Cardiac Sonographers Are All Heart

 

Throughout her life, Karen Adams, a cardiac sonographer at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, has been passionate about matters of the heart.

“My father, who passed away years ago, had a serious heart condition,” Adams said. “That very personal experience taught me how important this work is. It also taught me to treat patients like family. Just recently, I had a repeat visit from a patient who needed follow-up tests. When he saw me, he broke into a huge smile because our first experience had been so positive. I hope I bring that comfort level to every patient.”

“A cardiac sonographer uses ultrasound to perform several different types of echocardiograms to create images of the heart,” said Pam Kratovil, manager of cardiopulmonary services at St. John’s Mercy.

Adams describes herself as an investigator helping physicians evaluate, diagnose and treat heart conditions. In fact, St. John’s Mercy cardiac sonographers meet weekly with a cardiologist to fine-tune their skills.

“I’m part of a team working closely with the physicians we support,” Adams said. “Their input is great. We can discuss special problems, such as a sudden change in a patient’s condition. They help us put things in perspective and encourage us to collaborate.”

Some days, Adams takes her cardiac equipment to test patients in the intensive care unit. Her images may indicate the need for bypass surgery or a valve replacement or simply ensure a postoperative patient is on the mend. One day a week, she works in the stress echocardiogram laboratory where patients are tested while exercising on a treadmill. She also responds to calls from the emergency department.

Although Adams thrives on adult patient care, Kristie Kussman, who also is a sonographer at St. John’s Mercy, gets her “charge” by working with pediatric cardiologists who have offices on the campus. Because the hospital focuses on high-risk pregnancies, these physicians may be able to alert parents to cardiac problems before delivery. Kussman performs echocardiograms on newborns and infants.

“It’s so important to help these families through a potential crisis by making them feel comfortable with our procedures,” she said. “In some cases, a newborn may require immediate surgery. It’s rewarding to know that the image I took may have saved a life.”

Today, most hospitals seek cardiac sonographers who have completed coursework specializing in this area of study. St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, for example, offers a 16-month cardiac sonography program. Applicants must have, at minimum, an associate’s degree and fulfill specific college course prerequisites. In addition to this training, those who want to become a registered sonographer successfully must complete a certification exam in their specialty, which also could include general diagnostic or vascular sonography.

In today’s market, registered cardiac sonographers are both highly valued and well compensated. However, in addition to financial rewards, Adams and Kussman find their career encourages diversity and flexibility. Both could work in a physician’s office or at a clinic where cardiologists provide outpatient testing. Scheduling is another bonus. Kratovil’s sonographers work a day shift, and part-time work is an option. Weekend and holiday assignments are rare, and sonographers are paid overtime for their efforts.

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