Vascular Sonography
(Vascular Ultrasound)

Vascular sonographers or vascular (vascular ultrasound) technologists use sophisticated diagnostic ultrasound imaging machines and transducers that use high-frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual images, to record:

• Vascular blood flow
• Blood pressure
• Limb volume changes
• Oxygen saturation
• Cerebral circulation
• Peripheral circulation
• Abdominal circulation

They also assist physicians in diagnosing disorders of the vascular system and acquire information related to blood vessel anatomy and physiology: cerebral, peripheral and abdominal circulation.

Vascular sonographers work directly with healthy and critically ill inpatients and outpatients of adult and geriatric ages, performing predominantly noninvasive procedures in small, low-lit rooms. They stand or sit beside the patient, who is on a stretcher, exam table or wheelchair. Sometimes the vascular sonographer will transport a portable ultrasound to a patient's room and perform the test there.

The mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to provide a comprehensive education preparing students for entry-level practice in Sonography as competent, caring members of the health care team, cultivating professionalism and life-long learning.

Students may complete this concentration as part of any of our Department Bachelor Programs. Dual-Concentration students can choose Vascular Sonography in their first year. Vascular Sonography is most often combined with General Sonography and Cardiac Sonography.

Students must consult an admissions counselor or a Radiologic Sciences faculty member when choosing concentrations, to help make sure that the combination you choose is the best option for your future career.

Students will:

• Select appropriate transducers and use appropriate technical settings
• Demonstrate knowledge of proper patient prep
• Obtain appropriate images of highest obtainable technical quality
• Provide safe and quality patient care

Students will:

• Adjust technical settings as needed based on patient body habitus and/or pathology
• Change transducers or patient position as needed for exam
• Critique images for diagnostic quality

Students will demonstrate appropriate and effective oral and written communication skills with patients and the interprofessional healthcare team.

Students will:

• Integrate professional ethics and behavior into clinical practice
• Function as part of the interprofessional healthcare team
• Participate in professional growth development

All BS graduates are eligible to take the associated certification examinations of the organizations that oversee the concentration of study. Students who pass these examinations receive national certification. Dual-Concentration students may not be able to take board exams until they receive their BS.

Learn about the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).

Pass rates are on FIRST attempt ONLY within ONE year post graduation.

Job Placement rates are within ONE year post graduation.

*Data from Program Director (updated annually). Data collected November 2017

Note: Sonography students take multiple specialty exams. The number reflects total exams taken by students. Hence the number of exams taken are higher than the number of students completing the program.

Thomas Jefferson University, Vascular Sonography Program, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.