What Does an Ultrasound Technologist Do?

Ultrasound technologists, especially those specializing in the venous and lymphatic systems, play a crucial role in identifying venous disorders. At Center for Vein Restoration (CVR), these professionals, known as ultrasonographers, use painless high-frequency sound waves to capture leg vein images. These images are instrumental in vein doctors' decision-making process for treatment options, underscoring the vital role of ultrasound technologists in patient care.

Through their close collaboration with vein physicians, ultrasound professionals significantly enhance patient outcomes and overall quality of life. This teamwork is a testament to the collective effort in healthcare, where each role is crucial and contributes to the greater goal of patient well-being. It's this collective effort that ensures the best possible care for our patients.

We had the privilege of speaking with Zayed Meadows, the Director of the Vascular Lab for Center for Vein Restoration, about the vital role ultrasonographs play in vein health, the equipment they use, and the future of ultrasonography.

What does an ultrasonographer do?

Zayed: “An ultrasonographer is a medical professional who uses equipment to take internal pictures of a patient's body. They're noninvasive medical procedures that help detect and diagnose abnormalities and other medical conditions. In the venous and lymphatic space, we utilize our sonographers to do these exams with an ultrasound system, examining the venous system internally for a patient.

We can look at the blood flow, determine whether a patient has blood clots, and determine the direction in which the blood flows. We can see the blood flowing in either the proper or improper direction, which allows us to determine whether a patient has reflux.

Note:
Reflux in the context of venous health refers to a condition known as venous insufficiency. This disorder occurs when the tiny valves within the leg veins become weak or damaged and fail to function correctly. When these valves don't work as they should, blood can flow backward and pool in the veins, causing them to enlarge. This condition, known as vein disease, can lead to symptoms like pain, swelling, and varicose veins. It's one of the key conditions that ultrasound technologists help to identify.

These valves usually help ensure that blood flows upward toward the heart and prevent it from flowing backward. When the valves fail, blood can flow backward (reflux) in the veins rather than moving efficiently toward the heart, causing blood to pool in the lower extremities. This can lead to various venous issues, such as varicose veins, spider veins, leg swelling, itching, and cramping, and, in severe cases, venous ulcers and DVT blood clots.

What common procedures do ultrasonographers perform?

Zayed: “In the vein health specialty, the procedures they perform are specific to the ultrasound exam, which evaluates the lower extremities to assess the direction of blood flow.

In addition, we examine the veins in the lower extremity to assess for the presence or absence of blood clots (also known as thrombosis). We also utilize the ultrasound system and sonographers during our noninvasive procedures on patients.

Because the systems allow us to image internally, we can see the vessels the physicians are accessing. This clarity will enable us to access the veins and perform the procedures precisely.”

Note:

Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) is a nationally recognized leader in treating varicose and spider veins. They offer a variety of nearly pain-free solutions to eliminate unsightly and uncomfortable veins. These treatment options include:

• Thermal methods such as radiofrequency ablation or laser ablation use heat to close veins. They offer precise treatment for long, straight veins and require only a local anesthetic.
• Ultrasound-guided Foam Sclerotherapy is minimally invasive and treats twisted veins near the skin by using medication to close the diseased vein. Blood flow is rerouted to healthier veins nearby.
• Adhesive treatments such as VenaSeal use medical glue to seal damaged veins, redirecting blood to healthier ones. It's fast and doesn't require anesthesia.
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You don’t have to live with swollen, unsightly varicose veins and tired, achy, heavy-feeling legs. CVR's board-certified vein physicians, in collaboration with the finest ultrasonographers in the vein care field, can help you look and feel your best!

Call 240-965-3915 to speak to a Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at a CVR near you today.

What training do ultrasonographers have?

Zayed: “Most ultrasound technologists will undergo schooling, typically at a two-year school. Some schools offer bachelor’s degree programs and a couple of master's degree programs.

Specific to the venous space, though, the training needed to perform venous Insufficiency exams is generally learned on the job. Most schooling touches on venous Insufficiency, but it doesn't go in-depth into how to perform these types of exams.

Here at Center for Vein Restoration, we provide specific on-the-job training to our sonographers. We teach them how to properly evaluate blood flow to determine whether a patient has venous insufficiency.

What challenges do ultrasonographers encounter?

Zayed: “One of the biggest challenges an ultrasonographer may encounter in this field is the repetitive nature of scanning. Examining the lower extremity repeatedly on patients can cause some sonographers joint discomfort in the shoulder, wrist, and sometimes neck.

So, it's very, very critical for a sonographer to be aware of how they're positioning their body, having proper ergonomics in this space, and even outside of just doing venous and lymphatic evaluations. In ultrasound, awareness of your body position is critical to offsetting any of those types of potential injuries that could arise.

At Center for Vein Restoration, our sonographers utilize a pneumatic compression pump. This device aids the sonographer in squeezing the patient's lower extremities, helping to prevent them from having to perform awkward body movements or positioning to limit the potential for injury.

We also have put our sonographers through ergonomic training to help them learn to be more aware of their body mechanics so that we can help them have long-lasting careers and stay safe.”

How will ultrasonography evolve in the future?

Zayed: “You know, that's a really good question! In my opinion, one of the biggest things that will impact us, not only in the ultrasound community but also in most business spaces, is the advancement of AI. AI will become a part of ultrasound, as it has already been used in some medical fields.

However, the one key thing to be mindful of is that ultrasound is currently operator-dependent. So, whereas AI will be a useful tool in medicine and help diagnose certain conditions, it will still require a sonographer to utilize the equipment.”

What sets Center for Vein Restoration apart?

Zayed: “I've been a sonographer for 24 years now. And so obviously, I've been exposed to vascular sonography in different environments, whether in the hospital, a private care setting, or a specialized setting, such as Center for Vein Restoration. While all have been rewarding, here at the Center for Vein Restoration, I do take great pride (and one might say that I might be a little biased); we have a lot of focus and attention on the well-being of our sonographers and all of our staff in general.

Again, as I've mentioned, the ergonomic training that we put the sonographers through. The specialized training in learning insufficiency is one of the most critical aspects. We want to ensure that our patients are getting the best care. We have the best sonographers at Center for Vein Restoration!

More about Center for Vein Restoration

Center for Vein Restoration (CVR), America's largest physician-led vein center, offers comprehensive treatment for chronic venous insufficiency. With 110+ centers in 22 states and 70+ active physicians, CVR boasts a 98% patient satisfaction rating. Accepting various insurances, including Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medicare, CVR provides accessible, compassionate, and effective vein care.

CVR accepts many insurances, including Aetna, Amerigroup, Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, MultiPlan, Medicaid, Medicare, and more.

Call 240-965-3915 to speak to a Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at a CVR near you today.