Academic Catalog

DMS 50B: SONOGRAPHY & PATIENT CARE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 2
Hours: 2 lecture per week (24 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: AHS 52 or an equivalent medical terminology course.
Corequisite: DMS 50A, 60A and 72A.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Apply patient confidentiality/privacy as defined by HIPAA.
  • Demonstrate ethical &professional demeanor as outlined in the SDMS Code of Conduct.

Description

Introduction to the role of the sonographer as a member of the health care team in a clinical setting. Patient and sonographer safety are discussed in addition to ethical practice and legal and regulatory requirements for diagnostic medical sonography. Includes scope of practice, established standards of care and professionalism, with an emphasis on patient-centered care. Prepares students for the expectations of competency based clinical education of the diagnostic medical sonography program. Intended for students in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate effective communication and professionalism in a clinical setting
  2. Explain HIPAA regulations in healthcare
  3. Define the role of the accrediting bodies for diagnostic medical sonography
  4. Describe the role of the diagnostic medical sonography student in clinical rotations
  5. Describe ergonomic safety issues for the patient and the sonographer
  6. Discuss legal and ethical issues in healthcare

Course Content

  1. Communication
    1. Patient-sonographer interaction
    2. Ultrasound exam protocol and procedures
    3. Clinical history
  2. Professionalism
    1. HIPPA regulations and confidentiality
    2. Culturally competent, patient-centered care
  3. Accrediting bodies of DMS
    1. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
    2. Joint Review Commission of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS)
    3. Scope of practice and standards of care
  4. Clinical rotations
    1. Transition from classroom to clinic
    2. Critical thinking skills
    3. Infection control
    4. Vital signs
    5. Clinical assessments
    6. Sonographic protocols and procedures
  5. Ergonomics and safety for patient and sonographer
    1. Proper patient positioning
    2. Wheelchair and gurney transfer
    3. Safe body mechanics while scanning
  6. Legal and ethical responsibilities of a sonographer
    1. Ethical standards of care
    2. Legal terminology

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

None.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Quizzes and exams
Written assignments
Skills assessment

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Small group discussions
Role playing

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Craig, Marveen. Essentials of Sonography and Patient Care, 4th ed.. 2018.

Although this text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains a seminal text in this area of study.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Weekly reading assignments from the text - approximately 25 pages per week
  2. Case analysis and presentation
  3. Discussions

Discipline(s)

Diagnostic Medical Technology