Sonography Program

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Mission

The LCCC DMS program is dedicated to providing quality education for its students in order to promote excellence in the art and science of sonography. Guided by the mission of the college, the program strives to provide academic and clinical experiences that produce competent and compassionate sonographers with a commitment to the performance of quality imaging and the pursuit of lifelong learning.

Program Goals & Objectives

The LCCC DMS program's goal is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Abdominal-Extended, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vascular concentrations.

Goal 1: Graduates of this program will be technically proficient, being able to consistently produce images of high diagnostic quality.

Outcome

1. Students will obtain, review and integrate pertinent patient data to facilitate optimum diagnostic results.
2. Students will optimize and record anatomic and physiologic information in accordance to industry standards.
3. Students will demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Goal 2: Graduates of this program will demonstrate communication skills.

Outcome

1. Students will demonstrate effective communication skills with patients and all members of the healthcare team.
2. Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.

Goal 3: Students will provide consistent, high quality patient care.

Outcomes:

1. Students will provide customer relations skills in patient care and assessment.
2. Students will employ a safe work environment.

Goal 4: Students will conduct themselves ethically and professionally.

Outcomes:

1. Students will act in a professional manner within recognized ethical and legal standards.
2. Students will demonstrate a respect for diversity and the ability to work with others and special patient populations.

Goal 5: Graduates of the program will be successfully employed in general and vascular entry-level positions.

Outcomes:

1. Students will pass the ARDMS SPI on the first attempt.
2. Students will pass two of the ARDMS specialty exams prior to graduation (AB, OB, VT)
3. Students will pass one additional ARDMS specialty exam within 6 months post-graduation.
4. Of those pursuing employment, students will be gainfully employed within 6 months post-graduation. 

The LCCC DMS Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). Acceptance into the program is dependent on the number of clinical sites available each year. Nearly 100 percent of students are employed immediately upon or prior to graduation from the program. The program begins a new class in the summer.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th St., N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727.210.2350

Technical Standards

• Analyze and comprehend medical and technical material and instructions.
• Communicate effectively with patients and various members of a health care team team, including the ability to perceive nonverbal communication.
• Set up and manipulate sonographic equipment in a safe, reliable and efficient manner.
• Practice and apply appropriate safety measures.
• Perceive the relationships of internal organs in order to obtain sonographic exams of diagnostic value.
• Sufficiently monitor the patient and machine controls from a distance of 20 inches in a darkened room.
• Detect and monitor vital signs and receive communication from patients and members of the health care team.
• Sufficiently communicate to relay instruction and/or needs promptly and efficiently to patient and health care workers.
• Recognize and respond to adverse changes in patient condition, including those requiring emergency medical intervention.
• Prepare and maintain sonographic reports and records.
• Perform gross and fine motor skills and movements to:
  • manipulate equipment by pushing buttons, operating keyboards, and turning dials.
  • simultaneously manipulate controls with one hand and manipulate the transducer with the other hand.
  • maintain steady pressure on the patient.
  • stretch around/over patients and carts to achieve optimal scanning planes yet maintain contract with the machine controls.
  • transfer, move or lift patients from wheelchairs or stretchers to the exam table or patient bed.
  • lift a minimum of 50 pounds.
  • stand or walk a minimum of 50% of clinical time.
  • push heavy equipment across carpeted floors and up ramps.
• Perform satisfactory intellectual and emotional functions to:
  • review images for acceptability for diagnostic purposes and evaluate for completeness of examinations.
  • utilize independent judgment and discretion in the safe technical performance of sonography procedures.
  • adapt to changing environments such as flexible schedules and emergency conditions.
• Respect the confidentiality of patient and demonstrate integrity, a motivation to serve, and a concern for others.

Full Accreditation

The sonography program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 19 North Suite 19, Clearwater, FL 33763, upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). This guarantees that students enrolled in the program have instruction based on an up-to-date curriculum, the opportunity to train on state-of-the-art sonographic equipment, appropriate supervision levels, and that graduates have the ability to obtain a license in all U.S. states mandating this requirement.

National Certification Eligibility

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the national certifying examination of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). The program's pass rate for this examination is very high; LCCC graduates have posted nearly 100 percent pass rate since 2010, in Sonography Principles and Instrumentation.

Immediate Employment

The majority of students are able to find employment in the field prior to or soon after graduation. Employment is expected to grow "faster than average" with an increase of 10% between 2021-2031 due to the aging population and increased demand for diagnostic imaging, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Fully Equipped Laboratory 

The sonography program's laboratory includes state-of-the-art equipment, including 2 GE Logiq E 10, 1 GE Logiq E9, 2 Philip Epiq Elites. In addition, the lab is equipped with a Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) Network System, which allows students to train in the proper manner that they are expected to complete paperwork in the clinical setting and workplace. Our SonoSim for Transvaginal simulation provides students with experience TV probe handling, acquiring quality images, recognizing pathology and testing for diagnostics. The lab is also equipped with a new state of the art, abdominal and obstetrical simulator, which will allow students to gain experience in abdominal and obstetrical scanning by experiencing a real scan and being tested on the quality of images, recognition of pathology and diagnostic skills.

All allied health students are required to submit a pre-clinical urine drug screen according to the policy of the Allied Health Programs at LCCC. The drug screen is completed at the student's expense and must be paid for at the time of conditional acceptance.

At their discretion, clinical sites may also require a drug screening and/or a criminal background check prior to allowing students into the clinical setting. (If required, any associated fees will be the responsibility of the student.) In addition, LCCC and the clinical sites may require random drug testing and/or drug testing for reasonable cause. Generally, the urine drug test screens for alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, or drugs that impair judgment while in the clinical agency. Testing positive on the screening or evidence of tampering with a specimen will disqualify a student from participation from clinical assignment or acceptance into the Sonography program.

In addition to drug screening, for the safety of patients and health care workers, allied health workers must also undergo a background check performed at the student's expense. The student's acceptance will not be final until LCCC has received background check information from the reporting agencies, and the background check is clear of disqualifying offenses. For more information, please see the complete Health Sciences and Wellness Division Policy (pdf) for allied health students. Certain criminal activities, as evidenced by a criminal background check, may also disqualify a student from clinical participation.

Students are advised that the inability to gain clinical education experiences can result in the inability to meet program objectives and outcomes. These circumstances may prevent acceptance into and/or progression through the program and ultimately result in dismissal from the program.

NOTE: Applicants who have been convicted of a crime should contact www.ardms.org to determine if their conviction will prevent them from taking the certification boards and or the ability to obtain employment in a healthcare setting. Any student who cannot pass the background check and is not be eligible to attend clinicals will be dismissed from the program.