Sonography Program

The purpose of the Ultrasound Programs is to provide educational opportunities to individuals that will enable them to obtain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to succeed as sonographers.

The statewide TCSG goals of the DMS program is to:

1. Provide education that acknowledges individual differences and respects the rights of individuals to seek fulfillment of educational needs.
2. Provide an environment that encourages the individual to benefit and contribute as a partner in the economic progress, development, and stability of Georgia.
3. Provide education that develops the potential of each student to become a productive, responsible, and upwardly mobile member of society.
4. Provide quality DMS education in an atmosphere that fosters interest in and enthusiasm for learning.
5. Prepare graduates to function as accountable and responsible members with in their field of endeavor.
6. Prepare graduates to function as safe and competent practitioners in Sonography.
7. Prepare program graduates with the highest level of competence possible given the constraints of the interests and ability levels of the individual.
8. Provide educational and related services without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, handicapping condition, academic disadvantage, or economic disadvantage.
9. Foster employer participation, understanding, and confidence in the instructional process and the competence to diagnostic medical sonography program graduates.
10. Provide guidance to DMS students to assist them in pursuing educational opportunities that maximize their professional potential.
11. Encourage program graduates to recognize and to act upon individual needs for continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). CAAHEP may be contacted at 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756; Ph. 727.210.2350.Programmatic accreditation is through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Other Information

Ultrasound Program graduates are eligible to sit for national certification examinations for sonographers and are prepared to function as professionals in the sonography field. Program graduates are to be competent in the general areas of communications, algebra, interpersonal relations, and anatomy and physiology. Program graduates are competent to perform imaging examinations and accompanying responsibilities assigned to a sonographer at the direction of physicians qualified to request and/or perform sonographic procedures. Upon completion of the program, the graduate is competent to perform as a sonographer and to:

1.    Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, positioning, and sonographic techniques to accurately demonstrate anatomical structures on a sonogram.
2.    Determine factors to achieve optimum sonographic techniques with minimum biohazard to the patient.
3.    Evaluate sonographic images for appropriate positioning and image quality.
4.    Provide patient care and comfort.
5.    Recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate life-saving first aid and basic life-support procedures.
6.    Evaluate the performance of sonographic systems, know the safe limits of equipment operation and report malfunctions to the proper authority.
7.    Exercise independent judgment and discretion in the technical performance of medical imaging procedures.
8.    Participate in sonographic quality assurance programs.

The Joint Review Committee for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) is the inspection and record keeping arm of CAAHEP. It is the only nationally recognized organization for programmatic accreditation in general sonography. Programs typically have their students sit for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) boards for individual
certification. There is licensure in Oregon and New Mexico. In all other states, certification of individuals is voluntary.

GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES:

Diagnostic Medical Sonography