Diagnostic Medical Sonography—Cardiovascular (DMSC)

Overview

Diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) is a multi-specialty occupation that includes abdominal-extended sonography, adult cardiac sonography, breast sonography, musculoskeletal sonography, obstetrics and gynecology sonography, pediatric cardiac sonography, vascular sonography, and other emerging clinical areas or concentrations.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Cincinnati State prepares students to become entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers in the specialty areas of cardiac and vascular sonography (DMSC) or abdominal, obstetric, and gynecological sonography (DMSG).

Program graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree that includes technical sonography courses, general education courses,  and supervised internship clinical experience at healthcare facilities in the Greater Cincinnati area. Clinical experiences are unpaid.

• Courses in this program are scheduled primarily between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 to graduate. Graduates are eligible to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers national certification examination.

All of the concentrations in diagnostic medical sonography use a comprehensive knowledge of ultrasound technology in their daily work. The trained technologist is an individual who provides patient care services applying ultrasound technology in the performance of diagnostic and/or therapeutic exams and procedures.

• As an occupational prerequisite, the diagnostic medical sonographer must be educationally prepared and clinically competent.
• Demonstration and maintenance of competency through certification by a nationally recognized credentialing organization is the Standard of Practice in sonography, and maintenance of certification in all areas of practice is endorsed.
• The diagnostic medical sonographer functions as a delegated agent of the physician and does not practice independently.
• Diagnostic medical sonographers are committed to enhanced patient care and continuous quality improvement that increases their knowledge and technical competence.
• Diagnostic medical sonographers use independent, professional, and ethical judgment and critical thinking to perform diagnostic procedures safely.

Mission:

The mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Cincinnati State is to provide educational experiences designed to prepare students for entering a career as a sonographer and provide the medical community with individuals qualified to perform sonographic procedures. Through structured learning in the didactic (classroom) and clinical setting, we hope to instill in students a lifelong desire to achieve professional and academic excellence.

Goal:

The program goal is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for abdominal sonography – extended, obstetrics and gynecology sonography, adult cardiac sonography, and vascular sonography concentrations.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS), 9355 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775. Website: http://caahep.org. Phone (727) 210-2350. FAX (727) 210-2354.