DMS 101W - Introduction to Sonography

Introduces various aspects of sonography and health care including the history of sonography, organizations relating to sonography, terminology, legal and ethical issues, communication, the role of the sonographer and sonographic impressions.

Prerequisite(s): DMS 100 , DMS 105W , DMS 107 , DMS 107L , DMS 108W  all with a minimum grade of "B" (3.0)
Corequisite(s): DMS 103 , DMS 104 , and DMS 106W  
Lecture Hours: 30 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: No

Outcomes and Objectives  

1. Utilize skills in communicating with patients, patient's family, colleagues, physicians, and other health care team members.
   1. Identify methods of communication and discuss how each can be utilized.
   2. Identify patient communication problems and determine possible solutions.
   3. Explain verbal versus nonverbal communication.
   4. Discuss factors that impede communication with patients and possible solutions.
   5. Determine appropriate communication guidelines.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical standards of behavior for allied health care.
   1. Differentiate between the systems of ethics, laws, and morals.
   2. Identify moral dilemmas involving patient relationships, physician relationships, and relationships with other health professionals.
   3. Recognize values associated with ethical decision making in the practice of medical imaging.
   4. Apply critical analysis to ethical decision making.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of introductory law in the imaging sciences.
   1. Differentiate between the various types of laws.
   2. Describe the standard of care and how it is established.
   3. Discuss the concept of tortious conduct and causes of action based upon behaviors of a health care practitioner.
   4. Recognize the importance of privacy of records and the relation between privacy of records and patient confidentiality issues.
   5. Justify the need for informed consent.
   6. Discuss the information needed by a patient prior to giving informed consent.
   7. Differentiate between professional and legal standards.
4. Understand the difference between the various imaging modalities and relate them to sonographic imaging.
   1. Describe the primary imaging modalities in the Radiology Department.
   2. Correlate other radiologic imaging to sonographic imaging.
   3. Demonstrate a knowledge of alternative imaging exams for body structures not well demonstrated with sonographic imaging.
5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the science of pathology and relate it to sonographic imaging.
   1. Describe the sonographic terms used to describe pathology.
   2. Demonstrate the basic types of pathology commonly seen in ultrasound.
   3. Demonstrate the proper method for documenting pathological findings.
   4. Demonstrate the proper method to present pathological findings to the interpreting physician.