Mar 28, 2024  
2021 - 2022 College Catalog 
    
2021 - 2022 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy: Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AS


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Information about the Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy Programs  

The Associate Degree program in Diagnostic Medical Sonography prepares students for employment as an entry-level sonographer in hospitals, clinics, private offices and other facilities where Diagnostic Medical Sonography Imaging is available. The program requires approximately twenty-four months of full-time study. The program is sequential and includes didactic and supervised clinical education for all students. Students are assigned to a variety of clinical practicums while in the program. Students are required to attend all orientation sessions and classes scheduled in the summer.

A description of admissions requirements are available from the Allied Health Division and online at GatewayCT.edu. The associate degree program in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) provides individuals with the academic and technical skills to perform abdominal, obstetrical, small parts, gynecological, and vascular sonography procedures. Upon completion of the program students will be eligible to apply to take the national registry examination from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, and/ or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). For more information, contact Mary Beth Banks at (203) 285-2388 or e-mail mbanks@gatewayct.edu or the Program Coordinator, Cara Case at (203) 285-2383 or e-mail at (ccase@gatewayct.edu)

The following pre-requisites must be completed with a grade of C or higher before applying to the Program: BIO* 211 , BIO* 212  (within five years prior of application date), PHY* 111 , MAT* 175 , and ENG* 101 .

Mission Statement

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Gateway Community College is committed to educating and preparing competent entry level sonographers who can provide high quality imaging and patient care to members of the community. Furthermore, the program is dedicated to providing tools to support lifelong learning.

Accreditation Expectations

The minimum expectations of the DMS program, as defined by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), are for Abdomen-Extended, OBGYN and Vascular concentrations: the minimum expectations of the DMS program, as defined by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) are “to prepare competent entry-level Abdominal Extended, Obstetrics and Gynecology sonographers and vascular technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.”  The following DMS program goals have been established to realize this mission.

Program Goals and Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate skills in effective oral and written communication
    1. Students will apply effective verbal communication skills with classmates, instructors, patients, sonographers, and physicians.
    2. Students will utilize effective written communication skills with instructors, sonographers, and physicians.
    3. Students will demonstrate professional and respectful behavior in all interactions.
  2. Students will demonstrate skills in critical thinking and problem solving principles and practices of sonography
    1. Students will evaluate and assess patient requisition in order to perform proper sonographic procedures.
    2. Students will examine the sonographic and Doppler appearances of iatrogenic, degenerative, inflammatory, traumatic, neoplastic, infectious, obstructive, congenital, metabolic, and immunologic disease practices
    3. Students will analyze the relationships between various disease processes and hemodynamic states
    4. Students will explore the various imaging and testing modalities
    5. Students will examine the effects of pharmacology on disease processes and on sonographic findings
  3. Students will demonstrate clinical competence in the practice of sonography
    1. Student will demonstrate exceptional patient care skills.
    2. Students will provide a safe environment for patients.
    3. Students will detect normal anatomy and pathology on sonographic images.
    4. Students will adhere to the ALARA principle.
  4. The program will prepare competent entry-level sonographers.
    1. Students will maintain high values congruent with the Professional Code of Conduct and the Scope of Practice while adhering to national, institutional and/or departmental standards, and procedures regarding imaging and patient care.
  5. Students will achieve personal and professional growth.
    1. Students will analyze professional publications
    2. Students will utilize professional web sites.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

  • Competently perform entry level sonography exams and tasks
  • Evaluate patients and perform quality patient care
  • Competently perform entry level sonography exams and tasks
  • Evaluate patients and perform quality patient care
  • Maintain professional ethics and behaviors as described by the SDMS scope of practice and clinical standards for the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
  • Meet the criteria to apply for certification with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) and/or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (ARDMS)
  • Be didactically prepared to apply to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers for candidacy to the physics, abdomen/small parts OB/GYN, and vascular examinations.

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Pre-Requisites Prior to Admission into the Program:


(All must be completed with a grade of C or better)

Program Requirements


Summer Session I


Total Semester Credits: 4


Total Semester Credits: 11


Total Semester Credits: 12


Summer Session II


Clinical Internship I - (40 hrs./week at affiliates)

Total Semester Credits: 4


Third Semester


(Practicum at affiliates Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Total Semester Credits: 9


Winter Intersession


Clinical Internship I - (40 hrs./week at affiliates)

Total Semester Credits: 1


Fourth Semester


(Practicum at affiliates Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Total Semester Credits: 9


Total Program Credits: 68


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