For Joanna Knapp, RDMS, RVT, RDCS doing ultra sounds at Gothenburg Health for the past seven years has been about caring for the patients.

“I love working at Gothenburg Health because we care first about the patient, not just productivity. I get to spend an appropriate amount of time with the patient, which has allowed me to get back to why I chose this career – to help people,” she said. “Gothenburg Health also allows me to have a great home-work life balance.”

Knapp is registered through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) to perform ultrasounds in echocardiography, vascular, abdominal/small parts and general obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN). She said she works closely with three cardiologist groups and sends them directly to the cardiologist in Kearney and Lincoln. Specialists often have to bring technologists to clinic sites, but because Knapp is registered in these areas and on site, she can get patients in quicker and treated faster.

“Ultrasound is a good modality for screening patients. There is no radiation in ultrasound. It uses sound waves, reduces the patient’s radiation exposure and can lower the cost of care,” Knapp said. “It’s a good first step of care in some cases and can typically be less invasive then other screenings or modalities Once the problem is identified, then further screenings can be done if needed.”

Her interest in sonography started, she said, when she joined a medical explorers group in high school and had the opportunity to tour the radiology department. After going to the University of Nebraska in Omaha, she applied for the ultrasound program at Nebraska Methodist College, where she received both an Associate’s Degree in Sonography and a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences.

Knapp worked at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center where she was cross trained to perform vascular ultrasounds. Later, she worked at Great Plains Health for 10 years where she was cross trained into echocardiography. She had to complete three physics board exams in general, echocardiography and vascular sonography with four additional boards in OB/GYN, abdominal/small parts, vascular and echocardiography to be registered.

Knapp lives in North Platte with her husband Jon, their 13 year old twins, Jack and Karly, and their cockapoo Winston.