Abstract
At its inception, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was employed as a basic screening tool for the diagnosis of heart valve disease and as a crude indicator of left ventricular function. Since then, echocardiography has developed into a highly valued non-invasive imaging technique capable of providing extremely complex data for the diagnosis of even the subtlest cardiac pathologies. Its role is now pivotal in the diagnosis and monitoring of heart disease. With the evolution of advanced practice and devolving care, ordinarily performed by senior doctors, to the cardiac physiology workforce in the UK, significant benefits in terms of timely patient care and cost savings are possible. However, there needs to be appropriate level of accountability. This accountability is achieved in the UK with statutory regulation of healthcare professionals and is a crucial element in the patient protection system, particularly for professions in patient facing roles. However, statutory regulation for staff practising echocardiography is not currently mandatory in the UK, despite the level of responsibility and influence on patient care. Regulators protect the public against the risk of poor practice by setting agreed standards of practice and competence and registering those who are competent to practice. Regulators take action if professionals on their register do not meet their standards. The current cardiac physiology workforce can be recognised as registered clinical scientists using equivalence process through the Academy for Healthcare Science, and this review aims to describe the process in detail.
Highlights
The British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), through education and quality benchmarking, offers the UK workforce a formal process to certify competence in echocardiography; accreditation with the society demonstrates that the individual has achieved the required minimum level of competence to practice independently
Such titles include ‘Cardiac Technician’, ‘Cardiac Physiologist’, ‘Sonographer’, and the protected title of ‘Clinical Scientist’ (for those members of the workforce regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)) reflecting the numerous training routes leading to this role
The majority of existing cardiac physiologists (CP) have followed a standardised academic training course. They have undertaken a degree in cardiac physiology accredited by the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) or, more recently, the Academy for Healthcare Science
Summary
The British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), through education and quality benchmarking, offers the UK workforce a formal process to certify competence in echocardiography; accreditation with the society demonstrates that the individual has achieved the required minimum level of competence to practice independently. Training to post-graduate academic level is standard for training programmes in North America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where professional accreditation is mandatory, there is currently no provision of advanced echocardiographic services by the non-medical scientific workforce In developing these senior scientific roles with advanced responsibilities, the UK is leading the way. A key element for the cardiac physiology workforce was the introduction of a direct pathway to statutory regulation as a ‘CS’, either through ‘attainment’ through completion of the STP or by ‘demonstration of equivalence’ This process of equivalence demonstrates that an individual’s qualifications, experience, conduct and practice are of an equivalent standard to those qualifying via the STP route. It is not necessary to cover all aspects of the STP curriculum or GSP domains at this point, but demonstrating continued professional development, maintaining clinical governance standards and evidence of leadership is very important. The assessors can recommend one of three outcomes: 1. Outcome 1: Applicant has demonstrated full equivalence and should be awarded the Certificate of Equivalence (STP)
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