GENERAL

General Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program

Certificate Program 1680 Hours

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program prepares graduates for entry-level employment as an ultrasonographer with specialization in abdominal, obstetrics, gynecology, oncology (small parts/superficial) and vascular.

The core curriculum includes a lecture and an imaging laboratory component. The lab will consist of learning all protocols for an in depth survey of the organs, as well as accurate technical reporting to the interpreting physician, training in the use of diagnostic ultrasound equipment and scanning techniques, patient assessment, patient history, laboratory values and more.

Each student is rotated into a clinically advanced preparatory program and placed at Cure Diagnostics outpatient ultrasound testing centers 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.

Students enrolled in the GENERAL DMS program will be trained in the following areas:

Ultrasound Physics, Instrumentation, and Knobology

Abdominal

Oncology (Superficial/Small Parts)

Obstetrics

Gynecology

Vascular

1. PHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION:

This unit explains how diagnostic ultrasound physics work. Students will learn instrument performance techniques, measurement safety, risk factors, and the theory of diagnostic ultrasound physics. Emphasis will be placed on information and techniques necessary for the ARDMS & CCI registry examinations.

2. ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND

Anatomy, Physiology and pathophysiology of the abdominal cavity will be instructed in the following organs: liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, pancreas, kidneys, aorta, inferior vena cava, abdominal vasculature, thyroid, testes, breast, and prostate ultrasound.  Students will be able to contrast and compare normal ultrasound anatomy.  They will also be able to recognize abnormal pathology and pathological processes of the abdomen.

3. OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGY

This unit begins with normal female anatomy, congenital variants, contrasting and comparing endovaginal scanning with pelvic scanning and presentation of pathology. The second portion of this unit begins with early pregnancy, obstetric protocols, obstetric pathology, and congenital abnormalities. In addition, students will be taught the related terminology, and will become competent using biometric measurements. This unit also covers normal and abnormal pelvic ultrasound, pelvic anatomy, the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and adnexal regions.

4. VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY

Specialized vascular anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and vascular hemodynamics are reviewed including a basic vascular training including intracranial and extracranial cerebrovascular, upper and lower peripheral vascular including arterial and venous and abdominal vascular including mesenteric, hepatic and renal.

Program Goals and Objectives

1. To train students to be professional and competent sonographers in the medical community.
2. To develop interpersonal skills in communicating with patients, medical and administrative individuals.
3. To teach students about using sound waves in projecting an image of the scanned organ so they can contribute to the diagnosis of disease.
4. To help students acquire the necessary skills to practice proper patient care.
5. To ensure that the students have the ability to produce quality diagnostic images with a maximum of information contributing to diagnostic process.
6. To provide students with knowledge, clinical skills, problem solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to practice in the profession of sonography.

Length of Program

The program schedule (560 clock hours) consists of classes that meet three days each week for eight hours daily.  Following this portion of the program, students complete a 1120 clock hour clinical rotation. Normal completion time for the day program is approximately 76 weeks excluding vacation periods and holidays, however, applicants can complete this program in 52 weeks by choosing the full-time, 35 hour per week schedule.

Credential Information

The General Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program graduates are immediately eligible to apply for and challenge the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) board examinations in the areas of:  Abdomen, Breast, Neurosonology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Fetal Echocardiography.  These examinations are conducted by the ARDMS.  The exam is voluntary, but obtaining the RDMS credential does enhance employment opportunities.  Registration requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by CURE but by the ARDMS and are subject to change by the agency without notice.

GENERAL DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM

In order to be accepted by CURE as a student of our General Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certification Program you must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Proof of High School Graduation

2. Bachelors’ Degree

OR

Must hold an active certification with Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), RCS or RVS, American Registry of Radiological Technologist (ARRT)-Vascular Sonography, Sonography or Breast.  Please visit their website at www.arrt.org.