| Abstract: | A survey performed concerning echocardiography in a metropolitan area. Of 110 hospitals in the area, 62 reported having echocardiographic facilities. Echocardiographic physicians and/or technicians from 41 of these hospitals responded to questionnaires designed to determine the following: (1) educational background and credentials of technicians, (2) average salaries of technicians, (3) role of the physician and technician in the performance and reporting of echocardiograms, (4) volume, cost, and method of storage of echocardiograms, and (5) number and type of echocardiographic units in use. Our data suggest various trends, including a lack of formal training among technicians, the prevalence of cardiologists-internists as directors of echocardiographic facilities, the performance of echocardiograms by cardiology fellows in only 46% of institutions with cardiology training programs, and the widespread projected availability of cross-sectional echocardiographic capability within the next two years. |
