Educate Ultrasound Technician Students for the Future

The transformation of medical care industry is underway as a result of national effort to lower healthcare costs by embracing technology more efficiently and effectively. Technology is changing the health care industry by enabling more accurate diagnosis through the use of non-invasive procedures. With this trend is the expansion in the usage of sophisticated medical ultrasound or Doppler units to diagnose medical issues. The gear is useful when operated by way of a trained, educated ultrasound technician who's comfortable using leading edge, sophisticated technology.

Technology Sophistication Ahead of Its Time

The science of ultrasound imaging is ahead of its time. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers have been performing non-invasive procedures utilizing the latest technology for many years. However, the growing emphasis today on developing non-invasive procedures for expanded diagnostic purposes is encouraging research in the development of ever more sophisticated imaging equipment. The study and development of new ultrasound imaging techniques are exciting.

For example, a new technique was recently developed to track the representation of odors in rat brains. The analysis was conducted by two teams led by Mickael Tanter and Hirac Gurden at Paris University Diderot (published in July 15, 2014 "Neurolmage"). The new ultrasound imaging technique will help scientists further unravel the functioning of the systems in the deep brain where olfactory relays are located. In a hugely simplified explanation, an odor triggered blood volume increases in certain brain areas, leading to activated neurons. Developing the ability to create ultrasound images of the activity means that 1 day sonographers will use sonographic imaging procedures for diagnosis of medical issues in the deepest brain structures.

Ultrasound was recently used, with MRI guidance, to provide high-intensity focused sound waves to destroy a tumor. A 16-year Canadian boy had osteo osteoma, and was the initial case in which a completely non-invasive produces was used to destroy the bone tumor. There are now plans to continue developing more technical ultrasound procedures for incisionless treatment of other medical conditions that have required at least minimally invasive approaches. The physician who performed this breakthrough ultrasound procedure - Dr. James Drake, Head of the Division of SickKids' Centre for Image-Guided Innovation and Therapeutic Intervention - anticipates ultrasound will soon play a role in other surgical areas like pediatric stroke and soft-tissue tumors.

The trend towards using non-invasive therapy is practical for many reasons:

Reduces patient risk

Reduces patient recovery time

Can be used on children and adults of all ages

Reduces cost of treatment

Going HITECH

Healthcare reform in the United States is providing impetus for advancing sonographic imaging technology. Most people are acquainted with the Affordable Care Act of 2010 by now since implementation has started. However, they may not be familiar with the Health IT for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) passed in '09 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The HITECH Act is primarily focused on electronic health records and creation of a national healthcare infrastructure, instead of specific surgical procedure. However, among the goals is to develop a more cost-effective, high-tech healthcare system so the HITECH Act is a catalyst for looking at technology at all levels of the health care system. Basically, sonographers should be comfortable using technology to deliver medical services and for maintaining patient records.

A "Higher Tech" Future

Lowering healthcare costs by using technology has also resulted in an increasing shifting of procedures from medical centers to physician offices and outpatient clinics. There's little doubt that the near future holds new mobile ultrasound technology that may enhance delivery of services into areas where ultrasound imaging equipment is not accessible.

Anyone who chooses to get into Diagnostic Medical Sonography should only attend a CAAHEP accredited ultrasound technician program because it has been reviewed for quality. In cases like this, quality refers to how well the program trains sonography students to enter the sonography field in the "real life." Anyone considering sonography ought to be thinking about learning and mastering technology because it is so integral to everything the ultrasound technologist does while face to face. The sonographer should also have an interest in maintaining knowledge currency because a very important factor is for certain: Ultrasound imaging technology will just keep getting more sophisticated.

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