The grant will allow the program to receive new equipment that will give students the opportunity to practice imaging on infants’ heads and brains.
Morehead State University’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program has received a grant from the Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences, Inc. The grant will allow for the purchase of a neonatal head phantom, a piece of equipment that takes images of an infant’s brain through fontanelles, or soft spots on a baby’s skull. Up until the purchase of this equipment, students only learned concepts of neonatal head imaging through classroom instruction. Now, they will be able to practice the skills themselves before graduating from the program.
According to an article on Morehead State University’s website, Jennifer Clark, who is an assistant professor of imaging sciences and the program director, was quoted as saying of the benefits of the new equipment, "This phantom will allow for student laboratory simulation, meeting a recognized need to improve confidence, scanning skills, and the detection of abnormalities of the neonatal head before stepping into the clinical environment.”
The types of conditions that are diagnosed through the use of a neonatal head phantom are brain hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, infection, and ischemia, and students having access to the equipment and practicing on it before entering into the healthcare workforce will build up their skills and improve the overall level of care patients will receive.
Students being able to practice through simulation will create valuable opportunities to gain confidence on the equipment and help them become proficient in using the specialized medical equipment. The acquisition of the equipment will reduce student anxiety and better prepare them for their future careers, faculty members say.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Morehead State University prepares students to work in ultrasound technology positions, assisting physicians in both the diagnosis and monitoring of patient conditions. The investment in the neonatal head phantom represents the university’s commitment to preparing well-qualified ultrasound technology workers. Additionally, the university recently introduced a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology program for individuals who have graduated from radiologic science programs to advance their careers even further.
For more information about Morehead State University, visit the school’s website.