NOTE: The terms examination, procedure, study, and test are sometimes used interchangeably by the medical community, insurance companies, and government agencies. However, for the purposes of this document, the terminology and definitions provided below will apply.
For purposes of this document, the following terminology and definitions are used:
Advanced Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Advanced Sonographer): A sonographer who performs advanced or expanded sonography or related examinations, procedures, and tasks, or who may assist a physician or other legally authorized healthcare provider with interventional, invasive, or therapeutic procedures, under the supervision of a physician and in accordance with the written supervising physician or facility policies, procedures, protocols, or other requirements of the jurisdiction where performed.
Adverse/Sentinel Event: An adverse/sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving actual or risk of death or serious physical or psychological injury.
ALARA: An acronym for As Low As Reasonably Achievable, the fundamental principle for the safe use of diagnostic medical ultrasound is to use the lowest output power, shortest scan time, and shortest dwell time (where appropriate) consistent with acquiring the required diagnostic images and information.
Certification: Designates that a person has demonstrated, through successful completion of a specialty certification examination, the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies and met other requirements established by an accredited sonography certification/credentialing organization. Certification also includes maintenance of certification or renewal requirements. Also known as a sonography “registration.”
Certification/Credentialing Organization: A national or international certification/ credentialing organization that specializes in the certification and registration of diagnostic medical sonographers and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or American National Standards Institute – International Organization for Standardization (ANSI – ISO). The certification/credentialing organization awards a sonography credential upon successful completion of competency-based certification examination(s) and other requirements. Also known as a sonography “registry.” Examples include the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Continuing Medical Education (CME): Ongoing education and training undertaken to maintain and enhance the sonographer’s knowledge and skills. CME may be required by employers, certification/ credentialing organizations, accreditation organizations, state agencies, and other relevant entities.
Credential: The recognition awarded to a person who has met the initial (and continuing) knowledge, skills, and competencies requirements of a sonography certification/credentialing organization.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Sonographer): A person who provides diagnostic medical sonography examinations and related procedures. The images, findings, or results obtained by the sonographer are provided to an interpreting physician and may aid physicians or legally authorized healthcare providers in the evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment of disease or abnormality.
Education: The process undertaken to gain knowledge of facts, principles, and concepts. Education encourages problem solving, critical thinking, and application of the facts, principles, and concepts learned. A sonographer’s educational preparation includes their initial and continuing medical education, as well as professional development.
Examination: A sonographic investigation performed to obtain diagnostic images and other information that aids physicians or legally authorized healthcare providers in the evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment of disease or abnormality.
Facility: The employer of the sonographer including, but not limited to a hospital, clinic, physician’s office, mobile service.
Interpreting Physician: The physician who evaluates the sonographer’s images, findings, or results of the diagnostic examination or procedure. The interpreting physician provides the final interpretation, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and/or recommendation(s) to the referring healthcare provider. In some clinical settings, the supervising and interpreting physician may be the same person.
Policy: A statement of intent to follow a particular course of action.
Procedure: A specific action or methodology performed to obtain diagnostic images and information that aids physicians or legally authorized healthcare providers in the evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment of disease or abnormality.
Professional Development: Ongoing process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, and abilities to enhance a sonographer's career or prepare for career advancement opportunities. This may include both formal education (e.g., earning advanced degrees or certifications) or informal learning (e.g., attending seminars and conferences).
Protocol: A documented series of steps used to acquire needed diagnostic images and information when performing an examination or procedure.
Referring Healthcare Provider: A licensed physician or other legally authorized healthcare provider, who orders a diagnostic sonographic examination or procedure or refers the patient to a specialized facility for a diagnostic sonographic examination or procedure. In some clinical settings, the referring, supervising, and interpreting physician may be the same person.
Sonographer’s Report: The sonographer’s analysis of the images, findings, or results from a diagnostic sonographic examination or procedure. In accordance with the supervising physician or facility policies, the sonographer’s report may include descriptive or diagnostic terminology. However, the sonographer’s report is intended for the interpreting physician, not the patient. The sonographer’s report is not a legal diagnosis. May also be known as a sonographer’s technical report, worksheet, or notes.
Specialization: A medical specialty area with a corresponding sonography certification from a sonographer certification/credentialing organization.
Supervising Physician: A physician who provides overall medical direction of the sonographer but whose physical presence may not necessarily be required during the performance of a diagnostic sonographic examination or procedure. The supervising physician is available to review examinations and procedures and to offer direction and feedback. In some clinical settings, the referring, supervising, and interpreting physician may be the same person.
Task: Discrete action or step that is part of a larger sonographic examination or procedure (e.g., machine setting adjustment, transducer placement, patient positioning, disinfection). A task is typically more granular or focused than either an examination or procedure.
Training: Guided instruction, both didactic and clinical, necessary to properly perform an examination or procedure in accordance with accepted practice standards. While closely related to education, training is undertaken to gain a specific skill.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSD): The conditions or risk for conditions that are caused or aggravated by cognitive and physical workplace activities, which can affect the mind and body. Unlike acute injuries that occur in the workplace, such as slips, trips, and falls, a WRMSD develops gradually over time from repeated exposure to a variety of risk factors, which may be painful during work or at rest. Also referred to as “work-related musculoskeletal strain injuries” and “cumulative trauma disorders.”