How to Become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

How to Become a Diagnostic Medical SonographerIf youve welcomed a baby into your family (or have seen your cousins nonstop Facebook updates about her pregnancy), youre probably familiar with the basics of what a sonographer does he or she takes pictures of a fetus in utero. What you may not know is that sonographers arent just involved in the pregnancy process. They use equipment to diagnose a variety of medical conditions throughout the body, including the abdomen, chest, cardiovascular system, and the musculoskeletal system. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832388529-0) ) Diagnostic medical sonographers are essential medical professionals as the medical technology field continues to develop and give us even clearer glimpses into the furthest reaches of our bodies.The Day-to-DaySonographers work one-on-one with patients, using imaging equipment (often in concert with x-rays, MRIs, CAT scans, and nuclear medicine studies) to help diagnose and treat inte rnal medical injuries and illnesses. They are usually found in hospitals, but may also work in private clinics or other specialized healthcare settings. Diagnostic medical sonographers generally work full-time (typically 37 hours or more per week), but may have evening and weekend shifts instead of a standard Monday-Friday schedule. They are frequently on call, and should be ready to work on short notice when needed.For more on the daily life of a sonographer, check out this video So You Want to Be a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.The RequirementsDiagnostic medical sonographers should have strong backgrounds in math and science, with an associates degree or higher preferredthough some employers may hire directly from high school and provide on-the-job training. Two-year programs for sonography are commonly found at colleges and universities, and if youre interested you should seek out a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Depend ing on where you live, diagnostic medical sonographers might also need to be certifiedso definitely check your states requirements.The SkillsThe dental hygiene field calls for a number of special skills and knowledge bases, includingAttention to detailEquipment knowledge and everyday useDiagnostic/analytical skillsClinical knowledgeInterpersonal skillsCommunication skillsPatient care techniquesThe PayPer the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the zentralwert salary for diagnostic medical sonographers is $62,540, or $30.07 per hour. And according to PayScale, the field has a very strong job satisfaction rating among surveyed sonographers.The OutlookDiagnostic medical sonography is a field that will be recruiting heavily for the foreseeable future. The BLS expects that the job will grow by at least 24% by 2024, much faster than average.If you decide to go into this rewarding healthcare field, great Just dont be like this medical professional, okay?Interested? APPLY HERE

Freezing Eggs Cost What to Know

Freezing Eggs Cost What to Know Is freezing your eggs worth it? For those of us exploring egg preservation as an elective family planning measure, the answer is simply that it depends on the cost.Of course, there are many factors that comprise the decision to explore egg preservation. Medical reasons, like preserving fertility after a cancer diagnosis, can fuspur the necessity for egg banking. But, egg freezing can insure against the potential need for costly infertility treatments like in-vitro fertilization, or IVF treatment, later. Celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, Maria Menounos, and Whitney Cummings are among a growing consortium of women that have publicly exercised their egg banking vorkaufsrechts, all touting the peace of mind theyve achieved in the process.But just how much does freezing your eggs actually cost?Estimates certainly vary, and the cost to freeze your eggs in the present, in order to avoid needing to undergo IVF in the future, is a calculated risk. But the f act is that egg freezing which can cost as much as $10,000, not including additional egg storage costs is less expensive than an approximate $20,000 IVF bill. Additionally, there are scientific studies that underscore the idea that freezing your eggs can be more cost effectivethan IVF the caveat being egg preservation will be more effective if completed by age 35. All of this means that egg freezing and the associated costs may be an option worth exploring.The Process A Cost BreakdownThe first step is to get a fertility consultation and assessment. Depending on the lieferant, this consultation may be free of charge. If youre a healthy candidate for the egg-banking procedure, youll next be prescribed somewhere between eight to twelve days of hormone injections. The hormones stimulate the production of multiple eggs, rather than the usual one egg that is released in a single menstrual cycle. The cost of these hormones has decreased from $2,000-$6,000 to a range from approximately $ 1,500 to $4,000 today. Its worth noting that hormone injections for egg preservation are more often performed in the doctors office with each visit potentially incurring a separate charge. During the course of these visits, also expect repeat vaginal ultrasounds and blood tests.The actual egg retrieval process is a short surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs from your ovaries. Egg cryopreservation rates start at around $9,200. The brde step is for the frozen eggs to be shipped to an egg bank. Storage fees can vary anywhere from $300 - $1,000 per year.The Importance of Planning AheadIt is easy, but not wise, to assume that egg preservation is simply not covered by your health insurance. Unless youre lucky enough to work for a company that covers the process, such as Google, Facebook or Apple, the costs associated with freezing your eggs are likely not completely covered by your insurance plan. But you may be surprised to learn that some portions of the process may be covered. Befor e your first consultation, speak to your insurance provider to learn more.Here is a list of questions to ask your health insurance provider Are diagnostic testing and the initial physician consultation covered by insurance? What are other elements of the egg freezing cycle are covered (i.e., blood work, ultrasounds, and STD screening)? What are the total out of pocket costs that I will spend for a single egg freezing cycle? What is my co-pay for each doctors visit? Are multiple egg freezing cycles covered under my plan?After youve spoken to your insurance carrier, and youve been deemed a healthy and qualified candidate for egg preservation by your doctor, be sure to ask your healthcare provider if there are any generic brands for the prescribed hormones. The biggest variables in the costs of the egg-freezing process are the cost of the stimulation hormones and the storage costs. If youd like to move forward after that, it is time to compare the costs of the egg storage providers.Her e are some questions to specifically ask of egg storage providers Is there a money-back guarantee if I dont use the eggs? Alternatively, is there a disposition fee if I decide not to use the eggs? Are there financing options to cover storage fees? Are the eggs stored here indefinitely, or are they shipped to another third party cyrobank after a certain period of time? If shipped elsewhere, do I pay a separate extraction fee? Is the yearly storage cost guaranteed? Will it ever increase?The decision to freeze your eggs is a highly personal one and one that requires research and planning if you want to save money in the process. The need for affordable egg preservation options is certainly a real market driver for the burgeoning egg freezing-only clinics. Hopefully, classic supply and demand economics will drive costs even lower in the near future.