Diagnostic Sonography
Diagnostic Medical Sonography uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of organs, masses, fluid collections, and vascular structures within the human body. Sonography is user dependent, requiring competent and highly skilled professionals to be a part of the integral health care system. Sonographers have extensive, direct patient contact, providing care to a variety of people from healthy to critically ill. The sonographer is responsible for obtaining pertinent patient history, performing the sonographic examination, providing for the needs and comfort of the patient during examination, and recording anatomy and pathology or other data for interpretation by the supervising physician to aid in diagnosis. Sonographers must have knowledge of normal structure and functional anatomy of the human body and use independent judgment in recognizing the need to perform procedures according to sonographic findings.
We want to make your experience as positive as possible, so if you have any questions after reading through this information, please just contact us. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is an Associate Degree program.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a 12-month, full-time, health science program. When a student begins the program in the fall, only sonography specific courses and clinical rotations will be completed. This is a full-time, in class/clinical, training program, and it is not recommended for those who cannot devote themselves as full time students. Because technologists are on their feet for long periods of time and may lift or turn disabled patients, physical stamina is important (US Dept. of Labor).
The program is designed to prepare students for employment in hospitals or clinics as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Sonographers produce diagnostic images/exams of body structures as directed by supervising physicians. This program will focus on principles of sonographic physics and instrumentation, abdominal, obstetric & gynecologic, and advanced sonographic procedures in preparation for the ARDMS registry exam (a national certifying board examination).
Completion of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program offers and Associate Degree of Applied Science.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants to Health Science Programs must meet the requirements for admission to the college.
- Applicants must complete an application to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program with the Health Science Application Link
- Applications are Due May 1st
- It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the required data to: Northeast Mississippi Community College Office of Admissions:
- Graduation from 2-year allied health program (or Health Science) that is patient care related, that includes but is not limited to, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy, and must hold credentials in the specialized healthcare field. (Completion of 2-year allied health programs not listed above may be reviewed by the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director).
- Verification of National Credential in health care specialty by the first day of class
Prerequisites to the first Diagnostic Medical Sonography Course (first day of class).
- Verification of Graduation (see above)
- Verification National Credential in Health Care Specialty Area
- PHY 1214, Survey of Physics, or RGT 1613 Physics of Imaging Equipment or PSY 2244 Physical Science Survey
- College Algebra
- CSC 1123 Computer Applications or SPT 1113 Public Speaking
- Elective SOC or PSY Social or Behavioral Science
- Fine Art Elective
- BIO 2514 and BIO 2524 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 with lab
- Students must maintain a minimum grade of “C” in pre-requisite courses
- ENG 1113 English Comp I
Diagnostic Medical Sonography applications are due May 1st
Applications will open September 1. The diagnostice medical sonography program accepts up to 12 students each semester and is dependent on clinical education placement.
Information Packet
Criminal Background Check
- Prior to beginning the program all students must undergo a criminal background check by fingerprinting. The cost of this is $50.00 and must be paid by credit card or debit card.
- A students admission status will be reviewed and withdrawn should there be proof of a disqualifying offense on the criminal background check. The student will then receive information from the Enrollment Services regarding alternative educational options
Program Outcomes
Students will develop competency as an entry-level sonographer. (Psychomotor)
- SLO 1.1 Students will be able to perform routine abdomen exams.
- SLO 1.2 Students will be able to perform routine abdomen extended exams and
- SLO 1.3 Students will be able to perform routine OBGYN exams.
- SLO 1.4 Students demonstrate appropriate patient care.
Students will be able to communicate effectively. (Affective)
- SLO 2.1 Students will effectively communicate with patients.
- SLO 2.2 Students will demonstrate effective written communication.
- SLO 2.3 Students will effectively communicate exam findings using diagnostic descriptive terminology.
Students will think critically and analytically. (Cognitive)
- SLO 3.1 Students will demonstrate patient medical record interpretation.
- SLO 3.2. Students will adjust technical factors using ALARA principles.
- SLO 3.3 Students will adapt procedure protocol for non-routine procedures.
- SLO 3.4 Students will identify diagnostic quality images and correct non-quality images accordingly.
The student demonstrates the values and ethics of a sonographer and an understanding of professional development and lifelong learning.
- SLO 4.1 Students will demonstrate professional behavior.
- SLO 4.2 Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key professional organizations (ARDMS, JRC- DMS, SDMS,)
Students will be prepared for immediate employment as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
- SLO 5.1 Students will find employment in sonography.
- SLO 5.2 Students will pass a National Certification Examination
- SLO 5.3 Employers of sonography graduates will be satisfied with job performance.
- SLO 5.4 Students who start the program will finish the program.
- SLO 5.5 Graduates will feel that they were adequately prepared.
Consent and Release of Liability for Lab Scanning/Ultrasound Session
Program Mission Statement
The mission of the NEMCC Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to instill the value of lifelong learning and professionalism in students, graduates, and faculty and to provide the students with an education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography that prepares them for the ARDMS certification examinations and employment as a Registered Sonographer.
Our goal is to prepare competent, entry level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) , and affective (behavior) learning domains of the abdominal sonography- extended and obstetrics and gynecology sonography concentrations as outlined by the Mississippi Community College Board and The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
DMS Program Effectiveness
DMS Student Handbook
DMS Code of Ethics
Additional Resources
https://www.jrcdms.org/#gsc.tab=0