Echocardiography

Winter 2018

Enrollment:

Fall

Degrees and Certificates

Program Website:

View the program website

Tuition and Fees

http://www.ccs.spokane.edu/TuitionFees

Additional Costs

Books$1000
Supplies and Equipment$150
Misc. Fees*$500
* Estimate 7 quarters. Misc fee includes: uniforms, insurance, national certification exam, physical exam

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: Admission Recommendations: 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

  1. 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.
  2. Quantitate, subjectively evaluate and interpret data collected to assist the physician in arriving at a diagnosis.
  3. Develop clinical understanding of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of the major adult and pediatric cardiac diseases and deformities.
  4. Communicate effectively in a professional manner with physicians, patients and members of health teams.

Career Opportunities

Ultrasonic imagery of intracardiac and vascular structures is a rapidly advancing specialty due to continued technological advances. There continues to be a demand for trained technologists in hospitals, clinics and physicians offices. The greatest demand is outside the Spokane area due to the few number of training programs available across the nation.  POTENTIAL POSITIONS INCLUDE: noninvasive cardiovascular technologist, echocardiographer, cardiac sonographer

AAS - SCC

Offered at Locations:  Spokane Community College

Prerequisites

-  BIOL&160 General Biology w/Lab 1
-  BIOL&241 Human A & P 1 1
-  BIOL&242 Human A & P 2 1
-  CMST&210 Interpersonal Communication 1
-  ENGL&101 English Composition I 1
-  HED  125 Medical Terminology 1
-  MATH 108 College Algebra 1
-  PHYS 100 Introductory Physics 1

First Quarter

ECHO 100Introduction to Echo and Vascular 2
ECHO 112Vascular Fundamentals 4
ECHO 116Acute Coronary Syndrome 1
ECHO 117Cardiovascular Pharm 1 1
ECHO 125Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I 5
ECHO 213Electrophysiology 4
17

Second Quarter

ECHO 122Vascular Procedures I 4
ECHO 126Hemodynamics 2
ECHO 127Technical Skills/Reading Hemodynamics 1
ECHO 128Cardiovascular Pharm 2 1
ECHO 129Technical Skills/Pharmacology 1
ECHO 133Echo Fundamentals 5
ECHO 135Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II 5
19

Third Quarter

ECHO 131Core Concepts in Echo Vasc 2
ECHO 136Comparative Imaging Analysis 3
ECHO 138Cardiovascular Physiology 4
ECHO 253Echocardiography I 6
ECHO 254Technical Skills Echocardiography I 2
17

Fourth Quarter

ECHO 139Surgical Asepsis 1
ECHO 140Technical Skills/Surgical Asepsis 1
ECHO 141Data Collection and Presentation 3
ECHO 142Echo Clinical Preparation 4
ECHO 143Echo Clinical I 6
15

Fifth Quarter

ECHO 251Echocardiography Clinical II 6
ECHO 252Cardiovascular Pathophysiology 1
ECHO 255Research Methods and Biostatistics 3
ECHO 263Echocardiography II 7
ECHO 264Technical Skills Echo II 2
19

Sixth Quarter

ECHO 261Echocardiography Clinical III 14
14

Seventh Quarter

ECHO 273Echocardiography Clinical IV 14
14
115 credits are required for the AAS
1All prerequisite courses must have been completed within the last five years with a GPA of 2.5 or better.

Disclaimer: The college cannot guarantee courses will be offered in the quarters indicated. During the period this guide is in circulation, there may be curriculum revisions and program changes. Students are responsible for consulting the appropriate academic unit or adviser for more current and specific information. the information in this guide is subject to change and does not constitute an agreement between the college and the student.