Abstract
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) enhanced the management, professionalism, team building, technology, interpersonal communication, accountability, and teaching. In the medical world, the knowledge, skills, attitude, and its concept has incorporated CPD in a wide range of competencies needed to practice the highest quality medical services, socially, ethically, and personally. The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer’s role is highly important to the treatment team such as the doctors, nurses, and other clinical health providers and the patients. The diagnostic medical Sonographer is a well-trained individual who operated the computers and machines to administer an image scan of the patients. The comprehensive programs offered a Diagnostic Medical Sonography course with the degree or certificate. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography profession has increased greatly as the new technology has been recognized worldwide. An individual joined the Diagnostic Medical Sonography field through the different ways. Those who have already worked in the hospitals obtained the training as many medical facilities have accredited the programs for their employees to gain a certificate in the field. There are many programs, private training centers, and institutions that offered the programs. Thus, the degrees and certifications in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography offered career opportunities.
Keyword: Sonography, Professional Education, Continuing Professional Development, Continuing Professional Education
Introduction
The Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an educational activity to improve the medical competence in medical knowledge and skills. Also, CPD enhances the management, professionalism, team building, technology, interpersonal communication, accountability, and teaching. In the field of medical knowledge, skills, and attitude, the concept of CPD incorporates a wide range of competencies necessary to practice high-quality medical services that include managerial, social, ethical, and personal skills. Consequently, it integrates ethical responsibility and increases the career satisfaction. Several definitions of CPD have been provided by experts: (1) it is continuing process outside the formal undergraduate or postgraduate training that allows an individual to maintain and develop the standards of the medical practices; and (2) it has a wide range of competencies beyond the clinical updates, research, context of patient care, information technology, ethical practice, the team-building, and proper change of attitudes towards the responsibility to provide quality patient outcomes or satisfaction. Another definition of CPD is that it is a range of learning activities wherein the health providers or professionals maintain and enhance their career to make sure that they keep hold on their capability to perform safely, legally, and effectively within the range of professional practice. Generally, CPD is a multi-professional educational activity that aids the professionals to update the knowledge and skills in response to the fast changing necessities of the profession and the community as a whole. In the continuing professional development for diagnostic medical sonography, it is not just a simple profession since it needs many processes and training.
Sonography
Sonography is a medical diagnostic procedure using high-frequency sound waves that produce clear images of tissues, blood flow, and organs inside the body. Specifically, Sonography has many areas of specialization such as breast, abdomen, cardiac, Neurosonology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and vascular Sonography. In addition, this medical diagnostic procedure can detect and treat heart or vascular diseases and can guide needles during tissue biopsy. The individual in charge in the field is a diagnostic medical Sonographer or an ultrasound technician. The role of the diagnostic medical Sonographer is highly significant to the treatment team such as the doctors, nurses, and other clinical of a certain patient workforce and the patient in particular. Correspondingly, the diagnostic medical Sonographer is a well-trained individual to operate the computers and machines to run an image scan of a patient. In addition, a diagnostic medical Sonographer knows how to read and evaluate the images in order to identify the disease or any injury and report the gathered information to the medical team immediately and to assist in the electronic record or image storage.
A Tool
Most countries, particularly in Romania, the Sonography or Ultrasonography is one of the highly considered useful diagnostic tools for the health providers. The diagnostic tool is inexpensive, it allows the Sonographer to administer an imaging evaluation after the test. Sporea emphasizes that in Romania, the current training curriculum includes a Sonography course and due to the efforts of the Teaching Centers of Ultrasonography, several physicians are trained to use Ultrasounds for the clinical test. Similarly, ultrasound is one of the most effective diagnostic tools in healthcare. It is safe to use, inexpensive, and most clinical facilities make it one of the most requested tests in the field of diagnostic imaging examination. Similarly, in Canada, the Ultrasonography is highly described as a safe and effective form of imaging. Particularly, in the Canadian Emergency Room Ultrasound, the tool is beneficial and one of a kind; it allows images obtained in real time and the findings always correlate with the existing signs and symptoms of the patient being diagnosed. Alexander affirms that more than 40 years the emergency room ultrasound in Canada influences the clinical decision-making, enhances the diagnostic expertise, and provides a short period of a definitive treatment resulting in a well-improved quality of care. Correspondingly, the best-studied utilization of the ultrasound in the emergency department is the extended Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma or eFAST examination.
Continuing Education of a Sonographer
A comprehensive program offers a Diagnostic Medical Sonography course that varies with a period of study, depending on the degree or certificate taken or awarded. At the same time, the prerequisites vary with the program offered, a high school diploma or a specific qualification in the relation to the health profession. In the United Staes, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or CAAHEP, in particular, covers the reputable Diagnostic Medical Sonography course to those candidates who will avail the programs. Aside from the CAAHEP, the non- CAAHEP accredited program and the Canadian Medical Association or CMA offer Sonography Education Programs. The Sonographer takes the national certification examinations after the Sonography education program has been completed. When the Sonographer passed the examinations, he or she can start the career as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
In contrast, LaGrone, Sadasivam, Kushner, and Groen confirm that most ultrasound scans are performed by the generalist, obstetric physicians, and the non-medical personnel with less or no formal training in Ultrasonography. It shows that the range of Ultrasonography training being described has spanned from no formal training for formal certification, the residency programs, and most courses include some component of instructions and hands-on training. On the other hand, the some programs manage to have excellent outcomes on diagnostic accuracy and the retention of knowledge of the well-trained personnel. It implies that the training in the ultrasound skills can possibly be enhanced and effective training or follow-up should be encouraged.
Moreover, the Diagnostic Medical Sonography profession has increased vastly as the new technology has been recognized all over the world. In fact, there is an increased demand for diagnostic ultrasound procedures; the growth of Diagnostic Medical Sonography as a career is expected to continue to grow with comprehensive employment opportunities globally. In particular, the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography or ARDMS is highly committed to improving the resources to aid every individual after the degree or certification. Those who are certified by the ARDMS obtain an advantage in upholding their career as the top practitioners of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The certification provided by the ARDMS gives the patients the guarantee that the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer administering the ultrasound has established the clinical skills in contemporary medical practices.
The Role of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
In the medical field, the society always suggests rules, guidelines, hands-on courses, and e-learning tools in order to prevent the uncontrollable practice of the Ultrasound device. As per suggestion that Ultrasound should be performed by the well-trained individuals to result in most acceptable outcomes. Correspondingly, the Technician Sonographer or the Ultrasound Technician is a vital key to the treatment team of the patient. Also, the Technician Sonographer works directly with the patients, nurses, doctors, and clinical or hospital personnel. The Technician Sonographer is also called as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer who is trained to operate the machines and the computers to perform image scans of the patients. The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer has the competent skills in communication, written, and verbal as proven to be the one who faces the patient and the family during the diagnosis and keeps all the records. The role of the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a rewarding job, more learning and bright career track when expanded with education.
Specifically, a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a highly-skilled professional, who utilizes the sophisticated or specialized equipment. The equipment creates images inside the human structures utilized by the physicians to make medical diagnoses. The professional responsibilities of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer comprise, but not restricted to:
(1) communicates with the patients and identifies the symptoms; (2) performs and obtains diagnostic images; (3) analyzes image and informs the patients; (4) utilizes independent decision and distinguishes the necessary adjustments; (5) provides the oral and written summary results or findings to the physician for further medical diagnosis; (6) directly works with physicians and other health care providers; (7) assists in an electronic record keeping and computerized image storage; and (8) provides quality patient services and care.
The considerable body of evidence that supports the utilization of ultrasound to help access the patients, especially children. There are more benefits for those who acquired the skills and the special considerations in the pediatric level. For example, the ultrasound or Sonography is widely available and if it is used properly, it decreases the complications of pediatric vascular access and a useful tool. Similarly, the ultrasound technique and the knowledge of normal human anatomy is critical to avoid complications. Particularly, the ultrasound is useful for assisting access the patients in all age groups and the infants. For this reason, the ultrasound examination performed by the practitioners from a wide range of professional backgrounds and different clinical settings.
As a result, an excellent job awaits for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. The health care in terms of ultrasound diagnosis grows at a rapid rate and the occupation itself benefits from the growing trend. For example, the aging population demands more often the diagnostic imaging technology that is provided by a Sonographic examination to the patients. Overall, the Sonography is a safer alternative than utilizing the radiological techniques. It entails that the occupation of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer grows at a better rate in the health care area.
Conclusion
The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer utilize the sophisticated tool to administer the tests through the high-frequency waves to the patients. The medical examinations help diagnose the patients’ health problems. It is important that a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer cares more with the individuals in need of treatments. They have the capacity to explain the procedures of the examination that relate to their work towards the patient and make the patients feel comfortable. A highly specialized Sonographic equipment diagnosed properly and calibrated the result accurately. During the examination, a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer thoroughly looked at a visual representation of the area being examined and obtained the data and reported directly to the physician who can advance the diagnosis of the patient. An individual can join the Diagnostic Medical Sonography field through the different ways. In the same way, those who are already employed or worked in hospitals can obtain the training as many medical facilities have accredited the programs for their employees to gain a certificate in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. There are many programs, private training centers, and institutions that offer the programs. Furthermore, degrees and certifications in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography that offer more career opportunities. In conclusion, the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD is a multi-professional educational activity that aids the professionals to keep their knowledge and advanced skills in response to the changing needs of the profession and the community as a whole.
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