Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Sonography, Advanced Technical Certificate

Duties of sonographers have evolved over the years as advances in adult and pediatric cardiac sonography have provided new imaging modalities and techniques to help aid in providing the best possible care for the adult and pediatric cardiac patient.

These sonographic advances have challenged the cardiac sonographer to obtain an in-depth understanding of adult and pediatric cardiac anatomy and disease processes. Through completion of the Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Sonography Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC), students are able to obtain didactic information and clinical experiences allowing them to enter into the adult and pediatric cardiac specialties.

Eastern Florida State College Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Sonography ATC program supplements students' AAS or AS degree in Sonography. Coursework allows students to further their training and obtain the technical information to become a cardiac sonographer. In addition, coursework can be applied towards a BAS Applied Health Sciences specialization: Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Sonography.

Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Sonography is a limited access program with a specialized application process. The program includes courses during two terms each year held on the Melbourne Campus and local clinical settings. To be awarded an ATC, students must have an AS or AAS. The ATC in Adult and Pediatric Sonography requires an AS in Sonography from a regionally accredited institution. Coursework from the ATC may be used as part of BAS-Applied Health Science: Medical Imaging Sciences -Adult and Pediatric Sonography Specialization. The completion of an AS or AAS degree is required for this program.

Diagnostic cardiac sonographers (also known as an echocardiography technologists) use non-invasive ultrasound machines, laptops and transducers to create images of the inside of patients’ hearts, which physicians use to make a medical diagnosis — often without expensive, invasive methods. Cardiac sonographers also maintain the specialized cardiac imaging equipment.

Visit the program page for more details and how to apply.
Health Science Admissions and Advising:
healthscience@easternflorida.edu
phone: 321-433-7575
fax: 321-433-7579

Dr. Harry Holdorf
Program Manager
holdorfh@easternflorida.edu
phone: 321-433-7130

All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher.

Curriculum

¹

Classroom/lab assignments: 48 hours

²

A combination of clinical/lab hours + objectives

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate professional behavior while in an adult cardiac clinical setting.
   • Core Ability Supported: Work Cooperatively
2. Differentiate between normal and abnormal Electrocardiography.
   • Core Ability Supported: Think Critically and Solve Problems
3. Identify abnormal and normal conditions for the adult cardiac cycle.
   • Core Ability Supported: Think critically and Solve Problems
4. Describe the development of major cardiac structures from conception to birth  
   • Core Ability Supported: Think critically and Solve Problems
5. Describe the pathophysiological and hemodynamic consequences of each congenital pathology 
   • Core Ability Supported: Think critically and Solve Problems
6. Discuss the repair techniques related to selected congenital abnormalities 
   • Core Ability Supported: Think critically and Solve Problems
7. Execute proper positioning and standards while in a clinical setting
   • Core Ability Supported: Work Cooperatively
8. Describe the variation in imaging planes used in pediatric echocardiography to optimally image atypical anatomy and cardiac positioning. 
   • Core Ability Supported: Work Cooperatively
9. Recognize echocardiographic anatomy of selected congenital disease, i.e., shunting lesions, transposition of the great vessels, venous anomalies, single ventricle lesions, right and left heart abnormalities, and myocardial pathologies 
   • Core Ability Supported: Work Cooperatively
10. Identify abnormal and normal pathology and anatomy for the adult cardiac cycle 
    • Core Ability Supported: Think critically and Solve Problems