Sonography - Overview

• Program Information
• Sonographer Duties
• Program Faculty
• Prerequisite Requirements
• Physical Requirements
• Graduation Requirements
• Programmatic Accreditation

Program Information

The sonography program is an 18-month(6 quarter) program providing didactic and clinical education in abdominal, obstetrical, and gynecologic specialty areas. The program is a general concentration curriculum with a limited introduction to basic vascular sonography. Clinical education occurs at partnering medical centers and medical offices throughout Northern California. Program participants can expect substantial off-campus study and preparation for classroom lecture and lab exercises. Major holidays are observed and break periods are observed between academic quarters. Annual academic calendars are published in advance.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer's (ARDMS) national registry examinations in Physics, Abdomen and OB/Gyn.

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Sonographer Duties

Sonographer's, also known as ultrasound technologists, use high-frequency sound waves to image organs, masses, and fluid accumulations within the body. An ultrasound image results from the reflection of the sound waves by the body. The images are viewed on a computer screen and may be recorded on film for permanent record and use in interpretation and diagnosis by a physician. The technology is advancing rapidly which requires sonographer's to be flexible, adaptable team players who are committed lifelong learners.

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Program Faculty

Program Director
Carmelo F Fernandez, RDMS

Clinical Coordinator
Joann Tyler, RDMS, CRT(F)

Faculty
Debra Crandell, AS, RT, RDMS

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Prerequisite Requirements

All prerequisite requirements must be completed prior to submitting an application to the program.

Applicants must be graduates of an accredited 18-24 month Allied Health program with current certification/registration in their health specialties. Allied health occupations include, but are not limited to: Radiologic Technology, Medical Technology, Nursing, and Respiratory Therapy.

- OR -

Applicants must have a minimum 60 college credits with a cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.75 or higher.

All applicants must complete the following courses with a grade of “C” or better. Courses must be college level and a minimum of 3 units.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology with a lab (college level)
• Intermediate Algebra
• Written Communication
• Oral Communication
• General Physics
• Medical Terminology

The following courses are suggested additional courses (college level):

• Computer Science
• Ethics

Note: All foreign diplomas and transcripts must include a notarized translation in English and must be evaluated by a foreign transcript agency prior to submission.

Note: Course descriptions of prerequisites are provided on pages D and E of the 2008 application packet. Prerequisite requirements differ for each program. Please review your programs prerequisite requirements.

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Physical Requirements

You must be physically able to:

• Stand/walk up to 8 hours during an 8-hour shift
• Lift/move a maximum of a 290-pound patient in a 2-person/3-person transfer
• Must be able to operate and manipulate all sonography equipment
• Reach forward 18 inches holding an object up to 15 pounds
• Bend, crouch, or stoop 20 times per hour
• Push a patient in a wheelchair or gurney 300 feet or further, as required by structural design of the building
• Move loads of up to 45 pounds 25 times per hour
• Adequately differentiate sonographic images with subtle gray-scale and color distinctions
• Adequately distinguish audible sounds in a Doppler signal

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Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a certificate of completion from any of the KPSAHS programs, students are required to successfully complete all didactic and clinical education courses and hours. In addition, all financial obligations to the program must be fulfilled.

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Programmatic Accreditation

The Sonography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

This institution has received full institutional approval to operate from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE). The Bureau has determined that this institution’s operational plan satisfies the minimum standards listed in Education Code Section 94915 (b).

Please Note: The information provided in this website is subject to change without notice.

 

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Sonography

• Program Overview
• Polices & Procedures
• Tuition & Fees
• How To Apply
• Course Catalog
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Web Sites