Overview
Program Mission
To cultivate lifelong learners who will continue to grow and meet the needs of their community as exceptional sonographers with a student-centered approach to clinical and didactic education.
Description of Profession
The diagnostic medical sonographer is an individual who provides patient care services using ultrasound and related diagnostic procedures. The diagnostic medical sonographer must be educationally prepared and clinically competent as a prerequisite to professional practice. Demonstration and maintenance of competency through certification by a nationally recognized sonography credentialing organization is the standard of practice in sonography, and maintenance of certification in all areas of practice is endorsed.
The diagnostic medical sonographer functions as a delegated agent of the physician and does not practice independently.
Diagnostic medical sonographers are committed to enhanced patient care and continuous quality improvement that increases knowledge and technical competence. Diagnostic medical sonographers use independent, professional, and ethical judgment, and critical thinking to safely perform diagnostic sonographic procedures.
The sonographer is generally able to perform the following:
- Obtain, review, and integrate pertinent patient history and supporting clinical data to facilitate optimum diagnostic results
- Perform appropriate procedures and record anatomic, pathologic, and/or physiologic data for interpretation by a physician
- Record, analyze, and process diagnostic data and other pertinent observations made during the procedure for presentation to the interpreting physician
- Exercise discretion and judgment in the performance of sonographic and/or other diagnostic services
- Demonstrate appropriate communication skills with patients and colleagues
- Act in a professional and ethical manner
- Facilitate communication and education to elicit patient cooperation and understanding of expectations, and responds to questions regarding sonographic examination
Program Details
Description
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Mercy) Program is a CAAHEP accredited program which provides a twelve-month hospital-based certificate in the field of ultrasound. Graduates are eligible to become Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the specialties of OB/gynecological and abdominal ultrasound. Students are provided with both didactic and clinical instruction on campus. Over 1,200 hours are dedicated to the mastery of clinical skills valuable in today’s competitive market.
Review the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program:
To review the School of Health Professions Catalog, click here.
To review the Addendum to the School of Health Professions Catalog, click here.
Program Length
Our program is twelve consecutive calendar months with each class beginning in July. Students attend 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday with all classes and clinicals held at Mercy Hospital. Students are given 40 hours of sick time and two weeks of scheduled vacation.
Admission Requirements
Applicant must have an Associate Degree in a health care field with direct patient care OR a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree (any field). Either must include the following prerequisites:
- American Heart Association BLS certification
- GPA of at least 2.5
- Satisfactory completion of the following prerequisites:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- General Physics
- Communication Skills
- Algebra 101 or higher college math
- Human Anatomy Physiology II (or Principles of Human Structure & Function or Human Biology)
- Medical Terminology
- Human Disease (General Pathophysiology)
All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services on a course by course basis.
Professional Certification Disclosure
Upon completion of an accredited program, a diagnostic medical sonographer is required to take the Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination along with a specialty area examination (see list below) through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Cleveland Clinic requires a minimum of one certification from the ARDMS in (Abdominal (AB), Obstetrics (OB)/gynecology or Vascular (VT) prior to hire, with all three specialties being required within the first year of hire.
Program Expenses
| Application Fee |
$20 |
| Total Tuition |
$14,000* |
Other costs associated with the program are estimated but not limited to the following:
| Book Fee (estimate) |
$900 |
| Uniform and Shoes |
$200 |
| ARDMS SPI Exam Fee |
$250 |
| ARDMS Specialty Fee |
$500 ($275 per specialty) |
*The program reserves the right to change tuition.
| Sonography Program Tuition |
$14,000 |
Tuition due upon acceptance (non-refundable)
|
$300 |
| Remaining Tuition |
$13,700 |
The student is responsible for payment of the remainder tuition by the following dates to remain in the sonography program:
- Remainder of 1st quarter tuition, $3,200 - Due July 10th
- 2nd quarter tuition, $3,500 - Due October 10th
- 3rd quarter tuition, $3,500 - Due January 10th
- 4th quarter tuition, $3,500 - Due April 10th
Grades for all coursework will be based on the following scale:
| Scale |
Grade |
GPA |
Definition |
| 93-100% |
A |
4.0 |
Excellent |
| 84-92% |
B |
3.0 |
Good |
| 75-83% |
C |
2.0 |
Satisfactory |
| 67-74% |
D |
1.0 |
Unsatisfactory |
| 0-66% |
F |
0.0 |
Inadequate/Fail |
Any grade below a “C” in any class is considered to be failing.
Selection of students will be based on the applicant’s ability didactically, interest, preparation, attitude and personal qualities indicating potential to successfully complete the mission and goals of the program.
Compliance
It is the hospital’s policy that it will comply with the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Ohio Revised Code 4112.02(A), and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), and the Regulations issued thereunder, and that this policy will be administered and will continue to be conducted in such a manner that no person will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under such program on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Graduation Requirements
In order to be eligible for graduation, the student must:
- Satisfactorily complete all clinical requirements (Policy #3.112)
- Maintain a satisfactory GPA clinically (Policy #4.231)
- Maintain a satisfactory GPA didactically (Policy #4.232)
- Complete 12 months of clinical and didactic education
- Complete all make up time over 40 hours
Accreditation
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Mercy) Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 113th Street N., #7709
Seminole, FL, 33775-7709
727.210.2350
Application
In order to apply, you may make a personal appointment with the program director or download an application from our website. We will accept applications until April 1.
Criminal background check
All students accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Mercy) Program must complete a criminal background check. Students with a criminal record may not be eligible to participate in a clinical rotation, receive a professional licensure/registration or obtain employment in the health field. Cleveland Clinic covers the cost of the background check.
