Clinical and laboratory assignments for the diagnostic medical sonography program require certain physical demands that are the technical standards. These technical standards are based upon the minimum tasks performed by graduates of professional programs in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences. Each applicant must meet these standards with reasonable accommodations and must continue to meet these standards throughout the educational program. The technical standards are not intended as a complete listing of behaviors required, but rather as a sampling of the types of abilities needed to meet program objectives and requirements. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or their affiliated clinical education sites may identify additional critical behaviors to meet program or clinical site requirements and reserves the right to amend this listing based upon the identification of additional standards for students.
TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR RADIOLOGIC & IMAGING SCIENCES STUDENTS SHALL POSSESS:
- Sufficient communication skills to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, health care professionals and the public, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds and in stressful and emergency situations. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
- Sufficient sight to read requisitions & charts, observe conditions of the patient in low levels of light; to evaluate medical images on view boxes and on computer screens and to record information clearly and accurately.
- Sufficient hearing to interact with and respond to patients as well as to the audible sounds of equipment.
- Ability to stand and walk while assigned to a clinical education setting so as to perform medical imaging procedures in an appropriate and effective manner.
- Ability to lift, assist and maneuver patients in wheelchairs, carts and imaging tables without injury to patient, self or other health care workers and to respond to medical emergencies in an effective manner. Have sufficient motor skills to manipulate, lift, and reach equipment and to operate small controls on equipment. Ability to lift 50 pounds.
- Ability to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve that form the basis of medical imaging and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.
- Have the intellectual and emotional skills to exercise discretion in handling confidential medical information.
- Have the cognitive ability to perceive and deal appropriately with environmental threats and stresses and continue to function safely and effectively during high stress periods.
- Able to protect oneself and others from hazards in the health care environment, such as infectious disease, contaminated equipment, sharp instruments, chemical fumes and radiation.
Policy 2002; revised 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018
Reviewed 2025