Sonography: What it is and why it's growing in the health care field

Sonography is a painless medical procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce visual images of organs, tissues and blood flow inside the body. It was first used in obstetrics to look at fetal development in the 1970s, but since then has moved to multiple branches of health care and is used to examine the abdomen, breasts, prostate, female reproductive organs, heart, blood vessels and other areas. Sonography is used in both a diagnostic and therapeutic capacity.

In obstetrics, sonography is still used to determine the age and location of a fetus as well as to check for potential birth defects. As sonogram technology has advanced over the years, it has become possible to see fetuses in greater detail.

Beyond obstetrics, diagnostic medical sonography is also used to diagnose heart disease. And therapeutically, the practice is often used to speed the healing of injured muscles and joints through the application of deep heat.

Individuals who complete diagnostic medical sonography training take courses that teach them how to create images of structures inside the body through the use of ultrasound.

During a sonogram, the sonographer (also called an ultrasonographer) applies an odorless gel to the area to be examined. This gel helps conduct the sound waves from the ultrasound transducer to the area of focus. The sonographer moves the transducer around on the skin, sending a stream of high-frequency sound waves into the body that bounce off the organs and tissues inside.

Because the technique is being used more often in hospitals around the country, there's an increased need for sonographers. People who want to pursue the career enroll in ultrasound technician school and take diagnostic medical sonography courses that cover an array of topics in obstetrics and gynecology. A comprehensive health care program will teach students how to study the female reproductive system and track growth and health during pregnancy.

In addition, students will take classes covering abdominal sonography that teach them how to diagnose conditions involving the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, kidney, pancreas and spleen. As part of their diagnostic medical sonography training, students also learn to examine the nervous system, cardiovascular system, bladder and eyes.

Medical technology continues to generate new applications for sonography procedures, and as a result, there are a growing number of career opportunities for sonographers who have earned diagnostic medical sonography diplomas. And as the population grows and ages, the need for professionals who have graduated from diagnostic medical sonography programs is expected to increase.

Information in this article was provided by the Sanford-Brown Institute - Ft. Lauderdale. Contact Sanford-Brown today if you're interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program. (Sanford-Brown Institute does not guarantee employment or salary.)

Courtesy of ARAcontent