Like other medical professions, sonographers can also become specialized with special training. Currently, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) has accredited a little over 200 colleges and universities that offer a Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program. However, the DMS program is further divided into four distinct specialties: general, cardiac, vascular, and pediatric cardiac sonography. There are other specialties that you can take, but these four are the main ones recognized by CAAHEP that can have their own separate program.
Pediatric: what does it mean?
The term pediatric is used to describe a patient age group younger than 18 years old. Pediatric programs will usually tackle management of infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and school-age children. Doctors and nurses get specialized in pediatrics, because the management of children is very different from the management of adult patients. The same principles are used but the differences are very significant, warranting a separate training course.
Pediatrics has gained the notoriety of being very difficult, because children have weaker and immature organ systems compared to adults. Children also typically very hard to handle; they experience separation anxiety when faced with new experiences such as medical procedures and often refuse to separate from their parents. These are all difficulties that sonographers need to overcome in sonography.
Pediatrics has gained the notoriety of being very difficult, because children have weaker and immature organ systems compared to adults. Children also typically very hard to handle; they experience separation anxiety when faced with new experiences such as medical procedures and often refuse to separate from their parents. These are all difficulties that sonographers need to overcome in sonography.
Training in pediatric sonography
Out of more than 200 schools, only 2 are accredited by CAAHEP that offers pediatric cardiac sonography: (1) Alvin Community College in Texas and (2) University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in Wisconsin. These two are the Best Accredited Pediatric Cardiac Sonography Programs in 2014 because they have passed the screening process by CAAHEP. You can read more about these two schools through the link above.
When a sonographer trains in pediatrics, he or she learns about the differences between the adult and pediatric cardiovascular system. The principles learned in the pediatric lessons are then applied to the general skills and techniques in diagnostic sonography. There are different topics covered in pediatric training, such as anatomy and physiology o the cardiovascular system, electrocardiography (ECG), pediatric echocardiography, and common cardiac congenital diseases.
When a sonographer trains in pediatrics, he or she learns about the differences between the adult and pediatric cardiovascular system. The principles learned in the pediatric lessons are then applied to the general skills and techniques in diagnostic sonography. There are different topics covered in pediatric training, such as anatomy and physiology o the cardiovascular system, electrocardiography (ECG), pediatric echocardiography, and common cardiac congenital diseases.
Salary and outlook
Sonographers who are specialized in pediatric cardiac sonography can expect to earn $80,000 annually on average. This is much higher than the average salary for sonographers, which was at $67,170 by May 2013. The prediction is that employment outlook will further improve by 30 percent between 2012 and 2022.
However, remember that different factors affect salary and job outlook. Working in a particular location or for a particular institution can mean that you will earn more or less than average. Despite that, it remains that pediatric sonography is still one of the highest paid specializations because of the difficult training sonographers undergo.
However, remember that different factors affect salary and job outlook. Working in a particular location or for a particular institution can mean that you will earn more or less than average. Despite that, it remains that pediatric sonography is still one of the highest paid specializations because of the difficult training sonographers undergo.