Diagnostic Medical Sonography

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Sanford-Brown College, San Antonio (SBC) is designed to prepare students to perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations required of an entry-level general sonographer to include, but not be limited to, the abdomen, pelvis, pregnant female pelvis, and superficial structures. Students are also introduced to vascular ultrasound. The student will have the opportunity to study the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of scanned organ systems, recognize the sonographic patterns of the organs, learn the protocols for a logical and thorough survey of the organs, and provide accurate and technical impressions to the interpreting physician. The core curriculum is structured to include an on-campus lecture component, an on-campus imaging laboratory component, and an off-campus integrated clinical component. The final externship portion of the curriculum is structured to include supervised experiences in the clinical environment that require competencies, logs, and evaluations completed by the student. At the conclusion of the program, graduates who have diligently attended class and their externship, studied, and practiced their skills should have the skills to seek entry-level employment as diagnostic medical sonographers.

ACCREDITATION/CERTIFICATION INFORMATION DISCLOSURE

Accreditation is a voluntary process which may be undertaken by schools to demonstrate compliance with specific standards designed to indicate a level of education quality. SBC is institutionally accredited (accredited in total) by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (DOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This indicates that SBC substantially meets or exceeds the stated criteria of education quality established by ACICS, and approved by the DOE and CHEA. This recognition of institutional accreditation by ACICS entitles SBC to offer Title IV Financial Assistance to students who qualify.

An additional form of accreditation that a school may undertake to obtain is a specific, individual accreditation of certain programs (programmatic accreditation). Institutional accreditation is not the same as or a substitution for programmatic accreditation. Although programmatic accreditation is not required for employment in many cases, the existence of programmatic accreditation is a further indication that a program meets the standards of the profession, and may therefore indirectly enhance employment opportunities. Also, in some cases, programmatic accreditation will allow the graduates of the accredited program to sit for some credentialing exams immediately upon graduation without any requirement of work experience.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at SBC is not accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Graduates of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program are encouraged, after obtaining the required additional work experience, to take the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) exam offered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). The exam is voluntary but obtaining this credential does enhance employment opportunities. Graduates of SBC's Diagnostic Medical Sonography program are eligible for the RDMS exam after acquiring the necessary experience as defined by the ARDMS after graduation. Registration requirements for taking and passing this examination are not controlled by SBC but by outside agencies and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, SBC cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take this registration exam, or any other registration or certification exam, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

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