If you're a student training to become a sonographer, you understand first-hand how important it is to not only understand the science behind the profession but also to have the practical experience of applying what you've learned in the real world to actual patients in a clinical setting. That's why your experience as a sonographer intern is so important to your career and why you need to take it seriously if you're accused of any kind of misconduct during your practical training.
There is a wide range of training programs available to students looking to become sonographers; because the profession is licensed in only four states, these programs tend to vary widely in terms of who offers them, what the curriculum is, and how long the study program lasts. You might be trained as a sonographer in a vocational or technical school, a hospital or other medical setting, or even in the armed forces. One common feature of most training programs is practical experience, often in the form of an internship or some other supervised work experience in a clinical setting.
It's this direct experience that can cause problems for you if you're accused of misconduct in connection with your workplace duties. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has put together this guide to give you some information about the kinds of misconduct issues that can arise, how you should respond if you're accused of misconduct, and how our experienced team of attorneys can help if you've received a notice that a misconduct claim has been filed against you.
The Sonographer Practice Requirement
While all sonography training programs have a classroom component, because the profession is very much a hands-on one, you'll also find yourself putting your classroom learning to work in a practical setting. Whether this is called an internship, a clinical program, or something else, you'll be working directly with clients or patients in a professional setting under the direction of a more experienced healthcare professional. It's this kind of “on-the-job” experience that may provide new challenges when it comes to learning how you're expected to act, particularly if you've never worked in this kind of setting before.
This is why it's so important to treat your internship or practical experience seriously. You are in a professional healthcare setting, one that has special rules, requirements, and expectations for the professionals who work there and interact with clients and patients on a daily basis. Your actions need to meet those high standards, and if you happen to fail to do so, your future career as a sonographer can be in jeopardy.
What Kinds of Discipline Can Sonography Students Encounter?
Because your clinical or internship program may be affiliated with your school or training program, there are several levels of discipline you may face if you are accused of misconduct during the course of your practical training.
- Clinical Discipline. Depending on the workplace setting, the healthcare provider where your internship or practical experience takes place likely has its own set of written expectations for employee behavior, perhaps in the form of an employee manual or a code of ethics. These almost certainly apply to you as well, even if you're not technically an employee. This is why it's important to review all of the workplace manuals that you are given when you begin your internship or clinical program. In most cases, they'll describe the type of behavior that's expected of you, what kinds of actions are specifically prohibited, and what the consequences are if you fail to follow the company guidelines.
- School Discipline. Because most internship or clinical programs are affiliated in some way with your school or training program, if you are accused of misconduct while working at your internship, this may be reported to your school by the health care provider you're working with. Almost all schools have student manuals, similar to the ones that employers have, that also describe how students are expected to behave and what procedures apply in cases where a student is accused of misconduct. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has helped students all over the country face school disciplinary allegations, and they are ready to help you, too.
- Credentialing Organization Issues. The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is a nationwide organization that issues certificates for a wide range of different levels of sonography expertise. Students can join the ARDMS and are able to earn several types of basic certifications while they complete their studies. Because Sonographers are not licensed in most states, being able to show that you've earned one or more ARDMS certificates can be a valuable asset for your future employment efforts.
The ARDMS has its own disciplinary requirements, however, and if you have violated any of its policies, you're required to notify the ARDMS that you've done so. The ARDMS has its own procedures for evaluating disciplinary allegations, whether self-notified or received from a third party, and discipline can include making the student ineligible for certification as well as other sanctions.
What Kinds of Conduct Can Result in Discipline?
There is a wide range of misconduct that can result in a sonography student being disciplined in connection with their practical internship program. Depending on which type of organization is responsible for the disciplinary proceeding, misconduct allegations may cover any of the following:
- Working while under the influence. Because you're working very closely with clients at your internship or practical program, you're expected to be at your best at all times. You can be disciplined for showing intoxicated, whether because of alcohol, marijuana, or illegal or legal drugs. In some cases – for example, where you've taken a prescription medication and are experiencing an unexpected reaction to it – you may have a strong defense to a misconduct allegation. In these types of cases, you need the help of an experienced attorney who can help you make and prove your case if you're being disciplined as a result.
- Patient abuse. This can include verbal, physical, or sexual abuse of a client or patient. When working as a sonographer, the nature of your job often requires you to work very closely with intimate parts of the client's body. It's very important to keep in mind that this is often an uncomfortable situation for the client, which is why you need to closely follow the instructions of your supervisor as well as any guidelines set up by your employer to avoid any kind of patient abuse claim being filed against you or your workplace.
- Fraud claims. If you mis-record the procedures you perform so that your workplace can bill for them at a higher rate, you can be caught up in a fraud claim. If you're encouraged to do this by anyone, you should contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team for guidance. You need to protect yourself from any situation where you can be accused of being part of a scheme to defraud clients or insurers.
- Failure to follow procedures. Sometimes, the misconduct allegation is a result of the student's failure to follow established procedures, particularly where these involve patient safety or privacy. It's extremely important to pay close attention to the instructions and procedures in place at your internship so that you can avoid having claims of this type filed against you.
How are Misconduct Allegations Resolved?
Misconduct claims are resolved differently depending on the type of organization involved. An employer, for example, may have very limited procedures in place and may simply terminate an internship where the intern is accused of misconduct, and the employer believes that the accusation is true. In other cases, there may be an investigation and a real opportunity to address and defend against misconduct allegations. Here are some typical steps that are used to investigate and resolve misconduct claims:
- Initial investigation of the claim. This step is usually fairly quick and is designed to make sure the behavior complained of is the kind of behavior that the organization regulates or that clearly applies to the student. A complaint that a sonography patient had to wait too long for their appointment, for example, probably has nothing to do with the student sonographer who ends up seeing the patient and may not result in a detailed investigation.
- Detailed investigation of the claim. Where the claim is of the type that the organization regulates, a detailed investigation may follow. This can include interviews with you, with the person who filed the complaint, as well as with co-workers, supervisors, and others. Records relating to the incident may be reviewed as well. This can be a difficult time for you, and having the help of one of the experienced attorneys from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help make sure that the investigation process is fair and complete.
- Offer to resolve the matter. Sometimes, after the investigation, the organization will come to you with an offer to resolve the matter if you agree to a certain set of facts – and to a proposed sanction. Whether or not to accept an offer like this depends very much on the situation and is one area where having the advice of an experienced attorney from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can be extremely helpful.
- Hearing. If the matter doesn't resolve itself, it may proceed to a hearing. This will resemble a courtroom procedure, with a judge or a panel of judges, witnesses, and exhibits. The requirements for allowing evidence, however, are usually looser than in actual courtroom civil or criminal cases, which is why you need the help of an experienced attorney from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. They can make sure that whoever is deciding the case is aware of the problems with the evidence that is being introduced against you and that the hearing panel also sees and considers the evidence in your defense.
- Ruling. At some point, the hearing panel or judge will issue a ruling. If it is in your favor, the matter is usually closed at that point. If it goes against you, however, you may be able to appeal. In either case, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can make sure that your rights are respected and that you have the strongest defense possible.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help
You've spent a lot of time, and probably money, towards achieving your goal of becoming a sonographer. If a misconduct claim is filed against you as a result of your internship or practical program, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help you understand the allegation, investigate it from your side to find as much helpful information as possible and defend your rights throughout the entire process. The experienced attorneys at the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team have helped students all over the country facing similar disciplinary issues, and they understand the laws, rules, processes, and procedures that apply. They know how to mount a strong and effective defense to these kinds of allegations and how to help you if you've been accused of any kind of misconduct.
Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888.535.3686, or use our online contact form to set up a confidential consultation. Your future is at stake, and we are ready to help you make sure it happens!
