VIRGINIA BEACH CAMPUS Tidewater Community College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Information Packet Dear Applicant: Thank you for your interest in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. This information packet includes information about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. The application deadline to the program is May 15. The general education courses are stated as beginning in the fall semester and Sonography courses begin in the spring semester of each year. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program requires an application to both Tidewater Community College and to the Health Professions Division. Both forms are available on TCC s website. Information on grants, loans, and scholarships is available from the Financial Aid Office and on TCC s website. Send your completed Health Professions Program application to the Registrar s Office, Princess Anne Building, Room A100-A, 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. To check on the status of your application folder please call (757) 822-7340. Please take the time to verify receipt of your application and transcripts. Due to the number of applicants, only students with completed applications will be considered for the program. PLEASE DO NOT SEND APPLICATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR THESE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR PROGRAM APPLICATION. Positions in this program are very limited, so program faculty will not able to interview or accept all applicants who meet the basic admissions requirements. Admissions decisions will be made based on the applicant's ranking, Students will accumulate points during the admissions process based on residency, previous formal allied health education, and all non-sonography classes that have already been completed. Please refer to the ranking scale found in this packet. All applicants must meet all application benchmarks in order to be considered for an interview for program consideration. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program holds an informational session Open House on the third Thursday of each month (except December) in the Regional Health Professions Center. This is an opportunity to ask specific questions regarding the program and the application process. Visit TCC s website for more details. PLEASE NOTE: Information in this packet is subject to change. Students should check periodically to see if materials have been updated. Program information can be found on TCC s website. Last revised: February 1, 2015
Prospective students are hereby notified that certain medical facilities require both criminal/sex offender background checks as well a drug screens prior to being authorized to attend clinicals. The cost of the background check is the responsibility of the student. Students with a felony background may not be eligible to sit for sonography credentialing examinations, and will be required to complete a pre-screening prior to acceptance into the program. The cost associated with this procedure is the responsibility of the applicant. All accepted students must complete this background check or they will be replaced with an alternate student. Students who have been accepted into the program will be required to submit documentation of a medical examination, including vaccination records, prior to entering the program. Some clinical rotations have STRICTER requirements than TCC and may REQUIRE titer results. Tidewater Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate Degree. Programmatic Accreditation The DMS program at TCC is accredited by the commission on accreditation of allied health education programs (CAAHEP) via The joint review committee on education in diagnostic medical sonography (JRC-DMS). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: 727-210-2350 Fax: 727-210-2354 www.caahep.org The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 21043 Phone: 443-973-3251 Primary contacts: Cindy Weiland mailto:weiland@jrcdms.org Gerry Magat mailto:magat@jrcdms.org Sincerely, Indu J. Sharma, MEd., RDMS, RTR Program Director, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program isharma@tcc.edu Last revised: February 1, 2015
Tidewater Community College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Summary Award: Associate in Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Length: Five semesters (21 months) Purpose: The program's purpose is to develop competent and professional sonographers are proficient in all facets of diagnostic medical ultrasound, are capable of passing the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer's examination, and have a high degree of adaptability in a changing and rapidly advancing field. A further aim is to develop qualities of leadership prerequisite to teaching and supervision in the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Clinical Objectives: The purpose of the Clinical Education courses is to provide meaningful, well-balanced sonographic experiences for student sonographers in preparation for entry-level employment as sonographers. TCC seeks to prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains related to diagnostic medical sonography. Program Description: Ultrasound is an imaging modality used to diagnose medical pathologies. It uses high frequency sound waves to produce an image on a monitor. This two-dimensional gray scale image is produced when sound waves are reflected back toward the transducer from body tissues. The curriculum provides knowledge and clinical experiences needed to use ultrasound equipment, identify cross-sectional anatomical parts, and identify various pathologies. Students are provided clinical education experience in several area hospitals and other approved sites to perfect their skills in ultrasound scanning Admission Requirements: All accepted students will be required to complete the first semester of general education courses successfully prior to the start of sonography coursework. Any student not successfully completing general education coursework will be replaced with an alternate candidate who has completed all general education coursework. A copy of UNOFFICIAL transcripts MUST be provided along with the program application. All official transcripts (if applicable) must be on file at the Registrar s office in order to be considered for the program. You must then request the Registrar to review your transcripts by submitting a request on TCC s website. Complete DMS curriculum is available at: https://apollo.tcc.edu/pls/apex/f?p=122:16: Applicants who meet ALL benchmarks will continue to the next stage of the application process and will be required to complete an assigned essay and have a personal interview with the program representative(s). Students who receive a final grade lower than a "C" in any DMS course must obtain permission from the program director to continue in the program. Clinical learning experiences will be provided by cooperating area hospitals and facilities. Students are expected to provide transportation to such facilities. Purchase of items, such as uniforms and accessories, are the financial responsibility of the individual.
Tidewater Community College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Pre-Entrance Checklist DMS Application Benchmark Met Not Met Complete application (with unofficial transcripts) submitted by deadline Applicant is a Virginia resident Applicant has an earned grade of A or B in Human Anatomy & Physiology (BIO 141) Applicant has an earned grade of A or B in physics (PHY 100 or higher) Applicant has an earned grade of A or B in college math (MTH 126 or higher) Applicant has an earned grade of A or B in medical terminology (HLT 141 or HLT 143) Applicant has completed placement test work required for math and English Applicant has completed some hands on formal medical education Applicant has a cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher Applicant has attended an open house RECOMMENDED NOT REQUIRED Additional Point Earning Courses Taken Not Taken ENG 111 Computer Competence (ITE 115 or computer competency equivalency) One social science elective One humanities elective Orientation to Healthcare DMS Application Point Scale Class A B C BIO 141 40 15 N/A MTH 126 or higher 25 15 N/A PHY 100 or higher 25 15 N/A HLT 141 or HLT 143 20 5 N/A ENG 111 5 3 1 Social Science Elective 5 3 1 Humanities Elective 5 3 1 Computer Competence (No points for challenge exams) 5 3 1 Orientation to Healthcare (SDV 101) 3 1 N/A Formal medical education from an accredited institution Radiographers = 30 Other 4 year medical degrees = 25 Programs two year in length = 20 Programs one year in length = 15 Programs less than one year in length = 10
NOTES: Students will be required to complete an essay as part of the application process. Details will be sent to those students invited to interview for the program. Applicants will be notified of the committee's decisions by e-mail as soon as possible after all applicants have been interviewed. Fifteen students will be accepted each year. The fall semester includes prerequisite and general education courses. The Sonography program designated classes will begin with the spring semester (semester two). Applicants who are accepted will be required to submit evidence of a complete physical examination and a criminal background/sex offender check before the beginning of the fall semester. No students with a felony background will be admitted into the program. No visible tattoos, facial piercing or ear gauges (earlobe piercing enlargements) are allowed. The program maintains an absence and attendance policy stricter than the College policy. The program demands a high level of critical thinking skills. The program requires a high volume of reading for homework assignments. Students will be required to successfully complete the general education courses listed in semester one prior to taking ANY sonography classes. If a student does not successfully complete the fall semester they will be replaced with an alternate candidate who has already completed the general education coursework. Program requirements may change in accordance with federal, state, or industry standards. Call 822-7257 or visit TCC.edu for the most current information. Tidewater Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree.