WKCTC Offering Free Ultrasounds For Expecting Mothers Beginning January 28

Paducah, KY (01/18/2019) — Expecting mothers can get a free ultrasound from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program at West Kentucky Community and Technical beginning Monday, January 28.

The free ultrasounds will be held each Monday afternoon throughout the spring semester in the Allied Health Building, Room W105. Times for ultrasounds will vary. To schedule an appointment for an ultrasound, contact DMS Clinical Coordinator Kimberly Savage at kimberly.savage@kctcs.edu, (270) 534-3487 or DMS Program Coordinator Nichole Toon at nichole.toon@kctcs.edu, (270) 534-3450. The last day to volunteer for an ultrasound is Monday, April 29.

"The ultrasounds are offered free each spring allowing our students to create a relationship with the community as well as educate the community about our program," said Savage. "We rely on clinical assignments and volunteers for our obstetrics (OB) education."

The OB volunteers get the benefit of seeing their child, hearing the heartbeat, and asking questions about what the students are seeing on the screen and its importance to the DMS field. Volunteers are also allowed to bring in family or friends to share in the experience. They get to hear the instructors and students interact as the DMS students get to practice their patient care skills as well as scanning skills.

"This is most beneficial for students. Women who are in many different stages of their pregnancy can come in to be scanned. Our students get one-on-one time with DMS faculty to practice skills and protocols specific for OB," Savage said. "Students have the time to scan and ask questions without the pressure of a clinical patient schedule."

To receive a free ultrasound at WKCTC, a volunteer must have had a previous normal ultrasound and must provide an official document from the individual's doctor stating completion of the normal ultrasound and that the doctor gives permission to be scanned. The ultrasounds at the college are not diagnostic scans and no diagnostic information will be given.

Ultrasounds will not be offered on Monday, February 18 as the campus will be closed for Presidents' Day. During that week, volunteers can schedule an ultrasound on Tuesday, February 19 also in the Allied Health Building, Room W105.

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