The Echo Triangle

Abstract

Echocardiography is an essential investigation for cardiology services, with its activity directly correlated to cardiothoracic activity, morbidity, and mortality. Much research has been undertaken to show that most New Zealand echo departments are under performing. Three key areas are highlighted in this presentation: echo training, allocated scan times, and sonographer call duties. Three proposals make the three arms of “The Echo Triangle”: 1.All sites must train sonographers. Seventeen of 20 sites/hospitals should be training, regardless of perceived need.2.Echo scan times should be standardised to 45 minutes. Consider Parkinson’s Law as applied to “time taken to perform a task”. There is a direct correlation between 60-minute scan time and poor output/efficiencies.3.Sonographers should relinquish call duties. Cardiology Registrars to scan out of hours; sonographers are the vulnerable workforce, not Cardiology RMOs/Registrars. The Echo Triangle should be considered by all cardiology departments within New Zealand. Echocardiography is a vulnerable workforce. Paying attention to the three arms of The Echo Triangle will help with succession planning, department efficiencies, and general department health.