| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Clinical and Medical |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Chief Radiologist |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 5 years of independent ultrasound reporting in a hospital or diagnostic centre |
Sonologist job description template
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Job title: Sonologist
Department: Clinical and Medical
Reports to: Chief Radiologist
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Sonologist performs and reports ultrasound scans: abdomen and pelvis, pregnancy scans, Doppler studies, small parts such as thyroid and breast, and guided procedures in some centres. Most work in diagnostic centres and hospital imaging departments with long daily scan lists. Pregnancy scanning in India carries detailed PCPNDT paperwork for every patient. A good sonologist scans thoroughly, reports clearly and quickly, never reveals the sex of the fetus, and keeps every form and register complete for inspection.
Key responsibilities
- Perform abdominal, pelvic, obstetric, small parts and Doppler ultrasound examinations according to the centre's protocols.
- Report every scan with measurements, findings and a clear impression, and release reports within the committed time.
- Perform dating, nuchal translucency, anomaly and growth scans with Doppler for pregnant patients, within own training.
- Complete Form F and the other PCPNDT records for every pregnant patient scanned, and keep registers ready for inspection.
- Never reveal the sex of the fetus by word, sign or report, and tell the centre head about any request to do so.
- Inform the referring doctor at once of urgent findings such as ectopic pregnancy, free fluid or absent fetal heart.
- Perform or assist ultrasound-guided FNAC and pleural or ascitic taps where credentialed.
- Check identity, preparation and consent before each scan, with a female attendant present for transvaginal and sensitive examinations.
- Clean probes between patients according to infection control rules, and report machine or probe faults the same day.
- Compare with previous scans, correlate with clinical history and recommend further imaging when needed.
Requirements
- MBBS with a recognised six-month ultrasonography training course, or MD, DNB or DMRD in Radiodiagnosis
- Valid registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council
- Fetal medicine or Doppler training is an advantage
- 1 to 5 years of independent ultrasound reporting in a hospital or diagnostic centre
KRAs and KPIs for a Sonologist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Report turnaround | Reports handed over within 30 minutes of the scan for 95 percent of outpatients |
| PCPNDT records | Form F and register entries complete for 100 percent of pregnancy scans, with zero gaps at inspection |
| Urgent findings | 100 percent of urgent findings told to the referring doctor within 15 minutes and documented |
| Reporting accuracy | Discrepancies on radiologist review or later imaging below 2 percent of audited reports |
| Patient waiting | Waiting time within 30 minutes of the appointment for scheduled scans |
| Probe hygiene | Probe cleaning log complete for 100 percent of transvaginal scans |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Ultrasound machine with colour Doppler, Transvaginal and linear probes, Reporting software, PCPNDT registers and online Form F, Probe disinfection supplies.
Reporting line and career path
Interview questions for a Sonologist
- A family offers you money to tell them the baby's sex. What do you do?
- During a routine scan you find a kidney mass the patient did not know about. How do you report and inform?
- What do you check before starting a transvaginal scan?
- How do you measure nuchal translucency correctly, and when would you repeat it?
- An inspection is due next week. Which records do you check first?
- How do you report a scan when bowel gas makes the images poor?
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Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a sonologist do?
A sonologist performs and reports ultrasound scans such as abdominal, pelvic, pregnancy, Doppler, thyroid and breast scans. They record measurements and findings, inform doctors of urgent problems and keep the PCPNDT records that go with pregnancy scans. Some sonologists also perform ultrasound-guided biopsies and taps.
Can an MBBS doctor work as a sonologist in India?
Yes. An MBBS doctor can work as a sonologist after completing a recognised ultrasonography training course, commonly of six months, and meeting the centre's registration conditions. Radiologists with an MD, DNB or DMRD, and gynaecologists trained in obstetric ultrasound, also scan within their specialties.
What is Form F in ultrasound?
Form F is the record Indian ultrasound centres keep for each pregnant woman scanned, covering details such as the referring doctor, the reason for the scan and the findings. Centres keep these forms together with their registers and produce them when inspectors visit.