Echocardiography

Details

Title

Echocardiography

Type

Stage One

Module code

HPS105

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST, with respect to core echocardiography, will be able to critically analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge, perform, interpret and report a range of echocardiographical procedures on adults and/or paediatric patients as appropriate to the clinical role and recognise the indications for advanced echocardiography, e.g. transoesophageal and stress echocardiography, while demonstrating the attitudes and behaviours necessary for the role of a Consultant Clinical Scientist within a patient- focused service.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will critically analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply their expert knowledge of echocardiography in adult and/or paediatric patients, including:

• indications for echocardiography in emergency, inpatient and outpatient settings;
• ethics and sensitivities of patient care;
• principles of ultrasound imaging, spectral and colour flow Doppler, instrumentation and scanning.
• standard methods of measurement and analysis;
• the echocardiographic assessment of ventricular structure and function in normal and abnormal cases;
• the echocardiographic assessment of the cardiac valves in normal and abnormal cases, including prosthetic heart valves;
• echocardiographic assessment of the thoracic aorta in normal (e.g. screening) and abnormal cases;
• use of echocardiography to assess the right heart;
• measurement of pulmonary artery pressure;
• role and echocardiographic assessment of patients with suspected or confirmed endocarditis, intracardiac mass, or pericardial disease;
• indications for and limitations of advanced echocardiography: tissue Doppler/strain analysis, contrast echo, 3D echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography, stress echocardiography, perioperative echocardiography.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current research and its application to the performance, adaptation and mastery of a range of clinical and communication skills in adult and/or paediatric patients and will:

• use appropriate echo probes, machines and applications to obtain standard views and measurements and optimise controls;
• undertake appropriate care of echo machine;
• performance of a complete, comprehensive transthoracic echocardiogram in adults, in the emergency, inpatient and outpatient settings;
• interpret, measure and analyse a transthoracic echocardiogram in adults, in the emergency, inpatient and outpatient settings;
• produce a comprehensive echocardiogram report;
• reflect on the challenges of applying research to practice in relation to the clinical use of echocardiography and suggest improvements, building on a critique of available evidence.

Attitudes and behaviours

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to critically evaluate their own response to both normal and complex situations, consistently demonstrating the professional attributes and insights required of a Clinical Scientist in HSST Consultant Clinical Scientist working within the limits of professional competence, referring as appropriate to senior staff, and will:

• interact appropriately with patients;
• appreciate the role and limitations of echocardiography;
• work with and where appropriate educate cardiac physiologists.