Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Bowling Green State University

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers also known as ultrasound technologists or sonographers are highly-skilled professionals who use specialized equipment to create images or structures inside the human body that are used by physicians to make a medical diagnosis. Sonographers have extensive, direct patient contact that may include performing some invasive procedures. They must be able to interact compassionately and effectively with people who range from healthy to critically ill. Sonographers demonstrate behavior and ethics consistent with standards and ethics of all imaging science professionals. Sonographers are involved in critical thinking skills, clinical decision making and patient education.

The profession of diagnostic medical sonography includes general sonography, cardiac sonography, vascular technology and various other subspecialties. BGSU firelands provides a rigorous program that instructs students how to recognize, identify and appropriately document normal and variant anatomical structures. Medical sonographers are employed in hospitals, clinics, private practices, mobile services, laboratories and public health facilities. Career advancement opportunities exist in education, administration, research and in commercial companies such as education/ application specialists, sales representatives, technical advisors, etc.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates from this program will possess the following knowledge, skills and behaviors:

• Understand the relationship between theoretical and clinical components of the curriculum and apply these principles of proper anatomical part presentation, pathological adjustments required for optimal examination, quality of image, and care for all patient age groups at a rate not less than 74%, as evidenced in student grade and competency records.
• Apply interpersonal skills appropriately to meet the needs of patients in a variety of clinical settings, as documented in directed practice assessment at the level of satisfactory.
• Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply and evaluate didactic knowledge and clinical information relative to the role as entry-level general sonographers.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in clinical and scanning skills necessary to fulfill the role of entry-level general sonographer for the general concentration.
• Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer standards and expectations for an entry-level general sonographer.
• To prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
• Complete the credentialing examination administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARMDS) as documented by the report of the registry results to the program. Pass rate to exceed programmatic accreditation standards.
• Demonstrate independent decision making and competent skills performance in the role of primary care provider in a broad range of sonography and intervention services, as determined by an analysis of employer surveys and graduate surveys.