Diagnostic Medical Sonography: A Sound Wave Away from Diagnosis

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Diagnostic medical sonography is a profession where sonographers direct high-frequency sound waves into a patient’s body through the use of specific equipment to diagnose or monitor a patient’s medical condition. As described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this examination is referred to as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram. The high-frequency sound waves emitted from the handheld device, called a transducer, bounce back creating an echo and therefore produce an image that can be viewed on the sonographers computer screen. This image provides the sonographer and physician with an internal image of the patient’s body that will be used in the diagnosis. The most familiar use of ultrasound is used in monitoring pregnancies and is provided by obstetric and gynecologic sonographers, who also provide imaging of the female reproductive system. Other types of sonography include; abdominal sonography, breast sonography, musculoskeletal sonography, neurosonography and cardiovascular sonography. Due to the vast nature of uses in sonography, most professionals study one field that they choose to specialize in. Diagnostic medical sonography is a rapidly growing field because of the increase in medical advances. The area of Cleveland, Ohio has continued to rise in the medical field with great strides, providing better career prospects with the availability of numerous employment positions. According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career outlook for a diagnostic medical sonographer is expected to increase by as much as forty-four percent by the year 2020. Approximately 53,700 sonographers were employed in 2010, with an expectancy of an additional 23,400 by 2020. Information obtai... ... middle of paper ... ...areers/sonographers.shtml#top>. Field, Shelly. “Radiology and Biotechnology/Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.” Career Opportunities in Health Care, Third Edition. New York, NY: Ferguson, 2007. 179-180. Print. Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS), Bureau of Labor Market Information. “Appendix Table E, Ohio - Occupational Employment* Projections Report, 2008-2018.” November 2010. ODJFS, Ohio. Web. 30 April 2012. . Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS). DMS. "So you want to be a sonographer…." 1999-2012. SDMS, Plano, Texas. Web. 25 April 2012. . Swanson, Barbara M. “Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Also Known as Ultrasound Technologist.” Careers in Health Care, 5th Ed. McGraw-Hill professional career series, 2005. 76-81. Print.

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