Analyze your college readiness and get instant feedback with your results. What is the difference between sonography and ultrasound? If you are considering a healthcare career, you may be wondering what is the difference between diagnostic medical sonography and ultrasound technician work? Radiology techs, on the other hand, adopt radiation-emitting technologies. Youll most often find MRI technologists in hospitals (60%) and medical laboratories (20%), owing to the need for large and expensive equipment. The starting salary for an ultrasound tech can be up to about $59,000, or $28.67 an hour, depending on the employer and job market. A medical sonographer often referred to as an ultrasound tech is the person trained to use ultrasound diagnostic imaging technology (sonography). Ultrasound technologists, on the other hand, operate equipment that uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images. You might be most familiar with sonography's role in the field of obstetrics to produce an ultrasound image of an unborn baby. This type of sonography allows ultrasound technologists to create images of the heart, providing cardiologists with a view of the hearts valves and enabling them to locate abnormalities. American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, https://www.ardms.org/2. Any prior misconceptions you had should be cleared by now. All radiography schools must be fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiology Technology. If they are, what sets them apart? Sonographers may concentrate on providing care for pregnant patients in more specialized settings, such as an obstetricians office. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2) states that jobs for sonographers will continue to increase. Your email address will not be published. Associate Degree in an applied Science (two-year degree) with a specialization in diagnostic medical sonography. Physical Therapy Assistant, New Industry Technology for Medical Assistants. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date. Location, education, and experience impacts how much an ultrasound technologist can expect to make. There is a distinction between the two, though: An ultrasound is a device used to take a picture. Since all of the bodys systems can be examined using sonography, most ultrasound technicians and sonographers decide to specialize in one area of the medical field. We address the safety of clinical trials and discuss what you should consider before deciding to participate. Ultrasound techs, on the other hand, earn a median annual salary of $75,920. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ultrasound technologists can specialize in several areas of sonography, including: Like radiologic technologists, ultrasound technologists dont need a bachelors degree. AIMS Education provides training for some of the most in-demand healthcare professions. Your email address will not be published. Sonography is the second most widely used diagnostic imaging technique after the X-ray and is also called ultrasound or ultrasonography. So the pay and growth for both seems to be reported in the same set of data, which is good news regardless of which specific area you go into. Unlike radiology, no radiation is involved with sonograms. For example, one-year certificate or diploma programs, while associates or bachelors degree lasts around four years. While both types of technologists play a vital role in helping doctors diagnose and treat patients, they do so in unique ways. Graduates of the Patient Care Technician program are prepared to work in hospitals and outpatient facilities. So far, weve covered various points of comparison between sonography & radiology. Thats why weve done the research to help you make such an important professional decision. Sonogram: When performing an ultrasound, the visual image produced by the machine is called an ultrasonogram, or sonogram. Subspecialties in radiology tech include cardiac radiology, breast imaging, interventional radiology, pediatric radiology, nuclear medicine, and neuroradiology. After x-ray exams, ultrasound is the most commonly used form of diagnostic imaging. . Radiologic technologists often go on to specialize in areas including the following: Most radiologic technologists hold at least an associate degree that covers subjects including anatomy, radiation physics, radiation protection, pathology, and image evaluation. Remember that professional certification through ARRT or ARMRIT is likely required before being able to work as an MRI tech. Vocational and technical schools also offer day and evening programs, which are designed especially for working individuals and parents. Having decided on going for either of these healthcare professions, youll need to determine what specialization to go for. Sonographers who wish to specialize in this field need specialized training and education. Depending on the specialty you want to pursue, there may be different educational requirements for you to start your career. These images are used to help doctors diagnose and treat many medical conditions. The mean annual salary for a sonographer is $80,680. Advanced radiographic procedures, pathology & cross-sectional anatomy, digital processing & computerized tomography, etc., are more courses covered. At times, a better diagnostic image can be generated with the insertion of a special transducer into one of the bodys natural openings: Probably best known for confirming and monitoring pregnancy, ultrasound is also commonly used by doctors for: Doctors use ultrasound imaging to help diagnose conditions affecting the organs and soft tissues of the body, including: There are some diagnostic limitations for ultrasounds. These include presenting a detailed explanation of the entire treatment process to the patient. Fortunately, there are ultrasound and sonography programs that span the certificate, Associates and Bachelors degree levels. Ultrasounds are the vibrations and sounds used to create a medical image. But you may have to work up to the Mon-Frid, 8-5 gig. This makes it much easier to continue moving onward and upward. You can either study through ultrasound technician certification programs or professional diagnostic medical sonography degree programs. To become an ultrasound tech, youll need to complete clinical in medical settings. For example, specialties in sonography include diagnostic cardiovascular sonography. By researching further on what each of these specialties is about, you can quickly go for the one you find most interesting. The average ultrasound tech salary hovered at an impressive $72,500, while the lowest 10% earned $51,000. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistice, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm. The sonography profession (like most healthcare professions) has staffing needs during days, evenings, nights, holidays, weekends, and often requires call coverage depending on the employer's needs. They also often need certification from a credentialing organization like the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Therefore, in order to balance the scales, its highly recommended that certificate holders become certified in more than one area. The curriculum of this program is a little more limited, in that it prepares students mainly in the areas of abdomen, OB/GYN, and vascular technology. However, doctors cant gather this essential information on their own. See additional information. You're being taken to an external site to apply. A computer translates the ultrasound waves into an image. From tracking the progress of a pregnancy to checking for breast cancer, the possibilities are just about limitless. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been designed to destroy or modify abnormal tissue in the body without opening the skin. If the results are unclear, a physician will be unable to provide an accurate assessment and diagnosis. As a medical sonographer, you might work with a variety of patients to find and diagnose bodily abnormalities, chronic illnesses, and other health problems. During training, both sets of students practice working with stressed or nervous patients. As the name suggests, sonography uses sound waves to check the heart condition and those of the vascular system, musculoskeletal system, abdominal region, and breasts, amongst other body parts. The ultrasound machine then sends the sound waves back to the visual display so the technician can see the image. What are the benefits of joining a sonography certificate program? Bone sonography is used to determine bone density. Students who have a degree in a patient-care-related field may be able to apply for shorter-term certificate programs. Some. Regarding the type of diagnosis performed, sonography goes beyond checking fetal development. Hospital ultrasound technicians and sonographers may deal with a variety of patients with a range of conditions, including illness, disease, injury, and abnormal bodily conditions. The physician uses the images to look for damage such as: By earning the Registered in Musculoskeletal (RMSK) sonography certification, ultrasound technicians become more valuable to the organization, hospital, or private physician they work with. Ultrasound is considered a safe and affordable imaging technology to help a doctor make a diagnosis regarding soft tissue and organs in the body. The main difference is semantic; both sonography and ultrasound technology diagnose ailments using ultrasound technology. Students looking to get their sonography education at Concorde can put their focus on obtaining their certification as a diagnostic medical sonographer or a diagnostic cardiac sonographer. The market is expected to grow significantly within the next decade. As of May 2018, the median salary for MRI techs was more than $71,000, with the lowest 10% earning just over $50,000. They look for normal growth and development as well as any abnormalities or pregnancy complications. Approximately 36,000 MRI technologists were employed in 2016, compared to 67,000 diagnostic medical sonographers. Ultrasound was originally used as a navigational tool in the 1940s when ships navigating the ocean would bounce sound waves off of the ocean floor and read the echoes that returned. Sonography uses tools to diagnose the inside of the human body using ultrasound. These images are produced by differential bouncing sound waves off different structures or organs of the body. You will also need appropriate training on using these devices. The curriculum includes such topics as: abdominal sonography, OB/GYN, breast, neurosonography, and more. On the other hand, ultrasound techs require minimal certification or an associates degree in diagnostic medical sonography from accredited schools. You have a choice between professional diagnostic medical sonography degree programs and programs leading to ultrasound technician certification. 2023 Healthline Media LLC. For radiology, there are equally many specializations to choose from. The person who performs this task can also be referred to as a "sonographer". In order to sit for the specialty exams offered by ARDMS, students must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited program. Other roles include creating reports, troubleshooting faulty equipment, and identifying and recording related pathology & anatomy from sonography equipment. The field of ultrasound technology known as sonography, or diagnostic medical sonography, focuses on using ultrasounds to detect, diagnose, and treat disease in the body's soft tissues and organs. They may also assist doctors in interventional imaging procedures. There is essentially no difference between a sonographer vs. an ultrasound tech. Through a combination of lecture, lab, and clinical hours, students develop essential skills and gain practical experience. Do they have any similarities? Doctors often rely on medical imaging to diagnose torn shoulder muscles, monitor the progression of a pregnancy, or plan treatment for a tumor. Radiologic technologists, also known as radiographers, work with doctors in diagnosing diseases and injuries. These are the fundamental similarities between sonography and radiology. Whichever route you take, both are excellent options for pursuing a rewarding career in the allied health sector. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is set to grow by a staggering 23% from 2016 to 2026 and theres no sign of it slowing down. In a nutshell, these programs are shorter and allow you to start working more quickly than if you studied for a sonography degree. Once the patient is ready for their ultrasound, the technician then applies a conductive gel to the skin where the image is being taken. Additionally, both types of technologists split their time between interacting with patients and completing technological tasks. You may find programs online or in your area that use both terms: Ultrasound and Sonography in the name of the program. But both careers can involve creating images of organs, blood vessels, and other aspects of the human anatomy to form an accurate diagnosis. It's easier to check your kidney health at home now more than ever. Also, these technicians get to keep updated with current radiology practices. Many listings are from partners who compensate us, which may influence which It uses high-frequency sound waves called ultrasound waves to produce images of organs, soft tissues, blood vessels, and blood flow, from inside the body. Sonograms are the actual medical image that is created from ultrasounds. They also deal directly with patients, so they need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to deliver top-notch care. Most ultrasounds are done using a transducer on the surface of the skin. Diagnostic sonography programs focus on a number of subject areas including patient care, anatomy, ultrasound physics, and scanning techniques. You can attend a sonography certificate program that lasts 2 years or longer. A colonoscopy is specifically used to look at the colon. People who work with ultrasound . Updated January 29, 2020. A specialized abdominal sonographer works with doctors to image organs within the abdomen. In addition, the technician can use the ultrasound equipment to help guide a needle during a biopsy or to remove fluid from a cyst. Radiologic and ultrasound technologists enjoy rewarding careers in delivering key information to doctors. Sonography, or diagnostic medical sonography, is the field of ultrasound technology that focuses on using ultrasounds to monitor, diagnose and treat disease in the soft tissues and organs of the body. The steps to becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer start with education and depend on what works best for you. This is about as fast as the average for all occupations. These last anywhere from one to four-year programs. These are emitted by specialized equipment to create images. There are two main routes to becoming an MRI Technologist: The more traditional route is to earn an associate or bachelors degree in radiography and later specialize in magnetic resonance imaging. Generally, neonatal imaging gets used on premature babies, those with a low birth rate, and babies whose mothers didn't take care of themselves during pregnancy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, What is Computed Tomography? This program also gives you experience in several types of clinical facilities. The term "ultrasound" refers to the procedure of using sound waves to create an image of an area inside the body, while a sonogram is the actual image that is produced by the ultrasound. During complicated pregnancies (or when ultrasounds detect abnormal results), the same goes for sonographers. Your doctor may order an ultrasound if youre experiencing pain, swelling, or other symptoms that require an internal view of your organs. The ultrasound technician is also called an ultrasound technologist or Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Other job titles for this type of position include diagnostic medical sonographer, ultrasound technician and sonographer. Benefits generally include medical, dental, life, and vision insurance as well as vacation, sick leave, . These include educational requirements, job description or roles, salary, study duration, skills and competencies, subspecialties, work environment, work schedule, and job outlook. When a doctor needs to remove tissue from a very precise area in the body such as in a needle biopsy ultrasound imaging can help with visual direction. Sonography vs. Ultrasound Tech. Radiologic Technologist vs. Ultrasound Technologist: Roles and Responsibilities, 3 items. The sonographer moves a hand-held non-invasive probe along the surface of the skin to obtain different views of the object being imaged. The job descriptions for both radiology and ultrasound techs are pretty varied. Ultrasound technician and medical sonographer are two names for the same job. Gaining the necessary skills to become an imaging technologist requires the right education. The required equipment and training, however, is quite different. Training to be an ultrasound technologist often takes two years (or more), depending on the school and type of program you've chosen. A sonography technician, or more commonly referred to as an ultrasound technician, is a specially trained medical professional who can operate and use sonography equipment. Technicians in either specialization handle several specific responsibilities. Medical sonographers and ultrasound technicians may hold different certifications, for instance: Refer to the following FAQs for more information about the careers in ultrasound technology and diagnostic medical sonography: Doctors use sonographic images to diagnose patients and create treatment plans, so ultrasound technicians and sonographers frequently work in hospitals, healthcare facilities, and other clinical settings. Choosing what serves your needs best is critical. Having provided you with essential information, youre left to decide what career path to take between the two. Ultrasound Technician education requirements- You can recieve a two-year degree or a four-year degree as an Ultrasound tech, so education wise, Nurses and UTs are the same. Campus Support Center 5800 Foxridge Dr # 500 Mission, KS 66202 1-800-693-7010, 2023 Concorde Career Colleges. Sonography is a noninvasive, painless procedure. 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