Sonographer

A CAREER IN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
Ultrasonography is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to produce visual images of the heart. This procedure is known as an echocardiogram and is used in the detection and patient management in heart disease and heart attack.

What does the Echocardiography Technician do?

The Echocardiography Sonographer is a highly-skilled professional who uses specialised state-of-the-art equipment to create and interpret images of the heart that are then used by the Cardiologist to make a medical diagnosis.

The career of the Echocardiography Sonographer is a life-long commitment to continued learning in a rapidly growing and changing health care profession. The Technician has extensive, direct patient contact and must be able to interact effectively and with compassion with people from all walks of life and who may be healthy or critically ill.

The responsibilities of an Echocardiography Sonographer may include:

· Provide quality patient care and ensure the safety, both mental and physical, of their patient.

· Perform the diagnostic procedure and obtain high quality diagnostic images.

· Use cognitive ultrasonography skills to identify, record, and adapt procedures as appropriate to anatomical, pathological, diagnostic information and images.

· Obtain and record the patient’s medical history.

· Analyse the technical information.

· Use judgement in recognising and differentiating the normal or pathologic findings.

· Understand the daily operation of the Echocardiography Laboratory.

· Maintain the equipment in full working order.

· Maintain a clean and tidy work area.

· Maintain the working relationship with the hospital and medical practitioners.

What are the Career Opportunities?

Echocardiography is a growing profession with the growth projected to continue in the future with employment opportunities for qualified Technicians in both suburban and rural areas. Employment opportunities are available in both public and private hospitals, private cardiology practices and commercial organisations. Other employment opportunities include working with large technology organisations such as Siemens, as Application Specialists, providing equipment education and training; and working with universities and public hospitals as Research Echocardiography Sonographer.

What are the Salaries for Echocardiography Technicians?

Echocardiography Sonographer salaries are competitive with other professionals with similar academic qualifications. Salaries differ depending on the number of year’s experience, with other factors such as geographic location and if the practice operates a mobile unit.

How do I become an Echocardiography Sonographer?

Comprehensive tertiary programmes are available and vary depending on the diploma awarded. Any Diploma in Ultrasound must be approved by the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). Prerequisite educational criteria vary depending on the programme.

Two of the recognised tertiary programmes are:

Australasian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (www.asum.com.au)

Diploma of Medical Ultrasonography (Cardiac) Part I and II

· Prerequisite educational qualification is a three-year university degree in science or nursing.

Part I – external self-directed study. Examination consisting of two written papers

Part II – external self-directed study. Examination consisting of one written paper, one practical examination and one OSCE and oral examination. The successful completion of Part II will include two years practical experience working in the modality (completed within six months of the Part II examinations).

Queensland University of Technology (www.qut.edu.au)

Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound and Master of Cardiac Ultrasound

Prerequisite criteria:

· Educational qualification is a degree or diploma level qualification in a relevant science or allied health field.

· Access to suitable clinical experience for the duration of the course.

Stage 1 (Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound) – two years part time study (local students) or one week intensive class component (interstate students) in each Semester.

Stage 2 (Master of Cardiac Ultrasound) – one year part time research project and thesis (local students) or one year externally under QUT supervision and external Supervisor.

How do I register as an Echocardiography Sonographer?

It is the requirement of the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) that all Echocardiography Sonographer are registered with the Australasian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR) (www.asar.com.au).

Registration with the ASAR is only available to Australian or New Zealand Citizens (or permanent residents of Australia or if you hold a valid visa to work in Australia together with the AIR (Australian Institute of Radiographers) certificate for proficiency in Ultrasound). There are three categories of accreditation:

Category 1 – A qualified older of an ASAR accredited qualification in medical ultrasound.

Category 2 – A student participating in an ASAR accredited programme of study in medical ultrasound.

Category 3 – A sonographer who at 1st November 2004 had 5 years or greater clinical experience in ultrasound within Australasia and who can demonstrate with suitable evidence.

Accredited ASAR Courses?

Conferring Body	ASAR Accredited Qualifications
Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM)	Diploma of Medical Ultrasonography (Cardiac)
Charles Sturt University	Graduate Diploma of Applied Science (Medical Ultrasound) Master of Applied Science (Medical Ultrasound)
Monash University	Graduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound Master of Medical Ultrasound
Queensland University of Technology	Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound Master of Cardiac Ultrasound
RMIT University	Graduate Diploma (Sonography) Graduate Diploma of Ultrasonography Master of Applied Science (Sonography)
University of South Australia	Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography Master of Medical Sonography
University of Sydney (Cumberland Campus)	Graduate Diploma of Health Science (with Certificates of Specialisation in Cardiac Sonography) Master of Health Science (with Certificates of Specialisation in Cardiac Sonography)

The Echocardiography Sonographer must meet the requirements of the ASAR-approved Continuing Professional Development programme. The ASAR consider that the successful completion of a qualification is the beginning of continued learning and experience.