0626: Accreditation and Emergency Ultrasound

Abstract

In 2005 the Royal College Radiologists (RCR) published “Ultrasound training for medical and surgical specialties,” which makes recommendations for ultrasound training of non-radiologists in several areas, including emergency, critical care, urology, gynaecology, vascular and thoracic medicine. It forms the basis on which other specialities can build their USS training programmes. The College of Emergency Medicine (CEM) has further developed initial RCR guidelines and has published details its own structure for training and accreditation in emergency ultrasound. The CEM document suggests several methods of acquiring theoretical knowledge, including online learning, and places more emphasis on assessment of competencies rather than number of scans performed in terms of accreditation. The college has launched its Level 2 guidelines in late 2008, along with a formal programme for certification in emergency ultrasound with the launch of the Certificate in Focused Emergency Ultrasound (CFEU). The Certificate in Focused Emergency Ultrasound (CFEU) is awarded by the College of Emergency Medicine (CEM) on the recommendation of the College Ultrasound Group Certification Board. There are three routes to certification facilitating individual directed learning, local programmes of education, and by recognition of current experience and professional standing. Candidates must have demonstrated competency by means of successful completion of the Level 1 triggered assessments in focused assessment by sonography for trauma (FAST), peri-arrest scenario for pulseless electrical activity (PEA)/tamponade/effusion, pleural and pericardial fluid, AAA screening/detection in symptomatic patients, ultrasound guided vascular access and have demonstrated competency by means of successful completion of triggered assessments in a minimum of three of the Level 2 modalities from Hepatic/Biliary; Urological/Renal; Vascular; Cardiac; Shock (ACES); Ultrasound-guided invasive procedures ; Musculoskeletal; Thoracic; Gynaecology/Obstetrics; and Paediatric focused ultrasound.