SONOGRAPHY SCHOOL
Associate Degree of Applied Science
Available at our Lexington Campus
SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a 24-month program that provides students with the option to pursue an Associate Degree in Cardiac Sonography or Vascular Sonography. Upon completion of the program and meeting all course requirements, students will receive a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate Degree with a concentration in Vascular or Echocardiography.
Upon successful completion of the national examination, students will obtain the credential Registered Vascular Specialist or Registered Cardiac Sonographer.
SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Graduates earn an Associate Degree of Applied Science in 24 months
- Career services and job placement assistance
- Hands-on training from experienced instructors in a working clinical lab
- Institutionally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Financial aid is available for those who qualify
- Blended learning, which consists of completing courses in both online and on-campus settings
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
MedQuest College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program curriculum covers the following topics for each concentration:
Echocardiography
- How to perform, analyze, and interpret echocardiogram tests.
- Method for producing real-time images of cardiac structures to assist physicians in diagnosing cardiovascular disease.
- Evaluating blood flow, valve function, and chamber size to determine the overall condition of the heart.
- Identifying cardiac abnormalities, chronic heart conditions, narrowed or leaking heart valves, and associated complications.
Vascular
- Anatomy and physiology of the Carotid, Transcranial Doppler, and upper extremity arterial systems.
- Scanning procedures and ultrasound techniques for upper and lower extremity venous and arterial studies as well as carotid duplex examinations.
- Basic and advanced principles associated with Arterial and Venous vascular ultrasound.
- Doppler Segmental Pressures, plethysmography, arterial hemodynamics and venous hemodynamics.
SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM DEGREE AND CERTIFICATIONS
The program includes a balance of classroom, clinical, and laboratory experiences. Upon completion of the program and meeting all of the course requirements, students will receive a:
- Associate Degree of Applied Science in either Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Echocardiography or Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Vascular
- Eligible to take the primary pathway certification and registry through The Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
- Upon successful completion of the national examination, students will obtain the credential Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS).
Is a Career as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Right for You?
Take the MedQuest College “Diagnostic Medical Sonography Career Training Readiness Quiz”
This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.
EXTERNSHIP AND CAREER SERVICES AT MEDQUEST COLLEGE
Externship
Prior to graduation, students are required to complete an externship under the guidance of area experts. During this externship, students will refine the skills learned on campus as well as work directly with patients for real-life experience.
Career Services
Our Career Services Director provides assistance to graduating students and alumni that include instruction in resume writing, preparation of cover letters, interviewing techniques and networking skills. The college provides job placement assistance for its graduates. Alumni in good standing may continue to use any and all placement resources indefinitely at no charge.
WHAT IS A DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY?
Diagnostic Medical Sonography, often called Ultrasound, uses high-frequency waves to generate images of different organs and blood vessels inside the body. As an imaging process, ultrasound has a very specific use by providing information that x-ray or other radiologic methods cannot.
WHAT DOES A DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHER DO?
The Cardiovascular Sonography program offered at MedQuest College provides our students with the option to pursue an Associate Degree in Cardiac Sonography or Vascular Sonography. Cardiac Sonography is ultrasound used to produce images of the anatomy of a patient’s heart chambers, walls, valves and blood vessels. Vascular Sonography is ultrasound used to produce images of the patient’s veins and arteries. Images provided by the sonographer are used by the physician to diagnose and treat various conditions.
Responsibilities that our graduates are able to perform when they begin their new career as a Cardiac Sonographer:
- Produce real-time images of cardiac structures to assist the physician in diagnosing cardiovascular disease
- Evaluating cardiac abnormalities and associated complications
- Tracking and evaluating chronic heart conditions
- Evaluating narrowed or leaking heart valves
- Looking for causes of murmurs, chest pain or shortness or breath
Responsibilities that our graduates are able to perform when they begin their new career as a Vascular Sonographer:
- Monitoring blood flow
- Identifying blockages
- Locating blood clots, tumors aneurysms and other blood vessel abnormalities
- Determining if angioplasty is a viable treatment option
- Assessing outcome of a bypass or graft of blood vessels
WHERE DO DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHERS WORK?
Cardiovascular Sonographers, also known as Ultrasound Technologists, perform ultrasound in a variety of settings, working with patients of all ages, who range from healthy to critically ill, both in and out of the hospital. We prepare our students to work with all types of patients in facilities ranging from large hospitals to small outpatient clinics.
- Hospitals
- Physician Offices
- Diagnostic Laboratories
- Outpatient Clinics
- Mobile Ultrasound Companies
WHY MEDQUEST COLLEGE
MedQuest College has provided high-quality instruction to students in Kentucky and Indiana since 1999. By providing Southern Indiana, Louisville and Lexington Kentucky, and surrounding areas with quality programs we are able to proudly say that MedQuest College has successfully employed thousands of graduates in the medical fields. Our campuses are located in Louisville KY and Lexington KY. We are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), a nationally recognized accrediting body.
SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What Sonography programs are offered in Diagnostic Medical Sonography at MedQuest College?
A: MedQuest College offers two Associate Degree programs in Sonography:
- Cardiac Sonography (Echocardiography): Focuses on using ultrasound to produce images of the patient’s heart chambers, walls, valves, and blood vessels.
- Vascular Sonography: Focuses on using ultrasound to produce images of the patient’s veins and arteries.
Q: What is the main responsibility of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?
A: Sonographers use high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to generate images of the body’s organs and blood vessels. These images are used by physicians to diagnose and monitor various conditions. The role requires a unique combination of technical skills, attention to detail, and patient communication.
Q: What responsibilities are performed by Vascular Sonographers?
A: Vascular Sonographers are responsible for:
- Monitoring blood flow.
- Identifying blockages.
- Locating blood clots, tumors, and aneurysms.
- Evaluating the outcome of blood vessel grafts.
Q: What responsibilities are performed by Cardiac Sonographers?
A: Cardiac Sonographers are responsible for:
- Operating ultrasound equipment to capture 2-D or 3-D images of a patient’s heart chambers, walls, valves, and blood vessels.
- Evaluating cardiac abnormalities, leaking or narrowed valves, and associated complications.
- Looking for the underlying causes of chest pain, shortness of breath, or heart murmurs.
- Tracking and evaluating long-term heart conditions and blood flow patterns over time.
- Providing detailed findings and reports to cardiologists to help them develop appropriate treatment plans for patients.
Q: Is the Sonography program at MedQuest College accredited?
A: Yes, the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at MedQuest College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Q: What are the minimum requirements to apply to MedQuest College?
A: All applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. Specific prerequisites may apply depending on the course or program you choose, so it is important to check the program-specific details.
Q: What kind of equipment is provided for the Sonography program at MedQuest College?
A: The Sonography program at MedQuest College uses Echocardiography and Vascular sonography equipment. The dedicated scanning lab is set up to mirror a medical scanning facility and includes units such as the Philips IU22 and IE33.
Q: Will there be hands-on training for the Sonography program at MedQuest College?
A: Yes. The Sonography program at MedQuest College is built around immersive, hands-on training. To ensure students are fully prepared before moving into clinical rotations, they complete 280+ hours in the scanning lab. During this time, students work with trained ultrasound professionals using high-quality equipment in a dedicated, spacious lab setting. By practicing real patient procedures, students develop both the technical proficiency and the professional soft skills necessary to excel in the field.
Q: What are the career opportunities available for the Sonography program at MedQuest College?
A: Graduates of the Sonography program at MedQuest College work as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (Ultrasound Technologists). Career settings include Hospitals, Physician Offices, Diagnostic Laboratories, Outpatient Clinics, and Mobile Ultrasound Companies.
Q: Does MedQuest College require general education classes before I start my Sonography program?
A: No. MedQuest College has structured each program so that students only take the courses needed for their new career. Accepted students will immediately begin practicing the skills relevant to their field.
Q: How do I begin the admissions process for the Sonography program at MedQuest College?
A: You can start by completing the online Request Information form. An admissions representative will contact you to go over the next steps, including locating your official transcripts from your high school or previous college.
Q: Can I set up a tour of MedQuest College?
A: Yes, the Admissions Team offers one-on-one tours from Monday through Friday.
