Cardiovascular Sonography, AS

Prerequisites: SCI 200

This course serves as an overview for all members of the health care delivery team. The focus is placed on the basic skills needed to perform quality patient care, relationships with other health care team members, patient safety and scope of practice for each profession, vital signs, HIPAA, infection control, invasive procedures and self-care. 

This course explores basic anatomy and imaging techniques of the vascular system. Students begin performing carotid and lower extremity venous ultrasound examinations. This course incorporates lab sessions to perform basic imaging optimization skills by scanning and understanding the basic knobology of the ultrasound equipment. Correlation of theory to practice is measured through attendance, participation, quizzes, assignments, scanning assignments, and competency exams over the course of the semester. 

This course is explores basic anatomy and imaging techniques of the cardiac system. Students learn different basic cardiac images and optimization skills to achieve the best quality image. This course incorporates lab sessions to start basic imaging, and learning basic knobology of the ultrasound equipment. Correlation of theory to practice is measured through attendance, participation, quizzes, assignments, scanning assignments, and competency exams over the course of the semester. 

This course facilitates the student’s entry into diagnostic medical sonography. Students explore personal and professional values in relation to the healthcare setting. Students acquire skills to assist them with time management, building critical thinking skills, and the ability to professionally communicate in the field of sonography.

This course continues where DMS 206 leaves off. The following sonographic principles are covered: real-time imaging, pulse echo instrumentation, displays and image processing, dynamic range, harmonics and contrast agents, hemodynamics, Doppler principles, Doppler optimization, artifacts, quality assurance and bioeffects. 

Prerequisites: DMS 206

This course explores the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and imaging techniques of the Cardiac system. Students describe the different views needed for an echocardiogram and are able to recognize characteristics of normal valves by 2D, color Doppler and Doppler. Students correlate information learned didactically to scanning skills in the laboratory. 

Prerequisites: HPS 100, DMS 140, DMS 206, DMS 209, SCI 206, CVS 111

The laboratory course enhances and reinforces material taught didactically in CVS 220. Students learn scanning techniques in the laboratory on real-time ultrasound equipment. Correlation of theory to practice is measured through attendance, scanning assignments and competency exams over the course of the semester. Students learn how to perform all 2D images of an echocardiogram, color and Doppler. By the end of the lab course, the student is able to perform all components of a complete echocardiogram. 

Prerequisites: HPS 100, DMS 140, DMS 206, DMS 209, SCI 206, CVS 111

Students explore the anatomy, hemodynamics, physiology and pathophysiology of the vascular system. Students apply knowledge of disease processes. This course focuses on the sonographic appearances of various vascular examinations.

This laboratory course is utilized to enhance and reinforce material taught didactically in CVS 221. Students learn scanning techniques in the laboratory on real-time ultrasound equipment. Correlation of theory to practice is measured through scanning assignments and competency exams over the course of the semester. 

This clinical course allows the student to experience the clinical setting firsthand. The student begins their first hands-on clinical experience by obtaining basic images of cardiac and vascular ultrasound images. The student is able to observe daily lab functions and a variety of patient care scenarios.

Prerequisites: DMS 306, CVS 220, CVS 220L, CVS 221, CVS 221L

This course is designed to explore a variety of pathologies that can be present on an echocardiogram. Students learn and perform measurements that are needed to evaluate pathologies on a case-by-case scenario. During this course, students learn to read echocardiogram exams and create preliminary echocardiogram reports. Students correlate information learned didactically to scanning skills in the laboratory. 

Prerequisites: DMS 306, CVS 220, CVS 220L

This course focuses on expanding upon vascular pathologies. Topics covered within the course are abdominal evaluations, preoperative mapping, penile Doppler, transcranial Doppler (TCD), among other conditions. Students correlate information learned didactically to scanning skills in the laboratory. 

Prerequisites: DMS 306, CVS 221, CVS 221L

Clinical reasoning is designed to sharpen the student’s deductive reasoning and sonographic interpretation skills through the use of case studies and medical literature. The essential components of a case presentation are introduced. Students present cases in an open forum for discussion and evaluation. Students also expand on the principles of evidence based practice and research methods in vascular technology and adult echocardiography.

Prerequisites: DMS 306, CVS 322, CVS 325, CVS 310L

In this course, students identify key parts of an EKG rhythm and the steps to interpreting a variety of cardiac rhythm strips. This course focuses on EKG theory and interpretation. The student learns how to perform an EKG on a patient, as well as identify basic rhythms and the components of an EKG. Students review case studies throughout this course. 

Prerequisites: CVS 220, CVS 220L

Students are assigned to the clinical setting to begin advancing their hands-on experience performing sonographic procedures and practice patient care skills. The student begins to develop skills to carry out sonographic examinations and gains the ability to recognize normal and abnormal sonographic patterns. The student works closely with their clinical preceptor, as well as other staff technologists. Students begin to perform examinations including transthoracic echocardiograms, carotid duplex, lower extremity venous and arterial duplex, upper extremity venous and arterial duplex, ankle/brachial indices and segmental arterial pressures. Correlation of theory to practice is measured through attendance, clinical logs and evaluations.

Students will be required to take an ARDMS specialty examination (Cardiac or Vascular) as part of this course prior to graduation. This course will assist students in the transition from student sonographer to professional sonographer, including ARDMS registry exam preparation. Additional topics such as resume writing, interview and negotiation skills, understanding benefits and different avenues of the sonography career ladder are also discussed. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all program DMS and EC Core Coursework prior to the beginning of the course

As a continuation of Clinical Practicum I, students continue to develop their sonography skills under the supervision of their clinical preceptor. The student more actively participates in examinations, daily lab functions, and patient care. In addition, students continue to perform examinations in cardiac and vascular sonography.

Prerequisites: CVS 281 

Prerequisites: Instructor permission