School of Ultrasound Curriculum

The Institute of Diagnostic Health Science Professions' school of ultrasound provides training in abdominal, small parts, obstetrical, gynecological, vascular, and cardiac imaging procedures. Our comprehensive sonography curriculum provides general and specialty training. This allows our graduates to enter the workplace with training in general, echocardiography, and vascular sonographic procedures.

The following is a course description of IDHSP's school of ultrasound. Please take some time to familiarize yourself , and contact us with any questions that you may have.

Introduction to Allied Medical Professions Principles

This course is an overview of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and its role in health care delivery. Students will be oriented to the ultrasound laboratory, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, professional development, and patient care.

Ultrasound Physics Principles & Instrumentation

This course provides students with the theoretical and practical aspects of ultrasound physics and instrumentation. Wave form, propagation, velocity, wave length, acoustic impedance, reflection and rarefaction are discussed. Components of the ultrasound imager are examined as well as recording devices and basic doppler principles.

Abdominal Sonography Principles with Small Parts

This course covers abdominal sonographic positioning and scanning protocol; related anatomy and physiology to include the retroperitoneum; pathology and clinical symptomology and how they relate to the sonographic appearance of these structures. Interpretation and critique of normal and abnormal anatomy with correlation of clinical, didactic, and image information will be presented. The laboratory component of this course will include demonstration and scanning exercises to provide a "live lab" experience in conducting abdominal sonographic procedures. The small parts unit will orient students to ultrasonic imaging of superficial structures which require high frequency transducers.

Obstetrical Sonographic Diagnostics I & II

This course provides students with information specific to the performance of sonographic examination of the obstetric patient. Recognition of normal and abnormal anatomy are addressed in the obstetric patient, embryo and fetal patient. First, second and third trimester of a woman’s pregnancy are covered in depth. Recognition of abnormal patterns of pathology and pathophysiology are also discussed. Scanning techniques, protocols and sonographic findings are discussed in normal and abnormal conditions. Students develop the ability to perform examinations in these areas with the clinical practice using real-time equipment with transabdominal and transvaginal transducers, M-mode, Doppler and color Doppler display modes.

Gynecological Sonographic Diagnostics

This course will orient students to basic anatomy and physiology, and normal and abnormal sonographic appearances, scanning techniques and disease processes of the female reproductive system. Techniques of transabdominal and transvaginal preparation are introduced. Symptomology of the female patient with correlation to the sonographic appearance of pathology are also covered.

Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health Care Providers

The Basic Cardiovascular Life Support course is totally redesigned for healthcare providers in the resuscitation of a patient, whether in or out of hospital. Through the course, students will learn to treat an adult or child victim of a cardiac arrest or other cardiopulmonary emergencies. Emphasized, is the importance of basic life support CPR to patient survival; the integration of effective basic life support with advanced cardiovascular life support interventions; and the importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation. Realistic simulations reinforce the following key concepts: proficiency in basic life support care; recognizing and initiating early management of peri-arrest conditions; managing cardiac arrest; identifying and treating ischemic chest pain and acute coronary syndromes; recognizing other life-threatening clinical situations (such as stroke) and providing initial care; ACLS algorithms; and effective resuscitation team dynamics. Visit www.cprmobile.net for more details.

Vascular Technology Principles I & II

This course provides students with information and practice specific to the performance of vascular imaging. Special attention is paid to the upper and lower flow extremities and circulatory system. Scanning protocols and the use of a plethysmograph to record changes in volume of blood flow are addressed. The recognition of normal anatomy, as well as abnormal patterns of disease processes, pathology and pathophysiology is covered. Modifications in scanning protocol based on sonographic findings is discussed. The development of the ability to perform examinations begins with classroom practice and continues with supervised clinical practice. Students use real-time equipment with transabdominal transducers, Doppler and color Doppler display modes.

Principles of Echocardiography I & II

This course is designed to provide students with specific knowledge necessary to perform a diagnostic echocardiographic examination using m-mode, 2-dimensional, Doppler and color Doppler modalities. Recognition of normal and abnormal anatomy, findings and measurements will be addressed. Scanning techniques, specific protocols and echocardiographic findings will be discussed in normal and abnormal conditions. The development of the ability to perform examinations in these areas will occur with clinical practice using real-time equipment with transthoracic transducers and Doppler and color Doppler display modes.

Clinical Practicum

The clinical practicum provides an opportunity for the students to experience the profession firsthand. These real-world experiences not only allows the student to perform sonographic procedures on "real patients", but it provides them the opportunity to develop and refine proper patient and staff relationships. Students will also receive mentorship and evaluations from the clinical site supervisors.