help.
Want to Learn More?
Are you fascinated by the advances in 21st-century medicine that allow your health providers to see real-time pictures of blood flow in your arteries or watch a baby move? Enroll in Meridian College’s Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Associate Degree program and get the training you need for a rewarding new career as an ultrasound technician.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer.