Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs - Chattanooga State ...

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.
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