Ultrasound technology is a process of using non-invasive, high frequency sound waves to project images of body tissues, organs, and structures in order to assess or diagnose medical conditions.

• Use and maintain specialized ultrasound equipment
• Generate images and video of internal structures
• Use images to diagnose a variety of medical conditions

Some career figures for ultrasound technicians in Florida:

• Average annual salary: $56,990
• Currently employed: 4,880
• Employment outlook: 19% growth
• Most popular degrees: Bachelor, Associate

An ultrasound technologist is allied healthcare professional who operates ultrasound equipment, taking measurements and images to aid in medical diagnosis by a physician. Ultrasound technologists usually need a minimum of two years of training to become certified and eligible for employment.

Education and training

There are several avenues for entry into the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Sonographers may train in hospitals, vocational-technical institutions, colleges or universities, or the Armed Forces. Some training programs prefer applicants with experience in other healthcare professions or high school graduates with courses in mathematics, health, and science.

Work environment

Sonographers typically work in healthcare facilities that are clean. They usually work at diagnostic imaging machines in darkened rooms, but they also may perform procedures at patients’ bedsides. Sonographers may be on their feet for long periods of time and may have to lift or turn disabled patients.

Some sonographers work as contract employees and may travel to several healthcare facilities in an area. Similarly, some sonographers work with mobile imaging service providers and travel to patients and use mobile diagnostic imaging equipment to provide service in areas that otherwise would not have access to such services.

Diagnostic imaging embraces several procedures that aid in diagnosing ailments. Sonography, or ultrasonography, is the use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions. Sonography is commonly associated with obstetrics and the use of ultrasound imaging during pregnancy, but this technology has many other applications in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions throughout the body.

Diagnostic medical sonographers use special equipment to direct high frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s body. Sonographers operate the equipment, which collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician.

The sonographer applies gel to a pregnant woman’s stomach and attaches a transducer. While prepping the nervous mother, the sonographer shares a joke, and the woman relaxes. The mother watches live video of her baby while the sonographer concentrates on making good images so the doctor can spot any problems. Doctors value a sonographer’s opinion, too.

But ultrasound isn’t just for pregnancy. The technology shows many soft tissues — including the kidney, heart, and eyes — better than x-rays or MRIs can. Ultrasound provides information about tiny parts of the body that can’t be gotten any other way. Many diagnostic medical ultrasound technicians specialize in a certain area of the body:

• Abdominal sonography (includes the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas)
• Breast sonography
• Cardiac sonography (the heart)
• Neurosonography (the brain)
• Obstetric and gynecologic sonography (the female reproductive system and pregnancy)
• Vascular sonography (the circulatory system)