“S.O.S.”

Shortage of Sonographers Annitta J. Morehead, RDCS, FASE

Cleveland ClinicCleveland, Ohio

The Cardiac Sonographer

Courtesy of GE Healthcare Ultrasound

Sources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics• AHA• AMA• ARDMS/Ultrasoundjobs.com • ASE (and ASE Sonographer Council)• ASE/ICAEL LDP• Echocareers.com• GE Healthcare• ICAEL• Philips Ultrasound• SIEMENS Medical Solutions • Technology Marketing Group• Ultrasound Alliance

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment projection for: • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer• Cardiovascular Technologist• Register Nurse

2005 Bureau of Labor Statistics Report

Grow is projected faster than average: up 27% or more over next 5 years!

Shortage Impact

• Recent AHA reports: 42% of hospitals report an “Insufficient number of Ultrasound Technicians”

• Ultrasound Alliance: 60% sonographer shortage• 2001 ASE survey 61% sonographer shortage• 2000 survey of Kaiser/Tenet Hospital network: 90% sonographer

shortage• Consistently 125 Cardiac Sonography Positions posted on ASE’s

EchoCarreers.com, and many, many others consistently posted on Ultrasoundjobs.com, and other professional sites.

• Potential number of vacant Cardiac Sonographer positions equals approximately 50% of 2785 labs, or approximately 1393 positions.

• Additional graduates needed per school to satisfy the potential vacancies = approximately 1393/108 schools or approximately 13 graduates more per school.

Information as of January 2007

Position Vacancies

Recent AHA report shows 42% of hospitals report an “Insufficient number of Ultrasound Technicians”

Sonographers Practicing in Specialty Areas

(Includes Practice in More Than One Specialty)

74.366

60.347.9

2416.2

7.5 4.5 3.101020304050607080

2005 Bureau of Labor Statistics Report

Indicates Cardiovascular Impact

Sonographer Annual Income $65,000+ by Specialty Area

65.258.1 56.1 52.6

47.4 45.5 44.8 41.7

0

1020

30

40

5060

70

2005 Bureau of Labor Statistics Report

Includes Practice in More Than One Specialty

What Else Influences the Workforce?

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Canada

Vicious Cycle

Sonographe

r Shorta

ge

Less

Clin

ical

Sites

=

less

stu

dent

s

ente

ring

wor

k fo

rceH

IGHER

COST!!!

More WRMSD

Longer Hours M

ore Exams

Vicious Cycle

Sonographe

r Shorta

ge

Less

Clin

ical

Sites

=

less

stu

dent

s

ente

ring

wor

k fo

rceH

IGHER

COST!!!

More WRMSD

Longer Hours M

ore ExamsLess time = less

opportunity (TDI, 3D, Contrast + IV

insertion)

Greater chance of WRMSDs

Compromising

our FUTURE

work force

VALUE & Credibility: What

do you get for your $$$

Quality vs.

Quantity

Aging Workforc

e

Burnout