CARDIAC

Cardiac Sonography – Echocardiography

Certificate Program 1092 Hours

The Cardiac Sonography Program prepares graduates for entry-level employment as a cardiac Sonographer with specialization in adult echocardiography.  The students will study cardiac anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system, recognize normal and abnormal EKG patterns, and perform thorough scanning protocols in adult echocardiography.

The core curriculum includes lectures and an imaging laboratory component. The lab will consist of learning all protocols for a logical and thorough survey of the heart, and provide accurate and technical impressions to the interpreting physician, training in the use of diagnostic ultrasound equipment and scanning techniques, patient assessment, patient history, and technical impression.

Each student is rotated into a clinically advanced preparatory program and placed at Cure Diagnostics outpatient ultrasound testing center upon completion of their didactic training.  The final clinical portion of the curriculum is structured to include supervised experiences in the clinical environment that require competencies, logs, and evaluations completed by the student.  Graduates will be qualified to work in hospitals, imaging centers, physicians’ offices, or clinics.

The student enrolled in the Cardiac Sonography Program will be trained in the following areas:

Ultrasound & Cardiac Physics
Anatomy of the Heart
Physiology of the Heart
Pathophysiology of the Heart

1. PHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION:

This unit explains how diagnostic ultrasound physics works. It teaches the student instrument performance, measurements, safety and risk factors and as well as theory of diagnostic ultrasound physics. Emphasis will be placed on information and technique necessary to pass the Registry of Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (RDCS) exam and the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (RCS) Exam.

2. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HEART:

The following will be studied: Introduction to the heart and the ultrasound relationship of the heart in two-dimension and M-Mode, comprehension of the structure and function of the heart, ECG.  This module prepares the student to identify the symptoms of heart attack, and locate the correct scanning probe position for the various heart positions.

3. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE HEART:

This unit prepares the student to recognize and interpret the following: valvular heart disease, prosthetic heart valves, cardiomyopathies, cardiac masses, and adult congenital heart disease. Recognizing and understanding the color flow Doppler, continuous wave Doppler and pulse wave Doppler.  Perform the basic scanning protocol and be able to write an initial impression.

Program Goals and Objectives

To train students to be professional and competent Sonographers in the medical community.
To develop interpersonal skills in communicating with patients, medical and administrative individuals.
To teach students about using sound waves in projecting an image of the heart so they can contribute to the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.
To help students acquire the necessary skills to practice proper patient care.
To ensure that the students have the ability to produce quality diagnostic images with a maximum of information contributing to diagnostic process.
To provide students with knowledge, clinical skills, problem solving abilities in cardiac ultrasound.

Length of Program Day Program Schedule

The on-campus portion of the program (252 clock hours) consists of classes that meet three days each week for eight hours daily. Following this portion of the program, students complete a 840 clock hour clinical rotation. Normal completion time for the program is 53 weeks excluding vacation periods and holidays.

Credential Information

The Cardiac Sonography Program graduates are immediately eligible to apply for the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) board examination to become a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS).  Graduates of the Cardiac Sonography Program are encouraged to take the credentialing examination offered by CCI.  This examination is voluntary, but obtaining this credential does enhance employment opportunities.  Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing this examination are not controlled by CURE but by CCI, and are subject to change by the agency without notice.

CARDIAC SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM:

In order to be accepted by CURE as a student of our Cardiac Sonography Program you must satisfy the following additional requirements:

High School Diploma or Equivalent