Academic Calendar 2023-24

Nov 23, 2024

Academic Calendar 2023-24 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Diploma)

Total Credits:	96
Credential:	Diploma in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Cardiac Specialization Diploma in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, General/OB Specialization Diploma in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Vascular Specialization
Program Code:	SONO.CARD.DIP SONO.GNOB.DIP SONO.VASC.DIP
CIP:	51.0910

Overview

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SONO) Program is a comprehensive 24 month full-time, continuous-study Diploma in core sonographic competencies and one of three specialty disciplines, General, Cardiac, or Vascular. Graduates of this program fulfil an essential role as members of the healthcare team by producing static and dynamic images of the human body using sound waves that contain no radiation and are considered the safest way to image the human body.

Sonographers and Echocardiographers image vital organs, beating hearts, and babies in the womb to provide physicians with technical impressions of findings used for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring a variety of medical conditions, making certified ultrasound technologists one of the most in-demand diagnostic imaging health professionals. Due to expanding services, rapidly emerging technologies, and increasing patient populations sonographers command top salaries and often find permanent employment opportunities immediately after graduation.

This program prepares graduates for the rigors of their future career by integrating leveled academic content with interactive simulation; focusing on applied and authentic learning in hospital and clinic environments; and validating workplace competency during community clinical practicums. Students in this program will use advanced understanding of human anatomy, medical terminology, and a knowledge of underlying physics principles to produce cross sectional images of the body. Students will build on this knowledge as they progress through the required program courses designed to develop and enhance their practical scanning skills and promote good professional judgement.

Students will learn how to perform a comprehensive range of entry-to-practice general, obstetrical, cardiac, and vascular ultrasound scans while building theoretical knowledge for advanced and interventional sonography practice. Students experience a variety of approaches to educational delivery including traditional face-to-face classroom instruction, practical simulation labs, courses combining face-to-face instruction with distributed education (online learning) support, exclusively online courses, seminars, and supervised clinical practice.

Career/Academic Advancement Opportunities

All students who successfully complete this accredited program will be eligible to write the Sonography Canada National Certification Exams for CORE Competencies and their chosen specialty. Graduates who pass their National Certification exams are qualified to work all across Canada providing competent, compassionate, culturally appropriate sonography care and service with the highest level of professionalism in both public and private diagnostic imaging facilities.

Graduates with a Diploma in Diagnostic Medical Sonography are also eligible for a variety of Canadian and international programs that offer Bachelor’s degrees in Health Science or related disciplines. A certified Sonographer can pursue advanced practice roles through continuing professional development. Other professional opportunities for the certified sonographer could include administration, management, leadership, teaching, vendor sales, information technology, and research.

Admissions

One of: *

B in English 12
B in English Language Proficiency
B in English 12 Camosun Alternative

One of: *

B in Anatomy and Physiology 12
B in BIOL 143 or BIOL 150
B in BIOL 152 and BIOL 153
B in PNUR 101
B in Anatomy and Physiology 12 Camosun Alternative

One of:

B in MOA 155
Completion of a Medical Terminology course consisting of a minimum of 60 hours with a letter grade of B or higher

And all of:

Completed Physical Requirements Online Form
Attendance at a Diagnostic Medical Sonography program Information Session and completion of online questionnaire. An online option of the Information Session is available for anyone unable to attend in person
After the document submission deadline, all qualified applicants receive registration and scheduling instructions for their non-academic assessment. Students may take the assessment one time per application cycle and must do so within the prescribed timeframe indicated by the program. Students applying to other Allied Health & Technologies programs at Camosun College need only take the assessment once per application cycle
40 hours of volunteer work in a patient related environment

Note:

* academic application requirements must be completed within the previous five years

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program students will be able to:

Demonstrate the core professional attributes of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer as reflected in professional, provincial, and federal policy, legislation, and regulations.
Produce optimal quality diagnostic images and reports by applying their knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, professionalism, communication, and scientific principles.
Manage patient and client interactions proficiently with cultural humility, utilizing best practices in a competent, safe, and responsible manner observing legal and ethical workplace standards.
Practice appropriate, accurate, effective communication with members of the public and all members of the health care team within their role and scope as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
Support and promote a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to providing high quality, patient and client-centered care and customer service while ensuring the effective functioning of self.
Respond independently to challenging and complex practice situations by evaluating relevant variables to make appropriate decisions or solve problems.
Meet all Sonography Canada entry-to-practice capabilities for CORE Competencies and their chosen specialty for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Curriculum

Year One

Academic Term One

All of:

AHLT 112 - Patient Management for Allied Health Credits: 3
AHLT 266 - Introduction to Cross Sectional Anatomy Credits: 3
MIDS 121 - Introduction to Sonography Scanning Skills Credits: 3
MIDS 127 - Abdominal Sonography Procedures & Scanning Basics Credits: 3
MIDS 139 - Sonography Principles & Instrumentation 1 Credits: 3

Academic Term Two

All of:

AHLT 104 - Professional Communication for Allied Health Credits: 1.5
AHLT 134 - Legal & Professional Ethics for Allied Health Credits: 1.5
MIDS 137 - Pelvic Sonography Procedures Credits: 3
MIDS 147 - Obstetrical Sonography Procedures 1 Credits: 3
MIDS 151 - Intermediate Sonography Scanning Skills 1 Credits: 3
MIDS 167 - Basics of Electrocardiography Credits: 3

Academic Term Three

All of:

IST 120 - Indigenous Peoples/TELTIN TTE WILNEW Credits: 3
MIDS 199 - Sonography Principles & Instrumentation 2 Credits: 3
MIDS 181 - Intermediate Sonography Scanning Skills 2 Credits: 3
MIDS 187 - OB Sonography Procedures 2 Credits: 3
MIDS 197 - Cardiac Sonography Procedures 1 Credits: 3

Note:

* Students who can demonstrate that they already meet the intended outcomes of IST 120 may substitute other courses relating to Indigenous histories, health, or education and should meet with an Academic Advisor

Year Two

Academic Term Four

All of:

AHLT 268 - Professional Preparation for Allied Health Credits: 3
MIDS 227 - Pediatric & Superficial Structures in Sonography Procedures Credits: 3
MIDS 231 - Intermediate Sonography Scanning Skills 3 Credits: 3
MIDS 237 - Vascular Sonography Procedures Credits: 3
MIDS 247 - Cardiac Sonography Procedures 2 Credits: 3

Academic Term Five

All of:

HLSC 264 - Interprofessional Practices Credits: 3
MIDS 267 - Musculoskeletal Sonography Procedures Credits: 3
MIDS 281 - Advanced Sonography Scanning Skills Credits: 3
MIDS 287 - Interventional Sonography Procedures Credits: 3
MIDS 297 - Cardiac Sonography Procedures 3 Credits: 3

Academic Term Six

All of:

AHLT 288 - Capstone Project for Allied Health Credits: 3
PRAC 290 - Core Sonography Competency Credits: 6
Two (2) electives Credits: 6 *

One of:

PRAC 295 - GEN & OB Sonography Competency Credits: 6 **
PRAC 296 - Cardiac Sonography Competency Credits: 6 ***
PRAC 299 - Vascular Sonography Competency Credits: 6 ****

Note:

* Sonographers are at high risk for workplace injury due to long hours of performing repetitive tasks and the demanding physical nature of scanning. Electives chosen by students should help the student achieve the program outcome of “effective functioning of self”. Students learn how integrating knowledge of health, nutrition, and personal wellness supports their long-term physical functioning in the workplace while enhancing potential personal and professional success. Students may choose to complete their electives during any term of the program and may use equivalent transfer credits to satisfy this requirement. Students may be able to use equivalent transfer credits to satisfy this requirement. Students may choose to complete their electives during any term of the program.

** General/OB Specialization

*** Cardiac Specialization

**** Vascular Specialization

Additional Information

Program Admission Process

The rigor of this program requires students to have a high level of commitment and preparedness to be successful. In order to serve students best, admission processes for many Allied Health programs in British Columbia and across Canada include a selection process whereby applicants are selected, or compete for program entry. The program ranks students according to academic preparedness and non-academic qualities including situational judgement, proven to be reliable predictors of personal commitment and future professional behaviours. Applicants with the highest overall rankings are offered seats in the program. This process enhances students’ likelihood of program success and future employability.

Program Admission Requirements

Once all applicants have completed the non-academic assessment, the program calculates an aggregate score for each applicant by equally weighting the academic (combined GPA of admission requirements) and non-academic assessment scores (indicators of program and future professional success) to determine which applicants will receive program seat invitations. Once all aggregated scores are totaled, the students selected will be offered seats in the program for a given year, pending completion of the Program Participation Requirements prior to the program start date.
The program maintains a short waitlist for late entry into the same year due to student withdrawals or deferrals. Waitlists are not retained for future years. Those applicants meeting the admission requirements, but not gaining a seat in the year of application need to reapply in order to be eligible in a subsequent year.

Program Participation Requirements

Students must accept assigned clinical site placements, subject to availability and capacity.
Students must have yearly respirator mask ‘fit-testing’ done. Students will be responsible for completing this process prior to the first clinical experience and for any associated costs.
Current BLS (Basic Life Support) is required prior to the start of all clinical placements. Annual recertification of BLS must be maintained throughout the program. Students will be responsible for the cost of this certification.
Students must provide evidence that they do not have active TB. Acceptable evidence is a negative TB skin test or a negative chest x-ray. Evidence must be dated no more than six months before practicum start. Students are responsible for the cost of testing. An additional TB test is required after each possible exposure to TB and/or travel within an area that there is a known prevalence of TB.
Students must provide evidence of their immunizations or immunity to preventable, communicable diseases. Students are highly recommended to maintain current immunizations as per the Practice Education Guidelines of B.C. Recommended immunizations are found on the Health Sciences Placement Network of Canada website by searching for immunization guidelines. Failure to comply with immunization guidelines could result in the health care organization or the College barring the individual from the clinical/practicum setting until proof of immunity is provided and/or until a communicable disease outbreak is declared over. This could impact a student’s ability to successfully complete the clinical/practicum placement and/or a clinical/community rotation.
Students must provide their own transportation, meals, and accommodations while completing their clinical placement(s).
The Provincial Practice Education Guidelines may require students to complete the BC Provincial Violence Prevention Training prior to clinical/practicum placements. This training will occur during the program. Students will be notified in sufficient time for the training to occur and this training will be provided by a third party. Students will be responsible for any associated costs. Failure to comply with this training could result in the health care organization, community partner or the college barring the individual from the clinical/practicum setting until required training is completed. This could impact a student’s ability to successfully complete the clinical/practicum placement. Violence prevention training from other provinces does not transfer in and meet the requirements.

Program Completion Requirements

Students must achieve at least a C+ or COM in all program courses.