Interprofessional awareness and CLAS standards

There are many differences I found in the standards for my future profession and the CLAS standards. The ASRT standards for Sonography Practice Standards gives a complete list of the clinical and quality performance standards for sonographers. They are similar in the fact that they both have standards for making sure patients understand what is happening. For instance, the ASRT has a standards for patient education which state that sonographers must make sure that patients have consented and understand what they have consented to for a procedure. This standard also covers providing them with patient education and proper explanation of precautions when administering medications. 

In the same way the CLAS standards also cover patients understanding. This is also where they differ though. The CLAS standards includes many standards that relate to providing language assistance and providing understandable materials and signage to patients. The CLAS is much more detailed when it comes to cultural competency standards compared to the ASRT standards. I believe that sonographers must follow other health care standards like the CLAS standards in addition to the ASRT standards. The ASRT standards is more job title specific whereas the CLAS standards are for the general health care employee population. It could also be possible that more cultural competency standards are not present in the ASRT standards because this profession is primarily a diagnostic imaging role. There is less communication between a sonographer and the patient depending on the type of sonography being performed. This is less likely the case though. I believe there should be cultural competency throughout the entire health care system in order for patient care to improve for patients of all cultures. I have put a link to the Sonography standards below. 

~ Samantha Holzberger

ASRT Sonography Practice Standards