Diagnostic Medical Sonography News April 2019 | Page 3

Managing ClanDorf
Clinical Connection
What is ClanDorf? ClanDorf is a mock clinical site inside of the Diagnostic Medical
Sonography Program at Eastern Florida State College. ClanDorf got its unique name
from a mixture of the names of the people who created it: the program’s clinical
coordinator, Dan Clancy, and the program’s manager, Dr. Harry Holdorf.
Each week a student is chosen to be the manager of ClanDorf, with responsibilities
that include planning a schedule for their fellow students, designating scanning
assignments (abdominal, pelvic, thyroid, etc.), assigning which ultrasound machines
each student will use and assigning who will be the patient. One of the most
important duties of the manager is to make the quota of scanning assignments given
for that day. The purpose of ClanDorf is to give the anaging and scanning students a
realistic idea of the workplace environment.
After interviewing students that have experienced being a manager in ClanDorf, the
consensus is that they all enjoyed it for the insight it gave them into what it takes to
be a manager. When asked about favorite aspects of managing, Kris Draulis answered,
“Interacting with each scanner and the patients, making everyone feel that they are
being thought of and taken care of.” Most of the students interviewed did not want to
become managers out in the workplace, but Jaci Rayl was the most open to the idea,
stating, “I wouldn’t turn down a lead tech position, but I wouldn’t directly seek after
it.”
The stress of time management was one of the least favorite aspects of being a
manager. Not only did the managers have to schedule the exams, but program
manager Harry Holdorf and clinical coordinator Dan Clancy would distribute
emergencies, otherwise known as STAT patients, throughout the day, which would
disrupt the original schedule. Student Tasha Lynn described why having this made
work it more difficult by stating, “The emergency patient would need to be scanned
on a machine that has already been scheduled for an exam on another patient. This
pushes back the time for scheduled ClanDorf exams.” The managers must adapt to
these emergency patients as if it were a real life, putting them first.
In conclusion, managing the simulated clinical sonography site ClanDorf is a unique
experience. It gives managers foreknowledge of their interest in being workplace
managers, while displaying each student’s individual management styles. Some have
a very structured style of managing, and others are laid back, but all do their best to
make the quota of scans for the day. While juggling the stressors of STAT patients and
rearranging schedules, the student managers appreciated the wisdom this experience
gave them into what it takes to be a manager.
Lauren Woody
Program Intern
Diagnostic
Medical
Sonography
Tasha scanning Maria’s
ganglion cyst