Chapter 28 - Diagnostic and Related Technology
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer; Cardiovascular Technologists/Technician; Nuclear Medicine Technologists; Surgical Technologist
Educational/ Legal Requirements
| Education & Training Diagnostic Medical Sonographers require at least an associate’s in diagnostic medical sonography, but there are bachelor’s programs available. These programs are certified by the CAAHEP. Cardiovascular Technologists/Technicians need at least an associate’s from an accredited program, but some are trained on the job. Nuclear Medicine Technologists usually need an associate’s or bachelor’s in nuclear medicine technology. They get this from a JRCNMT (Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology) accredited program. Licensure Diagnostic Medical Sonographers don’t usually need licensure, but requirements vary by the state. Cardiovascular Technologists/Technicians don’t usually need licensure, by requirements vary by the state. For Nuclear Medicine Technologists, licensure is only needed in some states. Certification and Other Qualifications Diagnostic Medical Sonographers don’t need certification, but it is preferred by employers. Their certification is given by the ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography). Cardiovascular Technologists/Technicians are preferred to have certification, which is sometimes a requirement by employers. Their certification is offered by CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) and ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists). Nuclear Medicine Technologists are preferred to have certification, which is often a state requirement. Certification is given by the NMTCB (Nuclear Medical Technology Certification Board) or ARRT. Advancement Opportunities |
Employment Trends
| Employment Change The demand for diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow due to an aging population and advances in medical imaging technology. Faster-than-average job growth is expected. Job Prospects Diagnostic Medical Sonographers have good prospects, especially when you are certified and have specialization training. |
Key terms: (33) page 363
abdominal sonographer
ultrasound technician who specializes in inspecting a patient’s abdominal cavity to help diagnose and treat conditions
breast sonographer
ultrasound technician who specializes in studying diseases of the breasts
cardiographic technician
professional who specializes in vascular technology and performs noninvasive tests such as echocardiograms
cardiopulmonary technologist
professional who assists the physician in treating and diagnosing heart and lung ailments
cardiovascular invasive specialist
professional who assists physicians in diagnosing and treating heart and blood vessel ailments through the use of invasive procedures
cardiovascular technician
professional who focuses on performing noninvasive tests such as echocardiograms
cardiovascular technologist
professional who assists physicians by performing complex medical tests involving the heart and pulmonary system
diagnostic imaging
the use of an image of a body part created by radiographic techniques to aid in a diagnosis
diagnostic medical sonography
use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions
echocardiographer
technologist who uses ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels
ECG (electrocardiogram)
an instrument for recording the changes of electrical potential occurring during the heart beat that is used to diagnose abnormalities of the heart
electrocardiograph technician
cardiovascular technician who specializes in ECGs, stress testing, and Holter monitor procedures
gamma scintillation camera
scanner used to take pictures of radioisotopes as they pass through a patient’s body
high-frequency transducers
ultrasound transducer used exclusively for the study of breast tissue
Holter monitoring
a pertable device that makes a continuous record of electrical activity of the heart in order to detect episodes of abnormal heart rhythms
invasive cardiology
a heart specialty that requires the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body
MRI (magnetic resonance scanner)
a noninvasive diagnostic technique based on nuclear magnetic resonance of atoms within the body induces by the application of radio waves to produce computerized images of internal body issues
neurosonographer
ultrasound technician who focuses on the nervous system, including the brain
noninvasive procedures
technical care that does not require the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body
NCT (nuclear cardiology technologist)
operates imaging devices that require the use of radionuclides for diagnosis
nuclear medicine
branch of radiology that uses radionuclides in the diagnosis and treaatment of disease
CT technologist (nuclear medicine computer tomography)
combines the use of radioisotopes with X-rays to create two-dimensional or three-dimensional images inside the human body
obstetric and gynecologic sonographer
ultrasound technician who specializes in the female reproductive system
positron emission scanner/tomography (PET)
nuclear medicine imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of body processes
PET technologist
an imaging specialist who prepares and delivers to patients radioactive drugs for diagnosis and medical research
radionuclides
unstable atoms that emit radiation spontaneously
radiopharmaceuticals
radioactive drugs
sonographer
an individual who collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician
stress testing
monitors the heart’s performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill's speed to observe the effect of increased exertion on the heart
surgical technologist
a technologist who assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, RNs, or other surgical personnel
transesophageal echocardiography
a form of testing that involves placing a tube in the patient’s esophagus to obtain ultrasound images
ultrasound machines
an electronic device that uses vibrations of the same physical nature as sound to form a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures
vascular technologist
technologist who assists physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting circulation
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer; Cardiovascular Technologists/Technician; Nuclear Medicine Technologists; Surgical Technologist
Educational/ Legal Requirements
| Education & Training Diagnostic Medical Sonographers require at least an associate’s in diagnostic medical sonography, but there are bachelor’s programs available. These programs are certified by the CAAHEP. Cardiovascular Technologists/Technicians need at least an associate’s from an accredited program, but some are trained on the job. Nuclear Medicine Technologists usually need an associate’s or bachelor’s in nuclear medicine technology. They get this from a JRCNMT (Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology) accredited program. Licensure Diagnostic Medical Sonographers don’t usually need licensure, but requirements vary by the state. Cardiovascular Technologists/Technicians don’t usually need licensure, by requirements vary by the state. For Nuclear Medicine Technologists, licensure is only needed in some states. Certification and Other Qualifications Diagnostic Medical Sonographers don’t need certification, but it is preferred by employers. Their certification is given by the ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography). Cardiovascular Technologists/Technicians are preferred to have certification, which is sometimes a requirement by employers. Their certification is offered by CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) and ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists). Nuclear Medicine Technologists are preferred to have certification, which is often a state requirement. Certification is given by the NMTCB (Nuclear Medical Technology Certification Board) or ARRT. Advancement Opportunities |
Employment Trends
| Employment Change The demand for diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow due to an aging population and advances in medical imaging technology. Faster-than-average job growth is expected. Job Prospects Diagnostic Medical Sonographers have good prospects, especially when you are certified and have specialization training. |
Key terms: (33) page 363
abdominal sonographer
ultrasound technician who specializes in inspecting a patient’s abdominal cavity to help diagnose and treat conditions
breast sonographer
ultrasound technician who specializes in studying diseases of the breasts
cardiographic technician
professional who specializes in vascular technology and performs noninvasive tests such as echocardiograms
cardiopulmonary technologist
professional who assists the physician in treating and diagnosing heart and lung ailments
cardiovascular invasive specialist
professional who assists physicians in diagnosing and treating heart and blood vessel ailments through the use of invasive procedures
cardiovascular technician
professional who focuses on performing noninvasive tests such as echocardiograms
cardiovascular technologist
professional who assists physicians by performing complex medical tests involving the heart and pulmonary system
diagnostic imaging
the use of an image of a body part created by radiographic techniques to aid in a diagnosis
diagnostic medical sonography
use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions
echocardiographer
technologist who uses ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels
ECG (electrocardiogram)
an instrument for recording the changes of electrical potential occurring during the heart beat that is used to diagnose abnormalities of the heart
electrocardiograph technician
cardiovascular technician who specializes in ECGs, stress testing, and Holter monitor procedures
gamma scintillation camera
scanner used to take pictures of radioisotopes as they pass through a patient’s body
high-frequency transducers
ultrasound transducer used exclusively for the study of breast tissue
Holter monitoring
a pertable device that makes a continuous record of electrical activity of the heart in order to detect episodes of abnormal heart rhythms
invasive cardiology
a heart specialty that requires the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body
MRI (magnetic resonance scanner)
a noninvasive diagnostic technique based on nuclear magnetic resonance of atoms within the body induces by the application of radio waves to produce computerized images of internal body issues
neurosonographer
ultrasound technician who focuses on the nervous system, including the brain
noninvasive procedures
technical care that does not require the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body
NCT (nuclear cardiology technologist)
operates imaging devices that require the use of radionuclides for diagnosis
nuclear medicine
branch of radiology that uses radionuclides in the diagnosis and treaatment of disease
CT technologist (nuclear medicine computer tomography)
combines the use of radioisotopes with X-rays to create two-dimensional or three-dimensional images inside the human body
obstetric and gynecologic sonographer
ultrasound technician who specializes in the female reproductive system
positron emission scanner/tomography (PET)
nuclear medicine imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of body processes
PET technologist
an imaging specialist who prepares and delivers to patients radioactive drugs for diagnosis and medical research
radionuclides
unstable atoms that emit radiation spontaneously
radiopharmaceuticals
radioactive drugs
sonographer
an individual who collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician
stress testing
monitors the heart’s performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill's speed to observe the effect of increased exertion on the heart
surgical technologist
a technologist who assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, RNs, or other surgical personnel
transesophageal echocardiography
a form of testing that involves placing a tube in the patient’s esophagus to obtain ultrasound images
ultrasound machines
an electronic device that uses vibrations of the same physical nature as sound to form a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures
vascular technologist
technologist who assists physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting circulation
