Ultrasound Technologist: A Career Overview
In the year 2009, around 46,000 diagnostic medical
sonographers have been designated in numerous job positions. Most of the
population was assigned in private and public hospitals, while the rest were
distributed in medical clinics, diagnostic laboratories, physician’s offices and
mobile imaging centers.
The trend in employment for medical diagnostic
sonographers is forecasted to grow by around nineteen percent until the year
2016, which is very quick as compared to other fields. And as the elders in
society increases, the need for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic advancements
also increase.
Because patients nowadays are looking for a safer
and non-invasive way of treating different health problems, most of them are
veering towards sonography to help in the treatment process. With this,
sonography becomes high in demand, which means the need for more
ultrasound
technologist too. In contrast to other diagnostic imaging procedures, sonography
is not radiation dependent, so that means the risk for the harmful effects of
radiation are completely eliminated. Continuous use of these radiation-based
equipment may also have long-term side effects not only for the patient, but the
sonographer as well.
Advancements in sonography is continuously evolving
at a very fast pace, and has already introduced new systems such as 3D and 4D
imaging. This new technology is now adopted in obstetrics and ophthalmology in
diagnosis and treatment of many medical conditions. The only problem as of now
is that this technology is currently quite expensive and is being strictly
regulated by the Federal Government, which means it may still take a while
before majority of the population may be able to use it.
Sonographers primarily look for employment
opportunities in hospitals and medical clinics, but study shows that it is in
physician’s offices and medical diagnostic laboratories which are becoming to be
a more viable place to work. The reason is that health care facilities like
those mentioned are geared towards outpatient care as supported by third-party
financers and the advancement in sonography technology which allows more
efficient and complex imaging procedures to be accomplished outside the
hospital.
Employment opportunities for sonography graduates
are very enticing. With the advancement in ultrasound procedures, the quality of
employment for sonographers can be expected to increase. Also, as more
sonographers retire and vacate their current positions, more and more employment
slots will be available for new graduates. Based on the survey conducted by the
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography all over the US, ultrasound
technologists are capable of earning an average of $32 per hour, and an annual
average salary of $66,678. But of course, salary will be greatly relative to the
place of work and the employer. Generally speaking, the sonography profession
can be considered a very financially stable and rewarding career.
An ideal sonographer needs to be very good with his
communication and interpersonal skills since they will need these in relaying
the imaging technicalities and procedures to the patients. It is very common
that patients may be nervous in any medical procedures, which is why
sonographers need to know how to handle these kinds of situations. A solid
foundation in mathematics and science will also be crucial in this profession
since they will be performing a lot of mathematical and scientific computations
which will be used to help in the analysis and diagnosis of many different types
of health problems.
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