Diagnostic Medical Sonography, A.A.S.

Perquisites¹: 14 credit hours

• BIOL 1314 Human Anatomy & Physiology
• MATH 1513 College Algebra
• ENGL 1113 Composition I
• PHYS 1114

¹Prerequisite for Fall Course work includes sitting for the ARDMS SPI Exam

First Fall

• DMS 1103 Acoustical Physics and Instrumentation  
• DMS 1002 Intro to Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• ALDH 1323 Medical Terminology
• COMM 1113 Public Speaking

First Spring

• DMS 1223 Abdominal Sonography I
• DMS 1233 Ob/Gyn Sonography I
• DMS 1213 Acoustical Physics and Instrumentation II
• DMS 1242 Sonography Clinical Practice I (1 day a week)
• HIST 1483 or1493 American History

Summer

• DMS 1263 Neurosonography and Small Parts Ultrasound 
• DMS 1252 Sonographic Clinical Practice II (3 days a week)

Second Fall

• DMS 2123 Abdominal Sonography II
• DMS 2133Ob/Gyn Sonography II
• DMS 2034 Sonography Clinical Practice III (3 days a week)

Second Spring

• DMS 2131 Ultrasound Seminar 
• DMS 2153 Vascular Ultrasound
• POLS 1113 American Federal Government
• DMS 2148 Sonography Clinical Practice IV (4 days a week)

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Tulsa Community College complies with the 2008 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Any student requiring special accommodations or classroom modifications should see the Accessibility Resources at Tulsa Community College.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography involves the provision of direct care for individuals and is characterized by the application of knowledge in the skillful performance of patient care functions in the diagnostic medical sonography lab and clinical sites. Therefore, in order to successfully complete the classroom, clinical and laboratory requirements, all students must possess certain characteristics. The purpose of this section is to provide the student/applicant an understanding of the physical demands and communication skills required for the program based on tasks performed by Diagnostic Medical Sonographers working in the field.

The common work environment for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and for a student studying for the same profession would include the following:

• Constant contact and communication with patients, the public and other members of the healthcare team.
• Decision making on patient care based on assessment of the patient.
• Moving and manipulating heavy equipment and patients. Frequent and timely operation of computers and telephones.
• Moving patients for such activities as moving a patient in a stretcher or wheel chair, and assisting in the lifting of patients, for example, moving a patient in the bed or moving from a stretcher to a bed or the DMS lab patient table.
• Exposure to pathogens through bodily fluids, secretions, mucous, and blood.

An applicant/student must possess:

• Sufficient visual acuity such as is needed for the observation required for patient assessment including visualizing patient monitors, response to therapy and care, and to assist the clinician in handling very small needles, guide wires and other equipment.
• Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health care team who often are wearing face masks and to assess health needs of patients through the use of monitoring devices such as cardiac monitors, various alarms, stethoscopes, fire alarms, life support equipment, etc.
• Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and implement the skills, including the manipulation of tools and equipment required in scanning patients for diagnostic medical sonography examinations.
• Sufficient communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact with individuals and communicate their needs promptly and effectively as may be necessary in the individual’s interest.
• Sufficient intellectual and emotional function to plan and implement care for individuals including the ability to demonstrate emotional stability to function effectively under stress and the ability to adapt to a changing, unpredictable environment.

Physical Requirements

Student Sonographers must be able to:

• Lift more than 50 pounds routinely
• Push and pull routinely
• Bend and stoop routinely
• Have full use of both hands, wrists and shoulders
• Distinguish audible sounds

Technical Standards

Observation

• Ability to participate actively in all demonstrations, laboratory exercise, and clinical experiences in the professional program component and to assess and comprehend the condition of all clients assigned to him/her for examination, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Such observation and information usually require functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensations. (Sensations arising from the skin — such as touch, pressure, cold, warmth, and pain)

Examples

• Attend class, lab and clinic with minimal absences
• Adequately view sonograms live, simulated, and/or recorded), including color distinctions and the ultrasound unit control panel simultaneously while performing the scan/exam in the low light settings required for sonographic imaging
• The ability to distinguish gray scale images on computer screen and view/operate ultrasound control panel in ambient to low lighting.
• Recognize normal and pathologic sonographic characteristics of organs, tissues, and blood flow.
• Recognize, interpret and respond to facial expressions and body language.
• Recognize and respond to soft voices or voices under protective garb.
• Distinguish audible sounds from both the patient and the ultrasound equipment (Doppler).

Communication

Ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal and written formats with faculty, other students, clients, families and all members of the healthcare team

Examples

• Elicits and transmits information to patients, staff, fellow students, instructors, and other members of the health care team.
• Receive/ comprehend, write, and interpret verbal and written communication in the academic and clinical settings.
• Complete all assignments within scheduled time frame
• Obtains relevant patient clinical information, responds to questions, interprets physician’s orders, and communicates sonographic findings to physician interpreter in both verbal and written formats.

Critical Thinking

The ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment.

Examples

• Exhibit openness to contradictory ideas.
• Assess issues raised by contradictory ideas and justify solutions and determine effectiveness of applied solutions.
• Receive and react appropriately to constructive criticism.
• Demonstrates effective clinical decision making to perform sonographic scans/exams in all clinical and lab within required time frames.

Motor

Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective care and emergency treatment

Examples

• Static and dynamic strength sufficient to lift some patients, move heavy equipment on wheels (up to 500 lbs.) and to move patients in wheelchairs and stretchers.
• The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time (including walking, standing or being upright continuously for 8-12 hours)
• Ensures proper and safe patient positions, movement of the ultrasound unit and other equipment in all settings.
• Staminal and trunk strength to push and pull, bend and stoop routinely.
• Dynamic and trunk strength to perform sonographic scans/exams while sitting or standing 80% of the time (dependent on the clinical setting and/or situation).
• Full use of hands, wrists and shoulders, (arm-hand steadiness, control precision, dynamic flexibility, extend flexibility, finger dexterity, quickly move arms).
• Demonstrates manual dexterity and fine motor movements to manipulate the ultrasound transducer and control panel simultaneously while achieving the diagnostic objective of the scan/examination (control precision, dynamic flexibility, extent flexibility, finger dexterity, and multi-limb coordination).
• Dynamic strength, stamina, static strength, control precision, manual dexterity to exert and maintain probe pressure (exert of up to 40 lbs. of sustained/continuous pressure) necessary to acquire ultrasound images.
• Completes lab and clinical scan competencies successfully and within scheduled time frame.
• Assisted medical devices are worn at all times in class, lab, and clinic (glasses, contacts, hearing aids, supports/braces etc.)

Intellectual

Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions

Examples

• Completes assignments, exams, quizzes successfully within scheduled time frame
• Read, comprehend, retain, and apply relevant information in textbooks, medical records, and professional literature.
• Apply knowledge and learning to new situations and problem-solving scenarios.
• Collect and evaluate pertinent patient data and information to determine relevance to the requested sonographic scan/exam. Integrate medial history and current symptoms to determine the appropriate protocol and tailor the sonographic scan/exam to the patient’s needs.
• Determine if any contraindications, insufficient patient preparation, or the patient’s physical and/or mental condition will affect the patient’s ability to tolerate the sonographic scan/exam/procedure.
• Measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize sonographic information during the performance of the scan/exam and on appropriate acquired images and/or video clips.
• Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence.
• Process, respond, and draw conclusions from the sonographic images, recognize and correct inconsistencies, correlate clinical information and sonographic findings and make specific assessments and determinations based on those findings and established criteria.
• Uses professional judgment to adapt the protocol for the patient’s condition to optimize scan/exam results
• Notifies supervising physician(s) if emergency care is needed based on the sonographic findings and patient conditions.

Behavior and Social Attributes

• Possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of the student‘s intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients and other members of the health care team.
• Possess the ability to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical setting with patients.
• Possess compassion, integrity, concern for others, and motivation.
• Possess the ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.

Examples

• Manage fast paced and heavy didactic and clinical schedules and deadlines. Perform sonographic scans/exams in fast paced clinical settings and during clinical situations including emergency situations.
• Maintain focus and remain on task to function effectively during instruction and performance of sonograms under stressful conditions while exercising appropriate judgment. Responds to rapidly changing and unpredictable circumstances.
• Complete daily work load including technically difficult patients, emergency scans/exams, and added scans/exams within allotted time frames.
• Demonstrate integrity, concern for others/compassion, appropriate interpersonal skills, interest and motivation.
• Manage personal life and/or obligations to maintain focus on didactic and clinical course requirements, maintain focus on the patient at all times and in all settings (including lab and clinic).
• Accept and utilize scanning critiques, self-assessment, and feedback to improve sonographic knowledge and skills.
• Collaborate with classmates to develop professional demeanor in all settings and with all individuals; manage emotions and responses to evaluations and/or feedback.
• Comply with the Sonographic Scope of Practice and Clinical Practice Standards (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography: www.sdms.org)

Professionalism

Ability to maintain professional appearance and to implement measures to maintain own health

Examples

• Implement standard precautions
• Follow established procedures for personal hygiene.
• Demonstrate a preventative approach to stress management
• Adhere to the DMS Dress standards in class, lab and clinical sites.
• Attend class, lab and clinic with minimal absences
• Provide patient-centered ethical and compassionate care
• Comply with the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography: www.sdms.org)
• Maintain compliance as outlined in DMS Student Program Handbook, DMS Student Clinical Handbook, TCC Student Handbook.

Tulsa Community College is committed to ensuring that otherwise qualified students with disabilities are given equal access through reasonable accommodations in programs and services. Students who wish to request reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the Educational Access Center to start the process for documenting their disability and determining eligibility services.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Students with disabilities are expected to perform all the essential functions of the program with or without accommodation. While the DMS Program will make every effort to work with our students with accommodations, it is important to note that a faculty member has the right to challenge an accommodation request if he/she believes the student is not qualified and/or if the accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration of the class.

All college students, whether disabled or not, must adhere to the TCC student standards of conduct.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Tulsa Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).

CAAHEP

9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
caahep.org

JRC-DMS

6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500
Ellicott City, MD 21043
443-973-3251
jrcdms.org

Philosophy

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Tulsa Community College is dedicated to providing quality education for its students in order to promote excellence in the science of sonography. The DMS Program strives to provide academic and clinical experiences that will produce competent and compassionate sonographers as well as instilling life-long learning values and to assist students in achieving their professional and personal goals.

The program’s emphasis is on didactic as well as skill competency in the following areas: 

• Abdominal
• Small Parts
• Male Pelvis
• Obstetric
• Female Pelvis
• Vascular Ultrasound

Mission Statement

To prepare students for entry-level jobs in Abdominal, OB/GYN, and Vascular sonography as well as instilling life-long learning values and assists students in achieving their professional and personal goals.

Goals

To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations:

• Abdominal sonography – Extended
• Obstetrics and gynecology sonography
• Vascular sonography

Goals & Objectives

A competency-based evaluation system is utilized throughout the program. The student must achieve a predetermined level of competency in the academic, laboratory, and clinical courses in order to receive passing grades for the course. On completion of the TCC program in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, the graduate will function as a knowledgeable entry-level sonographer, demonstrating clinical proficiency in Abdominal, OB GYN, and Vascular Sonographic procedures and support behavior skills that reflect professionalism, effective communication, and time management skills.