The skill and expertise of ultrasound technicians are needed in many health care settings, primarily in places that specialize in diagnostic medicine. Most sonographers, which include ultrasound technicians, are employed by hospitals, with about 59 percent of all sonographers working in private and public hospitals across the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Where an ultrasound technician works usually depends on what he or she specializes in. For example, ultrasound technicians that have specialized in ophthalmology, which focuses on using ultrasound to analyze the eye and its correlating structures, would work in private ophthalmology offices as opposed to a general physician’s office. On the other hand, an ultrasound technician who has specialized in obstetrics, which uses ultrasound technology to monitor the health and development of a mother’s unborn baby, may work in a hospital or general physician’s office. Ultrasound technicians who are not specialized in any one particular type of sonography typically work in hospitals where they are trained to use the equipment for a number of applications.
Some ultrasound technicians work in mobile imaging units, which are large trucks that carry the sensitive ultrasound equipment either directly to patients or to other hospitals. Rural areas that do not have advanced hospitals often rely on mobile imaging units to carry MRI and ultrasound equipment from one hospital to another so that more patients can take advantage of them. Technicians that travel with mobile imaging units typically work with a variety of patients on an assortment of cases, from heart health to fetal monitoring, so they must be well-versed in the various uses of the equipment. In addition, they are also responsible for ensuring that the ultrasound equipment is well-maintained. Transporting the equipment back and forth can be taxing on the machinery and its sensitive components may be affected by the travel. Technicians regularly check the equipment to ensure that its readings are still accurate.
Some ultrasound technicians do not work with human patients at all. Veterinary ultrasound technicians work in veterinary clinics with animal patients or at animal shelters as part of the medical team. Even animals need ultrasound diagnostic medicine, and oftentimes these services are provided for much the same reasons that they would be provided for a human patient. An animal may need to have its digestive tract looked at if it is having trouble with conditions like constipation or kidney stones, or a pregnant animal may need to have its developing babies monitored to ensure their health.