Vascular Ultrasound Program: Overview

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1 Description of the Profession Vascular Ultrasound Program: Overview The vascular sonographer plays a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders of the arteries and veins including atherosclerotic (plaque and cholesterol buildup), clotting, and aneurysm problems. A vascular sonographer is responsible for taking the patient's history, performing the appropriate test on the patient using ultrasound and other technology, acquiring and analyzing the pertinent data, and preparing a report of the data and images for the physician to interpret. The vascular sonographer has extensive, direct interaction with patients, physicians, co-workers, and other hospital personnel. Program Description Students in the Vascular Ultrasound program are taught by vascular sonographers and physicians who are experienced practitioners/teachers in the field. The basic program is full-time only and consists of twenty-one months (seven quarters) of study. The first three quarters consist of nine months of classroom, student laboratory work, and observation of patient examinations. The second year students perform the vascular examinations learned during junior year on patients under the direction of credentialed and experienced vascular sonographers at two or more vascular laboratories during the year. The clinical sites include university hospitals in Chicago, as well as some community hospitals and out-ofstate sites. During the second year, students also participate in senior lectures, patient case presentations, and vascular conference. Students earn a Bachelor of Science degree and are eligible to take the certification examination in vascular ultrasound after graduation. Program Accreditation The Vascular Ultrasound Program is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Alllied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP) at 1632 Clearwater, FL, and through the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). More information regarding University accreditation is located at

2 Vascular Ultrasound Program: Mission & Goals Mission The mission of the Vascular Ultrasound program is to improve the quality and availability of diagnostic vascular ultrasound examinations for patients by educating students in the knowledge, skills, and behavior necessary to competently perform vascular ultrasound examinations. Goals The primary goal of the program is to prepare competent entry-level vascular technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning of vascular ultrasound and technology. A secondary goal is to offer a broader understanding of the profession to the students through basic education in laboratory management, professional practice, and research areas.

3 Vascular Ultrasound Program: Technical Standards The purpose of this document is to advise potential students of the functional expectations of the Vascular Ultrasound & Technology student during the program's classes, labs, and clinical rotations. Students must: Observation 1. Have sufficient eyesight to observe details in black and white as well as color images, observe patients, equipment monitors, equipment controls, and paperwork with easy transition from one to the other, with or without accommodation. 2. Have a sufficient level of hearing to determine changes in frequency and amplitude of sounds. Communication 1. Have a sufficient level of hearing and speech to be able to communicate clearly, efficiently, effectively, and sensitively with patients, their families, and the health care team in English. 2. Have sufficient level of writing skills to communicate clearly, efficiently, effectively, and concisely with the health care team in English. Motor 1. Have a normal range of motion and strength to perform large motor tasks such as moving patients from chair to bed with a co-worker, placing patients in correct position for the examination, and pushing or pulling large wheeled equipment up and down ramps and long hallways. 2. Have good hand-eye coordination, normal range of digital/hand/arm dexterity, and hand and arm strength and control. 3. Be able to sit and stand for extended periods of time ranging up to three hours in duration. 4. Have a normal range of flexibility to reach, bend, and stoop. 5. Be able to move from room to room and in small spaces around equipment and patients. 6. Travel to clinical sites. Behavioral and Interpersonal Attributes Students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of intellectual abilities. This includes, but is not limited to the following: 1. Exercise good judgment. 2. Maintain a clean, neat, healthy appearance at all times. 3. Promptly complete all responsibilities. 4. Safely perform all tasks. 5. Function effectively under average amounts of stress with occasional periods of taxing workloads. 6. Adapt to changing environments. 7. Display flexibility. 8. Function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice. 9. Function compassionately, with integrity and concern for others. 10. Interact with the staff as a team member, and with integrity. 11. Maintain the confidentiality of patients and medical information. 12. Perform tasks in a timely manner.

4 Academic Performance 1. Obtain information from lectures, labs, reading assignments, audiovisual materials, and written materials including texts, graphs, images, and video. 2. Use a computer keyboard. 3. Perform analyses, measurements, calculations, reasoning, and problem solving tasks. 4. Take multiple choice, short answer, and essay tests. 5. Deliver presentations. 6. Take proficiency lab examinations. 7. Perform vascular exams on patients in a clinical setting. 8. Perform tasks in a timely manner.

5 Vascular Ultrasound Program: Admission Requirements 1. A minimum of 90 quarter (60 semester) hours earned at an accredited college or university are required. 2. The recommended minimum GPA is 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. 3. Bachelor of Science Degree Minimum Core General Education Requirements: Effective January 1, 2009 all entering students must complete the following core general education requirements with a minimum grade of a "C" in order to be eligible for the Bachelor in Science degree awarded by Rush University: Requirements* Semester Hours Two courses in communications: English composition is required. The second course may be in composition, speech or other communication topic. 6 9 One course in mathematics: college algebra or higher-level math is required. More math courses are highly recommended. Two course in life sciences: Human anatomy & physiology is required. (Two semesters are highly recommended.) The second course may be in anatomy, biology, microbiology, pathophysiology, 6 9 physiology or other life science topic. One course in physical sciences: General physics is required. Chemistry is highly recommended. One course in social sciences: (i.e., government, history, political science, psychology, sociology) One course in humanities: (i.e., ethics, fine arts, literature, philosophy) Ethics is highly recommended. Performance courses do not meet this requirement. Elective courses in communications, computer science, ethics, fine arts, humanities, life sciences, literature, philosophy, physical sciences to total 36 semester (56 quarter) hours. Total Hours of Required and Elective Courses Quarter Hours Applicants who have taken their prerequisite coursework at a university outside the United States must have their course work evaluated by the Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Evaluation Services (WES). 4. Three recommendations are required on the recommendation forms provided in the application. These recommendations should be from previous instructors and employers, (preferably from two instructors and one employer.) 5. An interview may be scheduled for qualified applicants following review of the application materials, which may be one to two months following receipt of all the application materials (application, transcripts, recommendations). It is much more likely that an applicant missing either 0-1 prerequisite courses at the time of application will be considered qualified for an interview before those missing multiple prerequisites. An applicant may submit another appropriate transcript during the process including earned grades for the missing prerequisites for further review and consideration. 6. Applicants whose native language is not English and who have graduated from high school or successfully completed a higher education degree program (Associate degree or higher) in the United States or one of its English-speaking protectorates may petition for waiver of the TOEFL requirement to the College of Health Sciences Dean s Office. Waiver requests should include proof of receipt of a high school or college diploma from an accredited institution in the United States or one of its English-speaking protectorates. College or university degrees must be granted by a regionally accredited college or university to be considered for waiver of the TOEFL. You can see the entire TOEFL policy at 7. An applicant who is credentialed in ultrasound through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) RVT, RDCS, RDMS may request advanced placement status to receive credit by proficiency exam (K grade). Please see Advanced Placement (AP) on the website

6 Vascular Ultrasound Program: Curriculum Year 1 Course Quarter Hours Fall Quarter VAS-301 Vascular Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology 3 VAS-304 Vascular Terminology 1 VAS-311 Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles I 3 VAS-311L Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles I Lab 1 VAS-321 Patient Care Practices 2 VAS-321L Patient Care Practices Lab 1 VAS-331 Venuous Ultrasound Procedures 2 VAS-331L Venuous Ultrasound Procedures Lab 1 Winter Quarter VAS-310A General Pathophysiology I 2 VAS-313 Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles II 3 VAS-341 Arterial Physiologic Procedures 3 VAS-341L Arterial Physiologic Procedures Lab 1 VAS-351 Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Procedures 2 VAS-351L Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Procedures Lab 1 VAS-354 Transcranial Doppler (TCD) 1 VAS-405 Laboratory Management 2 Spring Quarter VAS-310B General Pathophysiology II 3 VAS-361 Abdominal Vascular Procedures 2 VAS-362 Abdominal Vascular Procedures Lab 1 VAS-371 Advanced Vascular Testing and Topics 3 VAS-372 Advanced Vascular Testing Lab 1 VAS-381 Introduction to Research 2 VAS-382 Introduction to Research Lab 1 VAS-401 Professional Practice in Ultrasound 3 Summer Quarter VAS-415A Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound I 10 VAS-420A Professional Skills I 1 VAS-431 Senior Lectures/Case Presentations I 1 Year 2 Course Quarter Hours Fall Quarter IDS-510 Health Care in America 2 VAS-415B Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound II 6 VAS-420B Professional Skills II 1 VAS-425A Cumulative Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound I 4 VAS-432 Senior Lectures/Case Presentations II 1 Winter Quarter VAS-415C Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound III 6 VAS-420C Professional Skills III 1 VAS-425B Cumulative Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound II 4 VAS-480 Vascular Ultrasound Comprehensive Review 2 Spring Quarter VAS-415D Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound IV 6 VAS-420D Professional Skills IV 1 VAS-425C Cumulative Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound IIII 4 VAS-432 Senior Lectures/Case Presentations III 1 Hours Required for BS Degree: 96