Adult Echocardiography

What is Echocardiography?

Echocardiography uses ultrasound for the examination of the heart. The examination is used to determine the thickness of the walls, the structure of the heart, the health of the valves, and the way in which the walls move when exercising or resting.

What is an Echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a safe, non-invasive procedure used to diagnose cardiovascular disease. It uses high-frequency sound waves to literally see all four chambers of the heart, the heart valves, the great blood vessels entering and leaving the heart, as well as the sack around the heart. Echocardiography allows doctors to visualize the anatomy, structure, and function of the heart. It can quickly diagnose the presence and severity of heart valve problems, as well as determine abnormal flow within the heart which occurs with congenital heart disease that you may have been born with. This window to the heart enables the doctor to diagnose a number of cardiovascular diseases, so they can begin proper treatment.

Completion of the Montgomery Community College Echo track will prepare you to sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) examination and become a credentialed RDCS (Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer). Echocardiographers can continue their studies in the area of Pediatric Echocardiography and Fetal Echocardiography.

Links:

For more information visit the American Society of Echocardiography.

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers The (SDMS) was founded in 1970 to promote, advance, and educate its members and the medical community in the science of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography and vascular technology.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography The mission of the JRC-DMS and its sponsoring organizations is to cooperate to establish, maintain, and promote appropriate standards of quality for educational programs in diagnostic medical sonography and to provide recognition for educational programs that meet or exceed the standards.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(CAAHEP) is the largest programmatic/specialized accreditor in the health sciences field. In collaboration with its Committees on Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews and accredits more than 2000 educational programs in twenty-one health science occupations across the United States and Canada.

For more information about earning potential and work environment for sonographers, visit the Inside Scoop.

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