Image

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

7:07 PM

What is Vascular Ultrasound?

Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing part
of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body.
Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays). Because ultrasound
images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's
internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.
Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat
medical conditions.
Vascular ultrasound provides pictures of the body's veins and arteries.
A Doppler ultrasound study may be part of a vascular ultrasound examination.
Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood velocity as it flows
through a blood vessel, including the body's major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms,
legs and neck.
top of page

What are some common uses of the procedure?

Sonography is a useful way of evaluating the body's circulatory system. Vascular ultrasound
is performed to:

• help monitor the blood flow to organs and tissues throughout the body.
• locate and identify blockages (stenosis) and abnormalities like plaque or emboli and
help plan for their effective treatment.
• detect blood clots (deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the legs or arms.
• determine whether a patient is a good candidate for a procedure such as angioplasty.
• evaluate the success of procedures that graft or bypass blood vessels.
• determine if there is an enlarged artery (aneurysm).
• determine the source and severity of varicose veins.

Doppler ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:

• blockages to blood flow (such as clots).

• narrowing of vessels (which may be caused by plaque).
• tumors and congenital malformation.
top of page

How should I prepare?

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You may need
to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
If your abdominal vessels are being examined, unless the examination is performed on an
urgent basis, it is often best to fast before the procedure.
top of page

What does the equipment look like?

Ultrasound scanners consist of a console containing a computer and electronics, a video

display screen and a transducer that is used to scan the body and blood vessels. The
transducer is a small hand-held device that resembles a microphone, attached to the
scanner by a cord. The transducer sends out high frequency sound waves into the body and
then listens for the returning echoes from the tissues in the body. The principles are similar
to sonar used by boats and submarines.
The ultrasound image is immediately visible on a nearby screen that looks much like a
computer or television monitor. The image is created based on the amplitude (strength),
frequency and time it takes for the sound signal to return from the patient to the
transducer.
top of page

How does the procedure work?

Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles involved in the sonar used by bats,
ships and fishermen. When a sound wave strikes an object, it bounces back, or echoes. By
measuring these echo waves it is possible to determine how far away the object is and its
size, shape, and consistency (whether the object is solid, filled with fluid, or both).
In medicine, ultrasound is used to detect changes in appearance of organs, tissues, and
vessels or detect abnormal masses, such as tumors.
In an ultrasound examination, a transducer both sends the sound waves and records the
echoing waves. When the transducer is pressed against the skin, it directs small pulses of
inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into the body. As the sound waves bounce off of
internal organs, fluids and tissues, the sensitive microphone in the transducer records tiny
changes in the sound's pitch and direction. These signature waves are instantly measured
and displayed by a computer, which in turn creates a real-time picture on the monitor. One
or more frames of the moving pictures are typically captured as still images.

One Note Notebook Page 1

Doppler ultrasound, a special application of ultrasound, measures the direction and speed of
blood cells as they move through vessels. The movement of blood cells causes a change in
pitch of the reflected sound waves (called the Doppler effect). A computer collects and
processes the sounds and creates graphs or color pictures that represent the flow of blood
through the blood vessels.
top of page

How is the procedure performed?

For most ultrasound exams, the patient is positioned lying face-up on an examination table
that can be tilted or moved.

A clear water-based gel is applied to the area of the body being studied to help the
transducer make secure contact with the body and eliminate air pockets between the
transducer and the skin. The sonographer (ultrasound technologist) or radiologist then
presses the transducer firmly against the skin and sweeps it over the area of interest.
Doppler sonography is performed using the same transducer.

When the examination is complete, the patient may be asked to dress and wait while the
ultrasound images are reviewed. However, the sonographer or radiologist is often able to
review the ultrasound images in real-time as they are acquired and the patient can be
released immediately.
This ultrasound examination is usually completed within 30 minutes.
top of page

What will I experience during and after the procedure?

Most ultrasound examinations are painless, fast and easy.
After you are positioned on the examination table, the radiologist or sonographer will apply
some warm water-based gel on your skin and then place the transducer firmly against your
body, moving it back and forth over the area of interest until the desired images are
captured. There is usually no discomfort from pressure as the transducer is pressed against
the area being examined.
If scanning is performed over an area of tenderness, you may feel pressure or minor pain
from the transducer.
If a Doppler ultrasound study is performed, you may actually hear pulse-like sounds that
change in pitch as the blood flow is monitored and measured.
Once the imaging is complete, the gel will be wiped off your skin.
After an ultrasound exam, you should be able to resume your normal activities within a few
hours.
top of page

Pasted from <http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=vascularus> What are some of the technical standards?

Sonographers and Vascular Technologists must be able to:
• Lift more than 50 pounds routinely
• Push and pull routinely
• Bend and stoop routinely
Job Outlook About this section
• Have full use of both hands, wrists and shoulders

Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average; technologists and technicians • Distinguish audible sounds
with multiple professional credentials, trained to perform a wide range of procedures, will have • Adequately view sonograms, including color
distinctions
the best prospects.
Employment change. Employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians is • Work standing on their feet 80% of the time
expected to increase 24 percent through the year 2018, much faster than the average for all • Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick
or injured
occupations. Demand will stem from the prevalence of heart disease and the aging population,
because older people have a higher incidence of heart disease and other complications of the • Assist patients on and off examining tables

heart and vascular system. Procedures such as ultrasound imaging and radiology are being • Communicate effectively with patients and other
health care professionals
performed more often as a replacement for more expensive and more invasive procedures.
Due to advances in medicine and greater public awareness, signs of vascular disease can be
• Organize and accurately perform the individual steps
in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence
detected earlier, creating demand for cardiovascular technologists and technicians to perform What are the career opportunities?
various procedures. Sonography is a dynamic profession that has grown
Employment of vascular technologists and echocardiographers will grow as advances in significantly over the past 20 years. With rapidly developing
vascular technology and sonography reduce the need for more costly and invasive procedures. new technologies and increased use of diagnostic ultrasound
procedures, growth is projected to continue in the future
However, fewer EKG technicians will be needed, as hospitals train nursing aides and others to with employment opportunities for qualified sonographers in
perform basic EKG procedures. Individuals trained in Holter monitoring and stress testing are both urban and rural areas nationwide. Sonographers and
expected to have more favorable job prospects than those who can perform only a basic EKG. vascular technologists can choose to work in clinics,
The rules governing reimbursement by Medicare and Medicaid for medical procedures will hospitals, private practice physician offices, public health
facilities, laboratories, and other medical settings performing
affect the frequency of their use and demand for imaging technologists.
examinations in their areas of specialization. Career
Job prospects. In addition to job growth, job openings for cardiovascular technologists and advancement opportunities exist in education,
technicians will arise from replacement needs as individuals transfer to other jobs or leave the administration, research, and in commercial companies as
labor force. Job prospects will be best for those with multiple professional credentials, trained education/application specialists, sales representatives,
to perform a wide range of procedures. Those willing to relocate or work irregular hours also technical advisors, etc.
What are the salaries for sonographers?
will have better job opportunities. In addition to excellent career opportunities, salaries for
It is not uncommon for cardiovascular technologists and technicians to move between the sonographers are competitive with or higher than other
specialties within the occupation by obtaining certification in more than one specialty. professionals with similar levels of education. According to
Technologists with multiple credentials will be the most marketable to employers. the SDMS Salary and Benefits Survey report (released
March, 2005), the median salary for sonographers is
Projections Data About this section
$61,984. This income includes: 1) hourly salary, 2) overtime
and, 3) on-call pay. The typical hourly pay rate is $29, and
the number of overtime hours worked per week by
sonographers is 3. The typical on-call pay rate is $3.00 per
Occupational Title SOC Employ Projecte Change Detailed hour, and the call-in rate of pay is $42 per hour. Note: The
Code ment, d , Statistic SDMS Salary and Benefits Survey report is available for free
2008 Employ 2008-1 s to all SDMS members.
ment, 8 Salaries vary depending on years of experience, number of
specialties practiced, as well geographic location. There are
2018 opportunities for full-time and part-time employment.
Numbe Percen
r t Pasted from <http://www.sdms.org/career/career.asp>

Cardiovascular technologists 29-2031 49,500 61,400 11,900 24 [PDF] [XLS]

and technicians
NOTE: Data in this table are
rounded. See the discussion of
the employment projections
table in the Handbook
introductory chapter on
Sonographer/Ultrasound
Occupational Information Tech
Included in the Handbook. Sonographers and ultrasound techs operate
Projections data from the National Employment Matrix equipment which uses high frequency sound
Earnings About this section waves to create images of patients' internal
organs. Most sonographers have an
Median annual wages of cardiovascular technologists and technicians were $47,010 in May associate's degree, but some obtain a
2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $32,800 and $61,580. The lowest 10 percent certificate or even a bachelor's degree in
earned less than $25,510, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,760. Median medical sonography. No matter what degree
annual wages of cardiovascular technologists and technicians in 2008 were $48,590 in offices you receive, coursework consists of biology,
of physicians and $46,670 in general medical and surgical hospitals. anatomy, and related sciences. According to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
Pasted from <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos100.htm> median yearly salary for sonographers in
2006 was $57,160. The BLS predicts that
there will be a 19 percent increase in
employment for sonographers and ultrasound
techs by 2016.

One Note Notebook Page 2

 techs by 2016.

Pasted from
Local Jobs Info for Ultrasound Technicians <http://www.guidetohealthcareschools.com/sonographer.html>
Employment info for Ultrasound Technicians, by metropolitan area (for 2006). A Market
Strength rating of 1.0 means the city (and surroundings) has an average number of workers
in the occupation for to its population. A higher number indicates relatively more workers
for the occupation in that location.
State City and Surroundings Market Strength Workers Median Wage
Before the test
Alabama Birmingham 1.89 320 $49,000 Please do not bring valuables such as jewelry and credit cards.
Alabama Decatur 1.94 30 $48,000 • If veins in your arms or legs, your carotid artery or your newly transplanted kidney
are to be examined during the vascular ultrasound, there is no special preparation.
Alabama Dothan 2.59 50 $52,000 • You may take your usual medications.
Alabama Florence 3.35 50 $49,000 • There are no special dietary guidelines; you may eat and drink as you normally
would.
Alabama Huntsville 1.43 90 $50,000 • You will be asked to change into a hospital gown and remove all jewelry.
Alabama Mobile 1.42 80 $50,000 During the test
Alabama Montgomery 1.32 70 $50,000 • Your ultrasound test is performed by specially trained technologists and
interpreted by a vascular medicine physician.
Arizona Phoenix 0.67 420 $68,000 • You will lie on a padded examining table during the test.
Arizona Tucson 1.23 150 $67,000 • A small amount of water-soluble gel is applied to the skin over the area to be
examined. The gel does not harm your skin or stain your clothes.
Arkansas Little Rock 1.58 170 $42,000 • A small device called a transducer is placed over the gel-coated area to be
California Bakersfield 0.96 80 $55,000 examined. The transducer produces images on the ultrasound screen. The
transducer is held in place until the blood flow information has been recorded.
California Fresno 1.5 160 $64,000
• There is virtually no discomfort during the test. You may hear noises when the
California Los Angeles 0.94 1,300 $61,000 technologist listens to the blood flow and records measurements.
After the test
California Modesto 2.51 130 $58,000 The gel will be wiped off your skin. There are no special instructions to follow after the
California Oakland 0.68 230 $80,000 test. You may go home or to your other scheduled appointments after the vascular
ultrasound.
California Oxnard 0.51 50 $60,000
California Riverside 0.85 370 $67,000 Pasted from <http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/services/tests/vascular/general.aspx>

California Sacramento 0.74 220 $73,000

California Salinas 0.63 30 $74,000
California San Diego 0.91 400 $73,000
California San Francisco 0.93 300 $76,000
California San Jose 0.97 290 $83,000
California Santa Ana 0.62 320 $69,000
Vascular Ultrasound Technology, AAS Degree
California Santa Cruz 1.15 30 $92,000
California Santa Rosa 0.98 60 $73,000 Vascular Technologists perform various diagnostic medical procedures through the
use of high frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual images of organs,
California Stockton 0.75 50 $76,000 tissues, or blood flow inside the body that are used by physicians to make a medical
California Vallejo 1.84 70 $72,000 diagnosis. Evaluation and analysis of the hemodynamics (blood flow) of peripheral
and abdominal blood vessels will be evaluated through the use of high-tech, non-
California Visalia 0.94 40 $70,000 imaging and imaging instrumentation. The Vascular Technologist must be able to
Colorado Boulder 1.62 80 $68,000 obtain accurate patient history, perform high-tech diagnostic procedures, analyze
technical information and summarize technical findings to the physician, provide
Colorado Colorado Springs 1.1 90 $69,000 quality patient care and collaborating with physicians and other members of the
Colorado Denver 0.66 270 $71,000 health team.

Colorado Fort Collins 1.31 50 $63,000 Pasted from

<http://www.southeasttech.edu/Academics/Degrees/Health/Pages/VascularUltrasoundTechnology.aspx>
Connecticut Bridgeport 1.82 260 $74,000
Connecticut Danbury 2.41 50 $71,000 ***This Website also shows the classes required to earn this degree!
Connecticut Hartford 1.07 200 $79,000
Connecticut New Haven 2.47 220 $68,000
Connecticut Norwich 1.85 70 $64,000
Connecticut Waterbury 1.92 40 $74,000
Delaware Wilmington 2.35 250 $55,000
District of Columbia Washington 0.66 510 $67,000
Significant Points
Florida Cape Coral 2.76 190 $57,000 • Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
Florida Fort Lauderdale 1.46 360 $58,000 • Technologists and technicians with multiple professional credentials, trained to
perform a wide range of procedures, will have the best prospects.
Florida Gainesville 2.05 70 $51,000 • About 77 percent of jobs are in hospitals.
Florida Jacksonville 1.49 300 $55,000 • Workers typically need a 2-year associate degree at a junior or community
Florida Lakeland 1.74 110 $52,000 college; most employers also require a professional credential.
Nature of the Work
Florida Miami 1.69 560 $56,000
Florida Orlando 1.68 590 $54,000 Cardiovascular technologists and technicians assist physicians in diagnosing
and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments.
Florida Palm Bay 1.74 110 $57,000 Cardiovascular technologists and technicians schedule appointments, review
Florida Pensacola 2.65 130 $47,000 physicians' interpretations and patient files, and monitor patients' heart rates.
They also operate and care for testing equipment, explain test procedures, and
Florida Port St Lucie 1.71 70 $60,000 compare findings to a standard to identify problems. Other day-to-day
Florida Sarasota 1.65 150 $51,000 activities vary significantly between specialties.
Florida Sebastian 3.64 50 $57,000
Pasted from <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos100.htm>
Florida Tallahassee 0.97 50 $56,000
Florida Tampa 1.35 560 $57,000
Florida West Palm Beach 1.67 310 $59,000
Georgia Atlanta 0.96 770 $60,000 Job Outlook About this section
Georgia Augusta 1.08 70 $56,000
Faster than average employment growth is expected. Job opportunities should be
Georgia Macon 0.99 30 $66,000 favorable.
Georgia Savannah 1.26 60 $48,000 Employment change. Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is
expected to increase by about 18 percent through 2018—faster than the average
Georgia Valdosta 2.11 30 $52,000 for all occupations. As the population continues to age, there will be an increasing
Hawaii Honolulu 0.58 80 $71,000 demand for diagnostic imaging. Additional job growth is expected as healthcare
providers increasingly utilize ultrasound imaging as a safer and more cost-effective
Idaho Boise 0.7 60 $59,000
alternative to radiological procedures. Ultrasound imaging technology is expected
Illinois Chicago 0.67 860 $63,000 to evolve rapidly and spawn many new sonography procedures, enabling
sonographers to scan and image areas of the body where ultrasound has not
Illinois Peoria 2.7 140 $66,000
traditionally been used.
Illinois Rockford 2.35 110 $60,000 Hospitals will remain the principal employer of diagnostic medical sonographers.
Illinois Springfield 1.93 60 $64,000 However, employment is expected to grow more rapidly in offices of physicians
and in medical and diagnostic laboratories. Health care facilities such as these are
Indiana Elkhart 0.74 30 $56,000 expected to increase in number because of the strong shift toward outpatient care,
Indiana Evansville 1.64 90 $50,000 encouraged by third-party payers and made possible by technological advances
and less expensive ultrasound equipment that permit more procedures to be
Indiana Fort Wayne 1.31 90 $52,000 performed outside of hospitals.
Indiana Gary 1.11 100 $67,000 Job prospects. Job opportunities should be favorable. In addition to job openings
from growth, some openings will arise from the need to replace sonographers who
Indiana Indianapolis 1.27 370 $59,000 retire or leave the occupation permanently. However, job opportunities will vary by
Indiana South Bend 0.93 40 $57,000 geographic area. Sonographers willing to relocate will have the best job
opportunities. Sonographers with multiple specialties or multiple credentials also
Iowa Cedar Rapids 1.44 60 $56,000
will have good prospects.
Iowa Davenport 0.7 40 $51,000
Pasted from <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm>
Iowa Des Moines 1.06 110 $53,000
Kansas Topeka 1.21 40 $54,000
Kansas Wichita 1.03 100 $61,000
Kentucky Lexington 1.15 90 $52,000
Kentucky Louisville 0.9 180 $55,000 Licensure and certification. Some States require workers in this occupation to be licensed. For
information on a particular State, contact that State’s medical board. Certification is available from two
Louisiana Alexandria 2.36 40 $49,000 organizations: Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) and the American Registry of Diagnostic
Louisiana Baton Rouge 1.12 130 $56,000 Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). The CCI offers four certifications—Certified Cardiographic Technician
(CCT), Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS), Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS), and Registered

One Note Notebook Page 3

Louisiana Baton Rouge 1.12 130 $56,000
(CCT), Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS), Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS), and Registered
Louisiana Lafayette 1.41 60 $48,000 Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS). The ARDMS offers Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer
(RDCS) and Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credentials. Some States require certification as part
Louisiana Lake Charles 1.9 50 $54,000 of licensure. In other States, certification is not required but many employers prefer it.
Louisiana Monroe 2.19 50 $58,000 Other qualifications. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians must be reliable, have mechanical
aptitude, and be able to follow detailed instructions. A pleasant, relaxed manner for putting patients at ease
Louisiana New Orleans 1.23 200 $58,000 is an asset. They must be articulate as they must communicate technically with physicians and also explain
procedures simply to patients.
Louisiana Shreveport 1.89 100 $55,000 Advancement. Technologists and technicians can advance to higher levels of the profession as many
institutions structure the occupation with multiple levels, each having an increasing amount of responsibility.
Maine Portland 0.64 40 $63,000
Technologists and technicians also can advance into supervisory or management positions. Other common
Maryland Baltimore 1.34 570 $62,000 possibilities include working in an educational setting or conducting laboratory work.

Maryland Bethesda 1.36 250 $73,000 Pasted from <http://www.lewisu.edu/academics/vascular/empOutlook.htm>

Maryland Hagerstown 1.31 40 $60,000
Massachusetts Boston 0.99 560 $69,000
Massachusetts Lowell 0.82 30 $68,000
Massachusetts Springfield 1.23 120 $66,000
Michigan Ann Arbor 3.34 180 $55,000 Working Conditions/Employment
There are approximately 15,000 vascular technologists employed in the United States. Most
Michigan Detroit 1.23 300 $59,000
vascular technologists (approximately two thirds) work in a hospital setting while the
Michigan Flint 1.79 80 $50,000 remainder may be employed in clinics, a physicians' offices, free standing vascular
laboratories, or mobile services, wherein the technologist and/or the instrument is
Michigan Grand Rapids 0.8 100 $59,000 transported to the patient or remote office.
Michigan Kalamazoo 1.14 50 $58,000 Full-time vascular technologists generally work a 5-day, 40 hour week. Approximately one
half are required to be on-call outside normal operating hours (e.g., evenings and weekends).
Michigan Lansing 1.26 80 $50,000 Although most patients are mobile, many are elderly, debilitated or occasionally critically ill.
Michigan Muskegon 2.21 40 $62,000 Additionally, some patients with peripheral vascular disease may have ulcerations on their
feet or have had limb amputations, and therefore some lifting/assisting of patients may be
Michigan Saginaw 2.05 50 $52,000 required. Examinations must occasionally be performed at the patient's bedside and, although
some instruments are easily moved, the duplex scanner is generally large and heavy.
Michigan Warren 1.19 460 $57,000
Minnesota Duluth 1.02 40 $62,000 Pasted from <http://www.svunet.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3322>
Minnesota Minneapolis 1.1 660 $65,000
Minnesota St Cloud 1.33 40 $66,000
Mississippi Hattiesburg 2.96 50 $49,000
Mississippi Jackson 1.74 140 $48,000
Missouri Joplin 1.72 40 $58,000
Missouri Kansas City 0.92 310 $64,000
Missouri Springfield 1.63 100 $56,000
Missouri St Louis 1.03 460 $63,000
Nebraska Lincoln 1.62 80 $56,000
Nebraska Omaha 1.34 200 $54,000
Nevada Las Vegas 0.39 120 $64,000
Nevada Reno 0.58 40 $69,000
New Hampshire Manchester 0.99 30 $66,000
New Hampshire Nashua 1.87 80 $73,000
New Jersey Atlantic City 1.39 60 $70,000
New Jersey Camden 1.37 240 $67,000
New Jersey Edison 0.98 330 $64,000
New Jersey Newark 1.74 580 $66,000
New Jersey Trenton 1.01 70 $70,000
New Jersey Vineland 2.37 40 $61,000
New Mexico Albuquerque 0.96 120 $61,000
New York Albany 1.41 200 $61,000
New York Buffalo 1.09 190 $55,000
New York Nassau 1.65 680 $61,000
New York New York 1.09 1,830 $66,000
New York Poughkeepsie 1.56 120 $68,000
New York Rochester 1.47 240 $58,000
New York Syracuse 1.43 140 $61,000
New York Utica 2.04 80 $58,000
North Carolina Asheville 2.32 130 $56,000
North Carolina Charlotte 1.08 310 $63,000
North Carolina Durham 1.06 90 $57,000
North Carolina Fayetteville 1.09 40 $63,000
North Carolina Greensboro 1.41 170 $61,000
North Carolina Greenville 1.94 40 $58,000
North Carolina Hickory 0.57 30 $55,000
North Carolina Raleigh 1.09 180 $57,000
North Carolina Wilmington 1.35 60 $55,000
North Carolina Winston Salem 1.89 130 $59,000
Ohio Akron 1.19 130 $54,000
Ohio Canton 1.68 90 $50,000
Ohio Cincinnati 1.41 480 $58,000
Ohio Cleveland 1.08 380 $54,000
Ohio Columbus 0.69 210 $67,000
Ohio Dayton 1.48 190 $56,000
Ohio Toledo 1.05 110 $54,000
Ohio Youngstown 1.31 100 $52,000
Oklahoma Oklahoma City 1.08 200 $59,000
Oklahoma Tulsa 0.87 120 $58,000
Oregon Eugene 0.64 30 $71,000
Oregon Portland 0.67 230 $72,000
Oregon Salem 0.86 40 $76,000
Pennsylvania Allentown 1.67 180 $58,000
Pennsylvania Erie 0.75 30 $57,000
Pennsylvania Lancaster 0.67 50 $58,000
Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1.07 660 $58,000
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh 1.56 590 $49,000
Pennsylvania Reading 0.58 30 $60,000
Pennsylvania Scranton 0.96 80 $64,000
Pennsylvania Williamsport 2.08 30 $47,000
Pennsylvania York 0.71 40 $54,000
Rhode Island Providence 1.36 260 $68,000
South Carolina Charleston 2.14 200 $49,000
South Carolina Florence 2.29 60 $50,000
South Carolina Greenville 0.81 80 $60,000

One Note Notebook Page 4

South Carolina Spartanburg 0.79 30 $59,000
South Dakota Rapid City 1.68 30 $59,000
South Dakota Sioux Falls 1.67 70 $47,000
Tennessee Chattanooga 2.4 170 $54,000
Tennessee Jackson 1.92 30 $52,000
Tennessee Johnson City 1.76 40 $55,000
Tennessee Knoxville 1.78 190 $49,000
Tennessee Memphis 1.16 240 $53,000
Tennessee Nashville 0.88 220 $59,000
Texas Austin 0.53 130 $60,000
Texas Beaumont 1.02 50 $56,000
Texas Corpus Christi 0.74 40 $62,000
Texas Dallas 0.86 590 $62,000
Texas El Paso 0.73 60 $54,000
Texas Fort Worth 0.8 220 $63,000
Texas Houston 0.79 660 $59,000
Texas Lubbock 1.41 50 $61,000
Texas Mcallen 0.75 50 $64,000
Texas San Antonio 0.9 240 $61,000
Utah Provo 1.13 60 $63,000
Utah Salt Lake City 0.55 110 $55,000
Utah St George 2.86 40 $50,000
Vermont Burlington 1.19 40 $57,000
Virginia Lynchburg 1.29 40 $62,000
Virginia Richmond 0.8 160 $61,000
Virginia Roanoke 1.41 70 $58,000
Virginia Virginia Beach 1.05 260 $56,000
Washington Kennewick 1.15 30 $65,000
Washington Olympia 1.4 40 $68,000
Washington Seattle 1.1 520 $75,000
Washington Spokane 1.51 100 $68,000
Washington Tacoma 1.73 150 $67,000
West Virginia Charleston 1.54 70 $44,000
West Virginia Huntington 1.15 40 $55,000
Wisconsin Appleton 0.85 30 $66,000
Wisconsin Green Bay 0.77 40 $64,000
Wisconsin La Crosse 1.91 40 $64,000
Wisconsin Madison 0.85 90 $66,000
Wisconsin Milwaukee 1.24 350 $74,000
Wisconsin Oshkosh 1.21 30 $67,000

Pasted from <http://www.jobbankusa.com/career-profiles/ultrasound-technicians.shtml>

One Note Notebook Page 5

 Molly McCollister

Vascular Sonography Technicians

State Number of Employees Median Salary State Earnings/Year
Iowa 220 $ 55,250 $ 12,155,000
Minnesota 810 $ 66,666 $ 53,999,460
Nebraska 260 $ 62,000 $ 16,120,000
South Dakota 100 $ 54,000 $ 5,400,000
Wisconsin 610 $ 67,500 $ 41,175,000
Total 2000 $ 305,416 $ 128,849,460 220

610 Iowa
Minnesota
$80,000
Nebraska
$70,000
South Dakota
$60,000 810
100 Wisconsin
$50,000
260
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$-
Iowa Minnesota Nebraska South Dakota Wisconsin

Bibliography
Ultrasound Techs by Metropolitan Area . (2010). Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Jobhunt.org: http://www.job-hunt.org/careers/ultrasound-techs.shtml
CIS 101 Research Project

Prepared for

David Kampmann

Prepared by

Molly McCollister

Vascular Sonography

March 16, 2010

 VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY TECHNOLIGISTS
Imagine a job that will always have a demand for work, which will interact with people

and will have a salary to accommodate a comfortable life style. Not only does this job allow a

person to pick whether they are part or full time, but it also only requires two years of technical

school. This description may sound like it is too good to be true. However, it’s not. The Vascular

Ultrasound job just described is a reality for many people across the world.

What is a Vascular Ultrasound?

So, what exactly does a Vascular Sonography tech do? Most people who are not in the

profession may think these procedures sound complicated and uninteresting. But, to many

people’s surprise, Vascular Ultrasounds are more common than they may think.

Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing

part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the
body. Vascular ultrasound provides pictures of the body's veins and arteries. Doppler
ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood velocity as it flows
through a blood vessel, including the body's major arteries and veins in the abdomen,
arms, legs and neck. (Radiology Info, 2009)

When a person is told to have a Vascular Ultrasound, it may be because they have been

having pain in their extremities or just because they are showing progressive signs of having

something as common as a heart attack. By having this procedure done, doctors are able to look

at the ultrasound pictures taken of the affected area, and decide whether or not the veins and

arteries are functioning properly.

Job Outlook

Molly McCollister
2
 With the economy in the condition it is today, the outlook of jobs are exceedingly

important. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-

11 Edition, by the time 2018 comes around the demand for Vascular technologists should have

increased by 24%. With the population of the elderly expected to increase due to the aging baby

boomer generation, more people will be referred to take this type of test to try to prevent heart

attacks and strokes. With information regarding job outlooks looking this promising, it seems as

though Vascular techs will have no problem finding employment.

How Should One Go about Preparing for a Vascular Ultrasound?

Getting medical procedures done can often frighten a person who isn’t around a hospital

setting on a day to day basis. The good news is that there is hardly anything to do to prepare for

this test! A person who is planning on getting this procedure done can continue taking their

standard medicines, as well as eating and drinking whatever is in their normal diet. The only

thing to expect is to have to change into a hospital gown, and also take off jewelry. If that wasn’t

easy enough, the procedure averages out to take just around a half an hour!

Getting a Vascular Ultrasound degree has many benefits that go along with it. A great job

outlook, flexible hours that accommodate to an employee’s life style and interacting with people

are all great qualities this job offers. I’m excited to finalize my schooling, and enter this

fascinating profession.

Molly McCollister
3
 REFERENCES

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians. (2009, December 17). Retrieved March 26,
2010, from Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos100.htm

Radiology Info. (2009, June 26). Retrieved March 25, 2010, from Ultrasound-Vascular:
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=vascularus

Vascular Ultrasound. (2010). Retrieved March 26, 2010, from Cleveland Clinic:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/services/tests/vascular/general.aspx

http://www.lewisu.edu/academics/vascular/empOutlook.htm

Molly McCollister
4