Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program | DMS Program

The Ultrasound Technology program prepares graduates for entry-level employment as an Ultrasonographer with specialization in general sonography (Abdominal and Small Parts, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Introduction to Vascular). Graduates will be qualified to work in hospitals, imaging centers, physicians’ offices, or clinics.

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts believes that education should promote the development of positive self-esteem. Therefore, the institution provides services that support the efforts of students to succeed academically, vocationally and personally. The Academy provides a sophisticated level of training to individuals who desire a professional career in the medical field. This is accomplished through educational programs utilizing advanced training equipment, didactic lectures and hands-on experience provided by highly trained instructors, physicians and technologists.

1. To train students to be professional and competent sonographers in the medical community.
2. To develop interpersonal skills in communicating with patients, medical and administrative individuals.
3. To teach students about using sound waves in projecting an image of the human body so they can contribute to the diagnosis of disease.
4. To help students acquire the necessary skills to practice proper patient care.
5. To ensure that students have the ability to produce quality diagnostic images with a maximum of information contributing to the diagnostic process.
6. To provide students with knowledge, clinical skills, problem solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to practice in the profession of sonography.

To be considered for acceptance into the program, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
1. Student must have graduated from high school, or earned a GED and be at least 18 years of age.
2. Student must pay all applicable fees, as per the current published fee schedule prior to the issuance of an enrollment contract or make other arrangements acceptable to the school.
3. Students must complete an Ability to benefit test (SLE Scholastic Level Exam), with a score of at least 30.
4. ESL test is required for non-native speakers.
5. BS or AS degree (Allied-health care degrees are preferred).
6. Student must pass an interview with the Program Director/ Associate Program Director.
7. * Students must complete prerequisite courses provided by the school. The courses are:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentations 1
• Cross-Sectional Anatomy
  
  (The prerequisite courses can be waived for a prospective student by taking and passing the corresponding test)
  * Students who can demonstrate 2 years of health allied education including but not limited to Nursing sciences, Radiology Technicians, Paramedics, etc will be exempted from taking the prerequisite courses and tests.
  Official graded transcripts for each of the following courses will require:
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Algebra (College level)
• Physics (College level)

Length: 18 months (2092 Hours)
Internship: 960 hours of clinical training in affiliated medical facilities
Didactic Sessions Schedule: Evening Program: Monday - Friday 6PM-10PM. Day Program: Monday 10AM-2PM, and Wednesday/Thursday  9:30AM-6PM.
Clinical/Internship Sessions Schedule: 8AM-6PM (Weekdays)

Tuition: $31,380.00
Books & Materials: $900.00
Application Fee: $75.00 (non-refundable)
RSDRF: $100.00 (refundable deposit)
Total Program Cost: $32,455.00

 
Additional costs if applicable - Prerequisites: $2,309.00 which includes the cost of textbooks ($65.00). Prerequisite courses cover general medical science courses such as:  Anatomy, Physiology & Medical Terminology (56 hours);  Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation 1 (48 Hours); Cross-Sectional Anatomy (32 hours).

Sallie Mae student loans are available now for those who qualify.

For details please call 650-685-6616

According to the statistics of US Labor Deportment, Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012 as the population grows and ages, increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology. In addition to job openings due to growth, some job openings will arise from the need to replace sonographers who leave the occupation permanently.
Opportunities should be favorable because sonography is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures, as patients seek safer treatment methods. Unlike most diagnostic imaging methods, sonography does not involve radiation, so harmful side effects and complications from repeated use are rarer for both the patient and the sonographer. Sonographic technology is expected to evolve rapidly and to spawn many new sonography procedures, such as 3D-sonography for use in obstetric and ophthalmologic diagnosis. However, high costs may limit the rate at which some promising new technologies are adopted.
Hospitals will remain the principal employer of diagnostic medical sonographers. However, employment is expected to grow more rapidly in offices of physicians and in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers. Health facilities such as these are expected to grow very rapidly through 2012 due to the strong shift toward outpatient care, encouraged by third-party payers and made possible by technological advances that permit more procedures to be performed outside the hospital.

Disclaimer Form
To all DMS students: The law does NOT require Ultrasonographers to be ARDMS certified to work, but such certification increases the chances of being hired. To get more information about ADRMS certification & examination you can visit ARDMS web site @ www.ardms.org or contact them at The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, 51 Monroe Street, Plaza East One, Rockville, MD 20850
Since Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program accepts applicants only with Bachelors Degrees; the graduates who hold BS or BA degrees are eligible to sit for ARDMS examination right after completion of the program (ARDMS prerequisite # 3A.)

Would like to know more about Ultrasound Technologists? Watch this "Career Encounters Video" presented by ASRT:
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography - (Sonography)

Accreditation of Ultrasound Practices

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
http://www.aium.org

American College of Radiology (ACR)
http://www.acr.org

The Joint Commission (JCAHO)
http://www.jointcommission.org/

Educational Programs Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) http://www.caahep.org

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) http://www.jrcdms.org

Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT)
http://www.jrccvt.org

Ultrasound Registry Associations

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
http://www.ardms.org

The Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
http://www.cci-online.org

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
http://www.arrt.org

Professional Membership Associations and Organizations

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS)
http://www.sdms.org

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
http://www.aium.org

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)
http://www.asecho.org

Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU)
http://www.svunet.org

Canadian Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
http://www.csdms.com

Health Professions Network
http://www.healthpronet.org

Ultrasound Equipment

Toshiba Nemio XG  
http://www.medical.toshiba.com/products/us/nemio.aspx

Ultrasonix
http://www.ultrasonix.com/

GE Ultrasound Systems
http://www.gehealthcare.com/usen/ultrasound/index.html

Medison
http://www.medisonusa.com/index.asp?p=1

Siemens
http://w1.siemens.com/entry/cc/en/

MedSim
http://www.medsim.com/main.html

Universal Diagnostic Solutions
http://www.u-d-s.com

Hitachi
http://www.hitachimed.com/contentindex.asp?ID=218

Philips
http://www.medical.philips.com/us/products/ultrasound