St. Vincent’s Schools of

Medical Science

Diagnostic MedicalSonography

St. Vincent’s Schools of Medical Science

St. Vincent’s HealthCare’s Mission StatementRooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, we commit ourselves to serving all persons, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Our Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually centered holistic care, which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. We are advocates for a compassionate and just society through our actions and words.

Throughout Northeast Florida and Southern Georgia, St. Vincent’s is well known for provid-ing compassionate care. We’ve offered patients hope and healing for more than 100 years. Now, the experts in imaging services at St. Vincent’s extend this knowledge and expertise by providing educational opportunities in the areas of: • NuclearMedicineTechnology • RadiologicTechnology • DiagnosticMedicalSonography • ComputedTomography

Each school provides the most comprehensive education and clinical experience available. In 6-24 months, depending upon the student’s chosen curriculum, the graduate is prepared to take a national registry examination.

Program Mission StatementSt.Vincent’sSchoolofDiagnosticMedicalSonographyisdedicatedtomeaningfullearning and to the preparation of qualified professionals who will provide quality healthcare services to the community, thereby enabling the students to achieve their expectations and attain their full potential.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography ProgramTheDiagnosticMedicalSonographyProgramatSt.Vincent’shasbothacademicand

clinical practice components. This comprehensive 18-month program is accredited by theCommissiononAccreditationofAlliedHealthEducationPrograms(CAAHEP)andJointReviewCommitteeonEducationinDiagnosticMedicalSonography(JRC-DMS).The program provides graduates with the necessary eligibility requirements to qualify for examinationbytheAmericanRegistryofDiagnosticMedicalSonography.Graduatesreceivea certificate upon program completion.

The ProfessionThe profession of diagnostic medical sonography includes general sonography, cardiac sonography,vascular technology and various subspecialities. The profession requires judgment and the ability to provideappropriate healthcare services. General, adult, cardiac and pediatric cardiac sonographers as well as vascular technologists are all highly skilled professionals qualified by education to provide patient services using diagnostic techniques under the supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy. These professionals may provide this service in a variety of medical settings where the physician is responsible for the use and interpretation of appropriate procedures. These sonographers and technologists assist physicians in gathering data necessary to reach diagnostic decisions and are able to perform the following:

• Obtain,reviewandintegratepertinentpatienthistoryandsupportingclinicaldatatofacilitate optimum diagnostic results • Performappropriateproceduresandrecordanatomic,pathologicand/orphysiologicdatafor interpretation by a physician • Record,analyzeandprocessdiagnosticdataandotherpertinentobservationsmadeduring the procedure for presentation to the interpreting physician • Exercisediscretionandjudgmentintheperformanceofsonographicand/orotherdiagnostic services • Demonstrateappropriatecommunicationskillswithpatientsandcolleagues • Actinaprofessionalandethicalmanner • Providepatienteducationrelatedtomedicalultrasoundand/orotherdiagnosticvascular techniques and promote principles of good health.

Admission RequirementsApplicants must either be certified as a Radiologic Technologist or have a minimum of an Associate’sDegree(preferablyinahealthcarerelatedfield)andprerequisitecollegelevelcoursesin:•Generalphysics•Collegealgebra•HumanAnatomyandPhysiologyI•HumanAnatomyandPhysiologyII•Medicalterminology

All prerequisite courses are to be completed by the application deadline and must be demonstrated on a regionally accredited college or university transcript.

AllapplicationmaterialsmustbereceivedbyMay1inordertobeconsidered.Necessaryapplicationdocuments include: $25 application fee, completed application form, resume or letter stating career goals,copyofHRSorARRTlicense(ifapplicable),threecompletedreferenceforms,andofficialcollegetranscripts.ApplicantsmusteitherbeaU.S.citizenoralawfulpermanentresidenttobeeligibleforacceptance and are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin or disability. Qualified applicants are contacted to arrange a personal interview after the application deadline. Acceptance is based on an evaluation of prior educational and work experience, personal and professional references and personal interviews. Each applicant is evaluated using a point system.

Classes are limited to six students. At the conclusion of the admission process, the six applicants with the highest scores are chosen by the Admissions Committee for the new class. The committee also selects two alternates in the event one of the six perspective students declines. Applicants are notified regarding acceptance into the program following completion of the interview process – notification usually occurs within one month of the conclusion of the interview process.

Applicants must complete one of the following:•EnglishComposition•Communications•WrittenCommunications•Speech

Course Curriculum and Clinical RotationsEach student must complete 40 hours per week to fulfill the mandatory clinical and didactic requirements. These requirements include formal classroom instruction as well as supervised clinical practiceinallphasesofsonography.The40-hourweekisscheduledMondaythroughFridayonvarying schedules. Typical program hours are 8 am - 4:30 pm but may vary slightly. Holidays, sick days and vacation days are available to all students.

Complete course descriptions are found in the program policy manual. Lectures include, but are not limited to the following topics: • PatientCare • MedicalEthics • ProfessionalDevelopment • Ultrasound/MedicalTerminology • UltrasoundPhysics • AbdominalUltrasound • OBUltrasound • SuperficialParts

Completion Award / Registry EligibilityTo successfully complete the program, students must maintain an 80 percent average throughout all phases of didactic instruction and an 85 percent average throughout all phases of the clinical education. Students must exhibit appropriate professional conduct and show a satisfactory aptitude for the care of the sick.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the national certificationexaminationsoftheAmericanRegistryofDiagnosticMedicalSonographersintheareasofAbdomen,ObstetricsandGynecology,SonographyPrinciplesandInstrumentation,andVascularTechnology.Thisisapass/failexamination.ThosewhopasswillreceivecertificationasaRegisteredDiagnosticMedicalSonographer(RDMS)andRegisteredVascularTechnologist(RVT).Thiscredential is the standard of excellence and acceptance for the profession and is required for most employment opportunities.

Expenses •$25applicationfee(non-refundable)payabletoSt.Vincent’sMedicalCenterRiverside. •Tuitionis$3,500(subjecttochange)payabletoSt.Vincent’sMedicalCenterRiverside.A$250 non-refundable deposit is required at the time students accept their enrollment. •Booksandsuppliescostapproximately$700,duethefirstdayofclass. •Studentsareresponsibleforthepurchaseoftheirownbooks. •Healthinsuranceisnotavailable.Uponacceptance,potentialstudentsmustcompletearequired health evaluation and show proof of personal health insurance. Health evaluations are scheduled through St. Vincent’s Riverside Human Resources. •AllstudentsarerequiredtohaveabackgroundreviewbytheFloridaDepartmentofLaw Enforcement(FDLE). •Transportation,livingexpenses,purchasingandlaunderingofuniformsarethestudent’s responsibility. •StudentsareresponsibleforthecostoftheAmericanRegistryofDiagnosticMedicalSonography examinations.

• GynecologicUltrasound • VascularTechnology • VascularPhysics • Neurosonography • UltrasoundBioeffects • Anatomy • QualityAssurance • Ergonomics

Technical StandardsPhysical and Mental Performance Requirements

Students must be able to:

•Efficientlyreach,manipulateandoperateequipmentnecessaryforallultrasoundprocedures. •Move,manipulateandobserveapatientorclientasnecessaryforallultrasoundprocedures. •Visuallyassesspatientsorclients,medicaltestresultsandtheworkingenvironmenttodecidethecorrect and appropriate action to take for the benefit of the patient or client. •Clearlycommunicate,verballyandinwriting,withthepatientorclient,families,personnelandothersto disseminate information about patient care and work duties. •Hearingissufficienttogatherinformationaccuratelythatisrelevanttopatientorclientandclinical activities. •Makeappropriatejudgmentdecisionsinanemergencyorinsituationsnotclearlygovernedbyspecific guidelines. •Demonstrateemotionalstabilityandpsychologicalhealthinday-to-dayinteractionwithpatientsor clients, staff, family members and others in routine and non-routine decision making processes and in the daily execution of didactic and clinical assignments.

English LanguageAllclassroomandclinicalinstructionwillbeconductedinEnglish.Byacceptingapositioninthisprogram,the student acknowledges this and accepts responsibility for sufficient proficiency in the English language to be able to successfully complete the program.

Latex AdvisoryStudents frequently use and have exposure to latex-based products commonly used in healthcare settings. Students with latex allergies should seek expert advice from their healthcare provider in order to make an informed decision regarding their exposure to latex-based products prior to considering medical imaging as a future profession.

Award of CompletionUponsuccessfulcompletionoftheprogram,St.Vincent’sMedicalCenterRiversideawardsacertificateofcompletion as the sponsoring institution.

Refund PolicyThe tuition of $3,500, less the $250 deposit, may be refunded on a pro-rated basis based upon the termination date. See the program policy manual for details.

Accrediting Agencies

CommissiononAccreditationofAlliedHealthEducationPrograms(CAAHEP)1361ParkStreetClearwater,FL33756(727)210-2350www.caahep.org

JointReviewCommitteeonDiagnosticMedicalSonography(JRC-DMS)6021UniversityBoulevardSuite 500EllicottCity,MD21043(443)973-3251www.jrcdms.org

Applications and Inquiries

St.Vincent’sMedicalCenterRiversideMedicalSciencesEducationDepartmentSchoolofDiagnosticMedicalSonographyEducationalCoordinator1 Shircliff WayJacksonville, FL 32204

Formoreinformation,pleasecall(904)308-8272oremailchemene.wilson@jaxhealth.com.

St.Vincent’sMedicalCenterRiversideMedicalSciencesEducationDepartmentSchoolofDiagnosticMedicalSonography

1 Shircliff WayJacksonville, FL 32204

jaxhealth.com

Formoreinformation,pleasecall(904)308-8272oremailchemene.wilson@jaxhealth.com.

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