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VAS 301 Vascular Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology
This course is a detailed survey of the large, small, and microscopic vasculature of the human body including variations. Surrounding structures are also studied in their relationship to the vasculature. The purpose and normal mechanism of arterial and venous systems are studied. The disease mechanisms of a wide variety of disorders of arteries and veins will be presented, with emphasis on those diseases that can be assessed by noninvasive vascular studies. The risk factors, patient symptoms, and treatment of these pathophysiologic processes will also be presented. [3]
VAS 304 Vascular Terminology
Medical terminology will be presented with emphasis on terminology that is specific to vascular patients and terms that the vascular sonographer is likely to encounter in practice. [1]
VAS 311 Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles I
The basic principles of sound and ultrasound are introduced. Important math concepts are reviewed. The emphasis in this course is on the theories of ultrasound, including the basic parameters of sound, the Doppler effect, continuous wave Doppler, pulsed wave Doppler, and color flow. [3]
VAS 312 Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles I Lab
Students will perform activities to demonstrate physical and ultrasound principles under a variety of conditions. Duplex equipment controls and equipment problem-solving will be emphasized in this course. [1]
VAS 313 Ultrasound Physics and Physical Principles II
In Physics II, a continuation of the basic principles of B-mode, pulsed wave, and color Doppler are discussed emphasizing the components of the duplex scanner. The interaction of ultrasound and tissue, including ultrasound artifacts and bioeffects are also examined. Prerequisite: Physicial Principles and Ultrasound Physics I and Physics I Lab. [3]
VAS 321 Patient Care Practices
Vascular technologists not only use noninvasive equipment, but also interact with patients continually through the workday and have responsibilities for their care. This course prepares the technologist to offer patients safe examinations and transport, basic care of intravenous lines, oxygen, etc., and basic physical and emotional comfort during and around the time of testing. It offers the student information about general patient communication, and how to obtain patient history and symptoms of vascular disease while respecting the dignity and privacy of the patient. Patient attitudes in both health and disease are also reviewed in order to make the technologist more conscious of these attitudes and processes in a diverse world. Medical terminology is a large component of this course which is presented in order to foster communication between the vascular sonographer, physician, other health care workers, and the patient. [3]
VAS 322 Patient Care Practices Lab
Basic care of the vascular laboratory patient is presented in the didactic course and practiced in this laboratory course. Activities are provided to practice skills in providing basic physical comfort and care of the patient, transportation, and practice in communication skills. The student will also be introduced to other medical devices that they may encounter during patient testing such as catheters, drains, respirators, etc., and learn how to test and manage care around these devices within the scope of practice for a vascular sonographer. [1]
VAS 331 Venous Ultrasound Procedures
Venous testing comprises the majority of vascular tests performed in the typical vascular laboratory (approximately 30 percent). The processes for performing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and vein mapping studies of the lower and upper extremities are presented primarily through the use of Duplex ultrasound. Indications, data analysis, reporting, patient cases, and problem-solving procedures for testing patients with venous disease are also covered. These skills will be addressed in the didactic section and practiced in the laboratory portion of this course. [2]
VAS 332 Venous Ultrasound Procedures Lab
The venous procedures, data analysis, and problem-solving will be practiced on models in the student laboratory. Students will observe actual patient exams in the hospital. [1]
VAS 341 Arterial Physiologic Procedures
Approximately 25 percent of all noninvasive vascular studies investigate the peripheral arterial system. The process and technique of performing a physiologic arterial study of the lower and upper extremities is presented, including segmental pressures, continuous wave Doppler waveforms, and plethysmography. Indications, data analysis, reporting, patient cases, and problem-solving procedures for testing patients with arterial disease are also covered. [3]
VAS 342 Arterial Physiologic Procedures Lab
The physiologic arterial procedures, data analysis, and problem-solving will be practiced on models in the laboratory, including segmental pressures, continuous wave Doppler, and plethysmography. Students will observe actual patient exams in the hospital. [1]
VAS 351 Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Procedures
Duplex ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries have become an important means of noninvasively identifying and grading the severity of atherosclerotic disease in the carotid arteries in stroke prone patients. These studies comprise approximately 30 percent of the studies performed in the vascular laboratory. The theories, process, and technique of performing a cerebrovascular study using duplex ultrasound is presented, including indications, data analysis, reporting, patient cases, and problem-solving procedures. Test validation procedures are also covered in this course. [3]
VAS 352 Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Procedures Lab
The cerebrovascular procedures, data analysis, and problem-solving will be practiced on models in the laboratory using duplex ultrasound. Students will observe actual patient exams in the hospital. [1]
VAS 354 Transcranial Doppler (TCD)
The intracerebral anatomy and hemodynamics in health and disease will be presented in conjunction with the transcranial Doppler procedures. Students will learn theory, technique, data analysis, reporting, and problem-solving as well as practice TCD testing on models in the student laboratory in this course. [1]
VAS 361 Abdominal Vascular Procedures
Duplex ultrasound procedures used to assess the aorta, iliac, renal, mesenteric, inferior vena cava, and hepatoportal vessels will be addressed. Indications, data analysis, reporting, patient cases, and problem-solving procedures for testing patients with abdominal vascular disease are also covered. [3]
VAS 362 Abdominal Vascular Procedures Lab
The abdominal vascular procedures, data analysis, and problem-solving will be practiced on models in the laboratory using duplex equipment. Students will observe actual patient exams in the hospital. [1]
VAS 371 Advanced Vascular Testing and Topics
More advanced examinations will be presented in this course including duplex scanning of the native arteries (upper and lower extremities), bypass grafts, arteriovenous fistula, pseudoaneurysms, dialysis access grafts, endovascular grafts, and intraoperative procedures.
Indications, data analysis, reporting, patient cases, and problem-solving procedures for testing patients with complications/diseases are also covered. Prerequisites: venous, arterial, cerebrovascular, and abdominal procedures and the respective laboratory courses, and Physics I and II. [3]
VAS 372 Advanced Vascular Testing Lab
The advance vascular procedures, data analysis, and problem-solving will be practiced on models in the laboratory using duplex equipment and case studies. Students will observe actual patient exams in the hospital. [1]
VAS 381 Introduction to Research
The technologist who is to be a life-long learner and contribute to the knowledge base of his/her field needs to have an understanding of the methods of research available and how to use them. This course is an introduction to research processes and a basic analysis of research papers. Prerequisites: venous, arterial, cerebrovascular, and abdominal procedures and laboratory courses, Physics I and II. [3]
VAS 382 Introduction to Research Lab
Students will perform basic research studies related to vascular technology in this course. [1]
VAS 401 Professional Practice in Ultrasound
This course is designed to prepare the student for a career in vascular technology by presenting professional resources of information and continuing education, certification, laboratory accreditation, reimbursement processes and current issues, scope of practice, legal/ethical issues, and managed care. Stress and time management, and body mechanics are also covered for the technologist to care for himself in an intellectually, emotionally, and physically demanding profession. [3]
VAS 405 Laboratory Management
This course gives a broad overview of management tasks, such as laboratory organization, quality processes, teamwork, leadership, managing change, preparing a budget, purchasing equipment, decision-making processes, and human resource issues. [3]
VAS 415A Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound I
During the first clinical rotation at an accredited vascular lab, the student and the clinical instructor will prepare a plan of study for the first quarter. It will entail the practice of 3-4 vascular exams from a list of 17 possible procedures. The plan will be approved by the clinical coordinator. The student will first observe, then perform sections of vascular exams on patients, and go on to performing complete exams under the direct supervision of the clinical instructor. Indirect supervision will be allowed after the student passes the test for a particular vascular procedure . Prerequisites: Students must have completed all junior level courses with a minimum passing grade of “C” in each and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. [10]
VAS 415B Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound II
VAS 415C Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound III
VAS 415D Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound IV
During these three quarters, students will rotate through 1-3 other clinical sites. The student and the clinical instructor will create a plan of study for each quarter which will entail learning at least four new clinical skills. The plan will be approved by the clinical coordinator. Students will continue to observe, then perform sections, and finally perform complete vascular exams as their skills improve. After passing a test on a particular exam with a minimum grade of “C”, students will be allowed to perform that exam on patients with indirect supervision of the clinical instructor. Prerequisite: Students must pass the VAS 415 A-D courses in order. [6]
VAS 420A Professional Skills I
VAS 420B Professional Skills II
VAS 420C Professional Skills III
VAS 420D Professional Skills IV
Students will practice professional skills during each quarter of the senior year and be evaluated on particular characteristics in following laboratory protocol, safety and environment, patient communication, patient management, professional development, time management, and teamwork. These skills were taught during the junior year particularly in the professional practices and patient care classes and are practiced in a clinical setting. [1]
VAS 425A Cumulative Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound I
VAS 425B Cumulative Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound II
VAS 425C Cumulative Clinical Skills in Vascular Ultrasound III
After students master new clinical skills with a passing grade, they must continue to practice and demonstrate consistent performance at an appropriate skill level in these vascular examinations. During this course, students will practice learned clinical skills at new clinical sites and be evaluated in an existing or new clinical setting. [4]
VAS 431 Senior Lectures/Case Presentations I
VAS 432 Senior Lectures/Case Presentations II
VAS 433 Senior Lectures/Case Presentations III
Students will attend lectures on a variety of advanced topics and participate in Vascular Conferences. Students will also prepare and present or write case studies from the patient exams they have performed at the clinical site. [1]
VAS 480 Vascular Ultrasound Comprehensive Review
This course is a comprehensive review to prepare the students to take the ARDMS certification examination to earn the RVT credential. The ARDMS examination content outline will be covered in vascular technology and ultrasound physics and followed by a comprehensive exam on the last day of class. Prerequisites: venous, arterial, cerebrovascular, transcranial Doppler, and abdominal procedures with the respective laboratory courses, clinical course instruction for three quarters, and physics I and II. [2]
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