critically ill patients and associated support staff and equipment . Patients may also receive an ultrasound exam to determine if other imaging studies or procedures are necessary .
“ Ultrasound is an interactive procedure between the patient and the sonographer that does not require the patient to be perfectly still as in the case of imaging modalities like CT and MRI , where if patients move even just for a second , that can disrupt the whole exam ,” says Dr . Hajdik . “ Patients can move , and are often asked to , during an ultrasound exam . This makes it ideal for younger patients ,” he says . “ It ’ s great for babies . If they ’ re crying , you can still complete your exam .”
Ultrasound also is a relatively inexpensive technology compared with CT or MRI , says Dr . Hajdik . “ You can get a top-of-theline ultrasound machine for probably 10 percent of the cost of a top-of-the-line , high-end MRI machine .”
The lower cost of an ultrasound exam , combined with the equipment ’ s portability , makes the technology beneficial to patients and to the healthcare system , says Dr . Hajdik .
Sonographers ’ expertise “ The sonographer and the radiologist work as a team to search for abnormalities or signs of disease . The sonographer must be trained to understand how the machine works and how to get the best image . This means the sonographer must have comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and pathologies . The radiologist then reviews the ultrasound to determine location and
“ It is essential that trust be developed between radiologists and sonographers .”
— Dr . Rodney Hajdik
type of disease process , if present ,” says Ms . Harris .
“ It is essential that trust be developed between radiologists and sonographers ,” Dr . Hajdik says . “ We have to have a lot of confidence in them . If they don ’ t take a picture of it [ an abnormality ], it is like it doesn ’ t even exist and then we can ’ t do our job — interpret the image and offer the right diagnostic care .”
That trust exists at Scott & White , Ms . Harris says . “ The radiologists value our opinion . They trust us , we trust them , and they take whatever time necessary to teach us the things that are important to them and give us what we need to get the job done .”
Accredited ultrasound services Sonographers at Scott & White are required to become credentialed through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography within a year of employment , although Dr . Hajdik says Scott & White offers sonographers a continual learning environment . “ We don ’ t really want sonographers that just want to come in and stay at the same level of training they came out of school with and never improve ,” he says , “ because they won ’ t thrive in this environment .”
The Department of Radiology ’ s Ultrasound Section is accredited through the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories . The accreditation process measures not just the sonographers ’ ability to conduct exams but also the radiologists ’ ability to interpret the results .
Wave of the future The Ultrasound Section is currently exploring the latest ultrasound technology from multiple manufacturers . Dr . Hajdik says that in the future Scott & White sonographers will be using an innovation called volumetric imaging , which will allow them to look at all three planes of an organ — depth , breadth , and height — at once .
The Ultrasound Section participates in clinical research as well . Currently the section is conducting a study to determine if low blood flow , called rouleaux flow , puts a patient at risk for deep vein thrombosis . This is a condition that results in death for 100,000 people a year , according to the US National Center for Health . It ’ s clear that ultrasound is a specialty within radiology that is making a difference now for patients and will continue to do so in the future . ■
Dr . Hajdik also is an assistant professor of radiology , the Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine .
sw . org | Summer 10 THE CATALYST 13