Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs - Chattanooga State ...

Chattanooga State
Diagnostic Medical
Sonography Programs
Your Guide

Diagnostic Medical
Sonography Programs
Important information: Sonography Programs at
Chattanooga State
Jody Hancock, Program Director
Office: CBIH 124 • Phone: (423) 697‐3341 • Fax: (423) 697-3324
E-mail: jody.hancock@chattanoogastate.edu
Location:
Sonography Programs
Center for Business, Industry & Health
(CBIH) Building
4501 Amnicola Hwy
Chattanooga TN 37406
Program Application Information:
(423) 697‐3360
Fax (423) 697-3324
Purpose
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs at Chattanooga State Community
College are 12-month certificate programs which begin each fall semester. Full-time
student status is required. Both programs are currently accredited by CAAHEP.
Upon completion of the general sonography program, the graduate will be eligible to test
for certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
in the specialty categories of Abdominal, Obstetrics and Gynecology. Upon successful
completion of the Sonography Physics & Instrumentation exam, in addition to at least
one of the specialty exams, the graduate will become a Registered Diagnostic Medical
Sonographer (RDMS). The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) also
awards a sonography credential in general ultrasound.
Upon completion of the cardiovascular sonography program, the graduate will be
eligible to test for certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical
Sonographers (ARDMS) in the specialty categories of Adult Echocardiography and
Vascular Technology. Upon successful completion of the Sonography Physics &
Instrumentation exam, in addition to at least one of the specialty exams, the graduate
will become a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) and/or a
Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). Cardiovascular Credentialing International
(CCI) also awards credentials in the field of cardiovascular sonography. The
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) also awards a credential in
vascular sonography.
All classroom and laboratory instruction is offered at the Chattanooga State main
campus Mondays and Tuesdays on alternating weeks and at least one Wednesday per
month, throughout the 12-month program. Clinical education takes place at one of the
many pre-approved clinic sites located within the region, or faculty may assist the
setup of a new site in the student’s area. A full-time commitment is required to
complete all didactic and clinical courses in this program. Due to the high
concentration of studies, it is highly suggested that traditional students make
arrangements to work no more than 20 hours per week during the program year.
1
Division Office:
HSC Room 2088
(423) 697‐4450 • Fax: (423) 493-8771
N/AH Application Coordinator:
(423) 697‐2504
Fax: (423) 697-2628
All Sonography forms and important information can be found on
the Nursing & Allied Health website.

Health care professionals who can document at least one year of full-time experience
in Sonography may qualify as non-traditional students, using their workplace as the
clinic site with potential rotations elsewhere. A sonographer who is already ARDMS
certified may seek part-time status in either of the programs.
All courses are taught by Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographers, Registered
Vascular Technologists, Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Sonologists,
Cardiologists, and other qualified personnel for each designated subject.
Definitions
The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and Cardiovascular Sonographer are skilled
members of the imaging health care team. The sonographer must possess in-depth
knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and pathology to apply to imaging procedures.
As there are several specialities within the realm of ultrasound, a sonographer’s specific
specialty area(s) will be determined by personal interests, background, and training. The
sonographer comes into close contact with patients, which necessitates excellent
interpersonal skills and ethical behavior.
Imaging procedures are performed with real-time, M-mode and Doppler instrumentation,
utilizing a transducer assembly against the anatomical part of interest and recording the
images with ancillary devices. Noninvasive peripheral vascular studies also utilize blood
pressure cuffs and other devices for assessing hemodynamic properties. Most sonography
procedures are non-invasive although, with continuing advances in technology, the
addition of more invasive studies increases each year to benefit patient diagnosis and
disease management.
General Sonography Program Content
Summary of Required Hours
A minimum of grade “C” is required for all courses in the “Summary of Required Hours”
Freshman Year Semester Hours
Course No. Course Title FALL SPR SU
US 200 Introduction to Diagnostic Medical Sonography 2
US 201, 211, 221 Ultrasound Physics I, II,III 2 2 2
US 202, 212 Obstetrics & Gynecology I, II 3 3
US 203, 213 Abdominal & Small Parts I, II 3 3
US 205, 215 Clinic I, II 6 2
US 210 Ultrasound Administration 2
US 220 Ultrasound Seminar 2
US 222 Obstetrics &Gynecology III 3
US 223 Abdominal &Small Parts III 3
US 225 Clinic III 2
___ ___ ___
Total Hours: 40
16 12 12
Cardiovascular Sonography Program Content
Summary of Required Hours
A minimum grade of “C” is required for all courses in the “Summary of Required Hours”
Freshman Year Semester Hours
Course No. Course Title FALL SPR SU
US 200 Intro to Diagnostic Medical Sonography 2
US 201, 211, 221 Ultrasound Physics I, II, III 2 2 2
US 204 Cardiovascular A & P 3
US 206 Cardiovascular Hemodynamics 3
US 208, 218, 228 Vascular Clinic I, II, III 3 2 2
US 209, 219, 229 Echocardiography Clinic I, II, III 3 2 2
US 210 Ultrasound Administration 2
US 214, 224 Vascular Testing I, II 2 2
US 216, 226 Adult Echocardiography Testing I, II 2 2
US 220 Ultrasound Seminar 2
___ ___ ___
Total Hours: 40
16 12 12
2

Program Affiliates
Clinical Program Affiliates are located and may be added in various parts of the region
including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It is
the goal of the program to assign students to clinical facilities in their own vicinities.
Program administration will consider additional clinical facilities for submission to
the JRC-DMS as potential affiliates.
Hotel Accommodations
You may wish to look online at sites such as www.yahoo.com or www.mapquest.com
for a map search of hotels in the area, or check a site such as www.travelocity.com for
hotel rates. Presently, the closest hotels to the campus are those hotels in Hixson, TN.
Though Chattanooga State has no contracts with area hotels for special rates,
traditionally, when our students explain that they will be staying on a consistent basis
throughout the year, promotional rates have been provided.
Work Settings
Employment opportunities are varied. Sonographers may be employed in hospitals,
clinics, private offices, and industry. There is also a need for suitably qualified educators,
researchers and administrators. The demand for registered sonographers continues to
exceed the supply, and sonography has become a beneficial skill in the multi-modality
health care environment. The supply and demand ratios affect salaries, depending upon
experience, job description and geographic location. In the southeastern region,
entry-level diagnostic sonographers earn approximately $50,000 annually. Chattanooga
State has a 100 percent placement rate for sonography graduates.
Accreditation
The accreditation standards are established by the American College of Cardiology,
American College of Radiology, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine,
American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Radiologic Technologists,
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, and the Society of Vascular Technology.
The programs are accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs (CAAHEP), 1361 Park St., Clearwater, FL 33756, by
recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical
Sonography (JRCDMS), 6201 University Blvd., Ste. 500, Elliott City, MD 21043.
Primary Prerequisites for Admission
Applicants must possess a minimum of an AS or AAS degree from an accredited
patient-care-related field and certification in that same field.*
(*Those who have not yet taken their certification exams can still be accepted on a
probationary status.)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology
• College Algebra (or equivalent)
• Written Communication
• Oral Communication (may be a component of another course)
• Medical Terminology (may be a component of another course)
• Patient Care & Ethics (may be a component of another course)
• Physics (General, if not Radiologic)
• Computer Course (high school or college level)
• Pending Requirement: Imaging Course/Documented Imaging Experience (online
course is currently being developed so that non-radiography students may take it
during the summer semester prior to program admission)
• Chemistry is also recommended, but not required.
* Specific documentation must be provided within a course description or syllabus if the
specified pre-requisites are components within another course.
3

Call the program director at 423-697-3341 for guidance in determining your
Prerequisites, but please do not request an exception to a health care degree and/or
certification, as it cannot be granted.
Non-Traditional Admission Requirements (Additional)
• This designation can be beneficial to those who can no longer maintain employment
within an accredited sonography/vascular department without ARDMS certification
and who need to acquire student status in order to continue functioning within this
environment.
• Current certification in a clinical patient care field is still required.
• Documentation of one (1) year minimum full-time employment experience in the
field of Sonography.
• Documentation of continued employment within an ultrasound department during the
program year, with equivalent clinical hours and the ability to utilize work place as
clinic site (possible rotations required to achieve all competencies).
• Ability to challenge and pass clinical competencies prior to program graduation.
• Ability to attend classes on traditional program schedule.
• Submit all of your transcripts to the Chattanooga State Records Office and complete
a Transcript Request form to have these forwarded to the Allied Health Application
Coordinator.
• Complete an Allied Health application, attaching a letter to request consideration as
a non-traditional applicant.
Deadlines
All required materials should be submitted to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Programs by March 15 for priority consideration for fall admission. Please specify
your preference of program(s) in numerical order (1, 2).
All forms must be complete for proper consideration of application. Applicants will
be contacted before May 1 if any items are missing.
Applications will be reviewed, and personal interviews will be scheduled with those
applicants meeting academic criteria. Each applicant will be evaluated on the basis of
previous high school, college, and prior degree achievement; professional
certification (or eligibility); references, observation evaluation, and a personal
interview. Selection of applicants for the program is based upon recommendation for
acceptance by the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Student Selection Committee.
Composition of the class will reflect diversity based on age, gender, race, and
geographic location.
Applicants who are accepted into the program will be notified by July 1. Final
acceptance into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is contingent upon the
results of a satisfactory physical examination and a drug screening and proof of
additional documentation (e.g., immunizations, CPR, criminal background check).
The goal of all of the Chattanooga State health programs is to prepare practitioners to
function in the health care arena to ensure proper care and safety of patients. Program
standards are in place to assure that students have the potential to perform as
entry-level practitioners. These program standards are available in the program student
handbook and the Nursing & Allied Health division office. Acceptance and retention
within a health program are contingent upon the student’s demonstrated ability to meet
these standards.
4

Student Position Description and
Technical Standards
Major Tasks of Job Performance and Clinical Education:
• Communicate with patients and staff appropriately and effectively in the proper
completion of examinations.
• Retrieve and dispatch patients within the department.
• Provide for the patient’s physical safety and well-being while he/she is under the
care of the sonography department.
• Provide basic care and/or life support services when necessary.
• Utilize proper body mechanics and safety considerations in both diagnostic
procedures and while assisting with patient movement.
• Apply the knowledge of physical principles of diagnostic ultrasound in recognizing
structures and/or overcoming scanning difficulties.
• Apply a working knowledge of the mechanics and operational features of various
ultrasound and physiologic units equipment.
• Obtain an in-depth knowledge of anatomical imaging, as identified sonographically,
of pertinent body systems.
• Obtain an in-depth knowledge of pathology and pathophysiology, as identified
sonographically, of pertinent body systems.
• Evaluate the patient’s clinical and laboratory histories in order to assess the
appropriate anatomical areas for the sonologist.
• Tailor each examination to the patient, according to history, body habitus, and
disease process, while remaining within the guidelines of the protocol.
• Survey and scan clinically relevant areas, correlating clinical information with
findings.
• Recognize and record representative images and measurements of both normal and
abnormal findings.
• Be familiar with differential diagnoses of common disease processes which can be
identified sonographically and physiologically.
• Serve as a functioning member of the diagnostic team, assisting fellow
sonographers, the sonologist, referring physicians and patients as necessary or as
directed.
• Process and/or retrieve recorded image products.
• Discuss image results with the sonologist, giving adequate history and impression.
• Perform basic equipment testing and maintenance procedures.
• Assist with office and clerical work when absolutely necessary.
• Apply departmental and nationally recognized rules and regulations for appropriate
patient care and safety.
• Prepare and maintain accurate patient records in a confidential manner.
• Perform cardiac and/or sonography tasks for an eight-hour assignment for a
full-time curriculum.
• Recognize when, as clinically applicable, to notify the sonologist or the patient’s
referring physician while the patient is still within the department.
• Engage in all possible learning processes to assure proficiency within the profession
of cardiovascular sonography.
5

Compliance With Technical Standards
An applicant or student who is considered to be unable to meet the minimum
standards necessary for job performance must demonstrate necessary compliance (or
ability to comply, if an applicant) with standards for consideration of admittance or
continuance in the diagnostic medical sonography program. A formal document of
technical standards may be obtained from the sonography program director.
Criminal Background Checks
Following acceptance and prior to entering the first career course in designated health
care programs, each student must undergo a criminal background check in order to
comply with policies of affiliating clinical practice agencies. It shall be the student’s
responsibility to comply with instructions provided upon acceptance and provide the
results by a designated date. The check will be at the expense of the student. Students
who do not meet this requirement in a timely manner or whose background does not
meet agency standards will not be able to successfully complete the program.
Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment.
Individuals with a question concerning this should schedule an appointment with the
program director.
Americans With Disabilities
Students who have educational, psychological, and/or physical disabilities may be
eligible for accommodations that provide equal access to educational programs and
activities at Chattanooga State. These students should contact Disabilities Support
Services within the first two weeks of the semester in order to discuss individual needs.
The student must provide documentation of the disability so that reasonable
accommodations can be requested in a timely manner. All students are expected to
fulfill essential course requirements in order to receive a passing grade in a class, with
or without reasonable accommodations.
Estimated Program Costs
All out-of-town students need to take into consideration travel (auto mileage) and
boarding expenses while attending the class sessions in Chattanooga. These are
estimated program costs and are subject to change.
College fees are included in the maintenance cost.
To view current calculation table, go to Bursar’s Office on Chattanooga State website.
General Sonography Program Costs 2012-2013
In-State Out-of-State
Pre-Admission
College Application (one time application fee)
First Semester (19 hours) (fall)
15.00 15.00
In-state maintenance fee/Out of state tuition fee 1,966.50 7,618.50
Physical Examination 300.00 300.00
Liability Insurance 11.00 11.00
Textbooks 650.00 650.00
National U/S Society & Local U/S Society Fees 50.00 50.00
Graduation Fee 25.00 25.00
CPR 25.00 25.00
Second Semester (9 hours) (spring)
In-state maintenance fee/Out-of-state tuition fee 1,350.00 5,148.00
Textbooks 50.00 50.00
6

Third Semester (12 hours) (summer)
In-state maintenance fee/Out-of-state tuition fee 1,777.50 6,841.50
Textbooks 140.00 140.00
ARDMS Exam Registration 600.00 600.00
Cardiovascular Sonography
Program Costs 2012-2013
Pre-Admission
In-State Out-of-State
College Application 15.00 15.00
First Semester (16 hours) (fall)
In-state maintenance fee/Out of state tuition fee 1,885.50 7,285.50
Physical Examination 300.00 300.00
Hepatitis B (estimate) 175.00 175.00
Liability Insurance 11.00 11.00
Textbooks 650.00 650.00
National U/S Society & Local U/S Society Fees 50.00 50.00
Graduation Fee 25.00 25.00
CPR 25.00 25.00
Second Semester (11 hours) (spring)
In-state maintenance fee/Out-of-state tuition fee 1,640.00 6,282.00
Textbooks (cost varies) 100.00 100.00
Third Semester (13 hours) (summer)
In-state maintenance fee/Out-of-state tuition fee 1,804.50 6,952.50
Textbooks 140.00 140.00
ARDMS Exam Registration 600.00 600.00
Sonography Admission Checklist
Utilize the checklist below as a guide for successfully completing the application
requirements for the college and the Sonography programs. All application materials
are due by March 15 of each year for priority consideration.
Chattanooga State Checklist:
q Complete college application, if not a current student.
q Provide official high school and college transcripts to the Chattanooga State
Admissions Office.
q Submit vaccination information required by ChSCC to the Admissions Office.
Note—This only includes College documentation & does not fulfill the programmatic
vaccination requirement, which is sent following program acceptance.
Sonography Program Checklist:
q In the process of completing or have already completed an accredited patient
care degree (minimum AAS-equivalent with at least 2 years of clinic
involved, e.g., Radiologic Technology Program) and will be certified in that
same field prior to program entry date.
q Also, in the process of completing all required primary prerequisites listed
in the brochure prior to program entry date.
7

Now you’re ready to complete these important steps...
q Submit the Nursing &Allied Health application form, specifying Sonography
Program(s) of preference (i.e., General DMS and/or CVS) and attach the
following (or submit to the application address below):
Application and these materials to:
Chattanooga State Community College
N & AH Application Coordinator, HSC-2088
4501 Amnicola Hwy.
Chattanooga, TN 37406
q After completing the online college application and designating fall entry, submit
college transcripts to Chattanooga State. Submit an ADDITIONAL copy of ALL
previous college transcripts with the exception of Chattanooga State transcripts.
q Submit a copy of your high school transcript Note: Refer to N&AH Transcript
Request Form to receive your copies & have these sent to the program ONLY–
Do not request a copy for the Chattanooga State Admissions Office.
q Submit proof of professional and CPR certifications (if applicable at time of
application)
q Have reference forms submitted to the program director, as directed on each form:
q Observation Evaluation Form
q Health Education Program Director Reference Form
q Health Program Clinical Instructor Reference Form
q Personal Reference Form (though it says ‘Personal,’ it should be
Professional’ in nature)
Student Aid Notes
Students wishing to receive financial aid should pay special attention to the
satisfactory academic progress regulations regarding maximum time frame. This
policy states, “A student may attempt up to 102 credit hours, plus up to 30
transitional studies hours, before he/she becomes ineligible for financial aid. The time
frame for students seeking a SECOND associate degree is also determined by the
102 credit hour limit plus transitional studies credit hours. Credit hours from the
FIRST degree WILL be counted toward the second degree program.”
Please see your advisor if you have questions regarding the number of credit hours you
have attempted. If you need further clarification regarding the satisfactory academic
progress policy for financial aid, please see someone in the Student Aid Office.
If you are interested in any form of Financial Aid, your first step should be to visit
www.fafsa.ed.gov. On the application, you will designate Chattanooga State
Community College as your school. You may get in touch with the Student Aid office
at (423) 697-4402. You may also be eligible for a scholarship through the SDMS
(national ultrasound society). You may access the application information at
www.sdms.org/foundation/default.asp.You may also find other scholarship
opportunities at sites such as www.fastweb.com. Remember, if you are applying for any
type of financial aid /or/ any of the SDMS scholarships, you must first complete the
FAFSA form and receive the corresponding SAR report.
8

Pub. No. 11-68-204103-82-8/12/bap • 300 • Chattanooga State Community College is an AA/EEO employer and does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its program and activities. The following
person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director and Affirmative Action
Officer, 4501 Amnicola Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37406, 423-697-4457.
423-697-4450
www.chattanoogastate.edu
Nursing/Allied Health
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs
4501 Amnicola Hwy.
Chattanooga, TN 37406-1097