Future health professionals in British Columbia will benefit from additional student spaces at the British Columbia Institution of Technology (BCIT) to get the training they need as diagnostic medical sonographers to provide the high-quality health care B.C. families deserve.

The B.C. government is providing $594,000 to BCIT for a one-time temporary expansion of the sonography program. This funding also provides for equipment upgrades to support both this temporary increase and the existing 24 permanent first-year student spaces.

Diagnostic medical ultrasound, commonly called sonography, is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves, or ultrasound, to produce dynamic visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body. Sonography plays a critical role within the health-care system by providing key information that enables the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of conditions. Students in the program learn about sonography of the abdomen, obstetrics, gynecology, the vascular tree and the heart.

This funding is part of an almost $2.4-million investment to support an additional 261 students in health-care programs at nine colleges, universities and institutions in the province.

One-time funding to improve access to health-education programs helps to meet immediate and projected employment needs in the health-care field throughout the province. B.C.'s post-secondary system is helping to provide faster, safer and better health care for individuals and families throughout British Columbia by ensuring students in the health-care professions have the skills and training they need to succeed in the future.

Quotes:

Richard T. Lee, MLA for Burnaby North -

"Sonography is an important procedure to help diagnose many medical conditions. I am pleased to see almost $600,000 being invested to make this training program in ultrasound-based technique available to additional students at BCIT."

Harry Bloy, MLA for Lougheed -

"I am pleased that this investment is being made in BCIT. The funding will not only grow BCIT's sonography program, but will also directly benefit the B.C. health-care system."

Bill Dow, dean of the School of Health Sciences at BCIT -

"This funding supports the School of Health Sciences at BCIT in meeting the health system's on-going requirement for highly skilled health professionals. With the new equipment provided, BCIT will ensure students are prepared to practice sonography anywhere in the province."

Quick Facts:

• More than 200 applications were received for the 24 seats in the diagnostic medical sonography program for September 2011.

• BCIT's diploma program is 27 months in length.

• The program includes theory, labs and clinical training in sonography of the abdomen, superficial structures, male pelvis, pregnant and non-pregnant female pelvis, vascular tree (carotids and veins) and heart.

• The sonographic specialties are supported by instruction in physical principles and instrumentation, patient care, communication, human behaviour, and research principles.

• Sonography clinical practicums take place in all regions of the province.

Learn More:

For more information on the diagnostic medical sonography program at BCIT, visit: http://www.bcit.ca/study/programs/5640diplt

MyLife at BCIT, a student blog including entries by diagnostic medical sonography student, Tiffany Fong: http://commons.bcit.ca/mylife/author/tfong17/

Contact:

Dan Gilmore
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400