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Sonographer Job Description
Daily Tasks of an Ultrasound Technician
The daily tasks of ultrasound sonographer jobs include taking the medical history of a patient and explaining the procedure to them before the images are obtained. They must position the patient’s body correctly in order to acquire the various necessary images. Having a solid understanding of human anatomy is a must for a career in this field. Ultrasound technicians use highly technical equipment to obtain images of various areas of the body using ultrasonic waves. After the exam is complete, the sonographer presents the cases to the radiologist and takes additional images if required.Today, almost all ultrasounds are done using digital technology. This means the images are usually sent directly
to the radiologist’s computer screen for interpretation. If additional images are not required, the ultrasound tech communicates with the patient regarding when their ordering physician will receive the radiologist’s report.
Learn more about how to become a ultrasound technician.
Number of Patients
The number of patients a sonographer sees truly depends on the type of ultrasounds being performed. Typically one ultrasound is booked to take 45 minutes to an hour. So for ultrasound sonographer jobs that consist of eight-hour days, 8-10 patients may be seen daily.Number of Images Taken
The number of images taken in one ultrasound exam depends on what body part is being scanned and is also operator-dependent, meaning some sonographers prefer to take more scans than others. An ultrasound procedure can involve taking between 40-120 scans. Obstetrics is typically a field that involves a high number of scans; typically 70-100. A thyroid ultrasound, on the other hand, typically involves just a few scans.Learn more about ultrasound technologist degrees.
Equipment in Ultrasound Field
The primary machine used in the sonography field is referred to as the ultrasound machine, or more commonly called a “scanner”. The actual device that is put on the patient (many refer to as looking like a “wand”) is called the transducer. There are a variety of types of transducers, depending on the type of scan being performed.The machines also have pre-sets, which optimize the image for each study, based on the typical patient. Obviously these settings have to be adjusted frequently since many people don’t fall into that “typical” realm.
What is the purpose of ultrasound gel? Ultrasound gel allows the sonographer to see through the skin and into the body, using sound waves. Ultrasound waves do not travel through air, so the gel acts as a transporting medium to carry the waves into and out of the body. Without the gel, information would not be available to create the necessary image.
