[
Back
|
Printable View
]
Echocardiography
Spring 2024
Spokane Community College
1810 North Greene Street
Spokane, WA 99217-5399
https://scc.spokane.edu/
Enrollment:
Fall
Degrees and Certificates
AAS - SCC
Program Website:
View the program website
Program Description
Echocardiography is an Allied Health profession specifically concerning the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. The technologist performs examinations at the request or direction of a physician. Through subjective sampling and/or recording, the technologist proceeds with the examination to create an easily definable foundation of data from which a correct anatomic and physiologic diagnosis may be established for each patient.
The primary role of the cardiovascular sonographer is to obtain recordings of ultrasound images of the heart and related structures for the physician to interpret. The various types of ultrasound equipment require a highly skilled operator to obtain the imaging information or other data required. The cardiovascular sonographer must obtain appropriate clinical history, cardiac-related physical findings, and pertinent laboratory data in order to adapt the imaging techniques to obtain comprehensive and diagnostic echocardiographic information. The Cardiovascular Technology Programs (Invasive and Noninvasive) are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (
www.caahep.org
) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee for Cardiovascular Technology (
www.jrccvt.org
). JRC-CVT 6 Pine Knoll Dr. Beverly, MA 01915-1425 (978) 456-5594. Students within the Echocardiography program are required to complete a six month, full-time clinical internship. As clinical space is limited in Spokane and the surrounding area, the student may be required to complete their internship in an out-of-town and/or out-of-area medical center.
Admission Requirements:
ECHO courses are limited to students of the Echocardiography program
Active email account required
Appropriate math score
Self-place into English
A 2.5 grade in each prerequisite course is required and course completion should be no older than 5 years
Admission to the ECHO program is competitive and based on a panel interview, prerequisite course GPA, additional math, science, and healthcare related coursework, quality of reference letters, and completion of 40 hours volunteerism in healthcare and cardiovascular ultrasound
A 2.0 (79%) is required in every program course to proceed to the next quarter
National background check is conducted prior to admission and 4th quarter of the program
Immunizations, current healthcare provider CPR, and 7 hour blood borne pathogen training are required prior to clinical internship in the 4th quarter
Selective clinical sites require a ten-panel drug screen within 30 days of clinical internship
Return to the program is based on "space available" and requires remedial work to demonstrate knowledge base appropriate with program re-entry point
After re-entry, students may only repeat a class one time. Repeat of courses must be completed within two years
Admission Recommendations:
Computer skills are recommended
Some students find completion of CHEM 120 Organic and Biochemistry for Health Sciences and CHEM 121 helpful to learning in the program
Additional healthcare related courses such as HED 109, 129 or nursing assistant coursework
After entering the Echocardiography program, students are required to maintain a minimum of a 2.0 grade in each class before proceeding to the next quarter. Students need to realize that clinical site placement could require relocation outside of the immediate Spokane area for 10 (4 weeks in August and 6 months for full time) months.
Program Learning Outcomes
Perform high quality noninvasive cardiovascular tests on patients, while tailoring the examinations to bring out abnormalities present. Develop skill in performing m-mode, two-dimensional and doppler echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, exercise tolerance testing, ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and pacemaker reprogramming and monitoring.
Quantitate, subjectively evaluate and interpret data collected to assist the physician in arriving at a diagnosis.
Develop clinical understanding of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of the major adult and pediatric cardiac diseases and deformities.
Communicate effectively in a professional manner with physicians, patients and members of health teams.
[
Back
|
Printable View
]