Ultrasound Technician By Dania Blanco and Irvin Hernandez

What is an Ultrasound Technician? An Ultrasound Technician, also known as a Sonographer, work with equipment that directs very high frequency sound waves into the body tissues to produce images or pictures of internal organs, diseased masses, and fetuses.

Responsibilities Check patients' medical histories Explain procedures Determine the best patient positions to produce the images Operate photography Printout equipment

Education High school preparation for this profession should include coursework in: Science Math Health. Formal education programs are available as either an associate's or bachelor's degree. The most common are the 2-year programs. Coursework for sonographers include: Human anatomy Physics Medical terminology Instrumentation Patient care

History of Ultrasound Technicians 1794 1942 2000s – present History of Ultrasound Technicians – Just like personal communication devices are continuously evolving and becoming more convenient, so are ultrasound technologies. – Physiologist Lazzaro Spallanzani first to study echolocation among bats, which forms the basis for ultrasound physics. – Neurologist Karl Dussik is the first to use Sonography for medical diagnoses.

Work environment Sonographers mostly work hospitals, but they can also be found in doctors' offices, diagnostic laboratories, and outpatient medical care centers. Their work environment is usually a room dedicated to medical imaging; however, they are also sometimes called to perform in exams at patient bedsides.

Salary Range One to four years of experience averaged $17.37 to $31.49 per hour, or approximately $36,130 to $65,499 per year in 2011. After the fourth year of experience, wages rise again to $22.01 to $35.93, or a salary range of $45,781 to $74,734 per year. The bureau indicates that the upper 25 percent of medical sonographers made more than $75,290 per year in 2010. State Average Salary California $81,750 Oregon $80,190 Massachusetts $79,650 Colorado $79,540 Connecticut $79,060

Outlook The job outlook for diagnostic medical sonographers depends a lot on the locations in which they choose to seek work. Because Ultrasound Technician is such a popular career choice, many job markets are very competitive. Overall employment of sonographers is expected to increase by 44 percent between 2010 and 2020. Much of the growth in Ultrasound technician is due to the fact that ultrasound technology is increasingly being seen as a good alternative to more costly and invasive diagnostic procedures.

Interview Name: Jorie Jones How long have you been working in occupation? 10 years, 5 years at CHOMP Do you like your job? Yes, I love working with patients Love interacting and helping people Giving back to community What was your motive to become a Ultrasound technician? Roommate in junior collage was pregnant What are the steps of become a ultrasound technician? Took me 3 and a half years of studying to become an Ultrasound Technician. 2 years for associates degree and 18 months in a program that specializes in ultrasound.

Summary Ultrasound technicians use equipment that directs very high frequency sound waves. Formal education programs are available as either an associate's or bachelor's degree. The most common are the 2-year programs. One to four years of experience approximately $36,130 to $65,499 per year . After the fourth year of experience wages rise again to $45,781 to $74,734 per year. Much of the growth in Ultrasound technicians is due to the fact that ultrasound technology is increasingly being seen as a good alternative to more costly and invasive diagnostic procedures.