Training activity information
Details
Perform acceptance testing and quality assurance on a range of specialist ultrasound scanners and transducers to include:
- Echocardiography
- Brachytherapy/urology
- Bladder scanners
- Point of care ultrasound (POCUS)
- Breast screening with elastography
- Trans-oesophageal echocardiogram (TOE)
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Range of commercial phantoms and applications
- Phantom selection
- Advantages and limitations of phantoms
- Primary monitor QA
- Appropriate scanner presets
- Impact on clinical application
- Common clinical measurements and normal ranges
- Alignment and registration issues in needle/therapy guidance
- Computer analysis
- Guidelines for quality assurance for specific national screening protocols
- Remedial actions and removal from service
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- Explore the specific acceptance testing and quality assurance protocols used in your department for each type of scanner and transducer listed. What test equipment and phantoms are required for these procedures? Understand the relevant performance standards and safety guidelines (e.g., IPEM Reports, IEC standards) for ultrasound equipment.
- Consider the specific technical skills you hope to gain in performing these tests and interpreting the results. Think about what you already know about ultrasound physics and image quality.
- How will these tests help you assess the practical performance of the equipment? Anticipate learning about common faults and performance issues that can arise with different types of ultrasound equipment.
- Discuss the specific procedures and equipment involved with your training officer or experienced colleagues. Review the manufacturer’s guidelines and relevant quality assurance manuals for the ultrasound systems you will be testing. Consider possible challenges, such as equipment malfunctions or unexpected test results, and think about how you might troubleshoot these.
- Identify how you feel about undertaking these technical procedures. Do you feel prepared, or do you anticipate needing specific guidance?
In action
- Which specific tests are you currently performing on the ultrasound scanner or transducer?
- How are you setting up the equipment and phantoms for each test? What measurements are you taking, and how are you recording them?
- What criteria are you using to assess whether the equipment is within acceptable limits?
- Which parts of the testing protocol feel more automatic, and which require more focused attention?
- Are the test results as you expected? If not, what are you noticing?
- What difficulties are you encountering with specific tests or types of equipment (e.g., elastography probes)?
- What are you learning about the practical aspects of acceptance testing and quality assurance as you perform these tasks?
- How do the different types of scanners and transducers compare in terms of the testing process?
- If you encounter unexpected results or equipment issues, how are you adjusting your testing procedure?
- Do you need to consult any protocols or seek guidance at this moment?
- Are you ensuring you are following correct procedures and safety guidelines as you perform the tests?
On action
- What were the key differences you observed in the acceptance testing and quality assurance procedures for the different types of ultrasound scanners and transducers (Echocardiography, Brachytherapy/urology, Bladder scanners, POCUS, Breast screening with elastography, TOE)?
- What were the most common issues or deviations you noted during the testing?
- Were there any specific tests or equipment that required more attention or presented particular challenges?
- What new skills or knowledge did you develop or improve in performing acceptance testing and quality assurance on these specialist ultrasound systems?
- Did you gain a better understanding of the performance standards and safety requirements for different ultrasound applications?
- What did you learn about the practical application of quality assurance protocols?
- How will this experience inform your approach to future acceptance testing and quality assurance tasks?
- What areas for continued development have you identified in your QA skills or knowledge?
- What specific actions will you take to further develop these areas?
- How can you apply the learning from this activity to your routine practice?
Beyond action
- Have you since performed further acceptance testing or quality assurance on ultrasound equipment, and have you noticed any patterns or common issues across different types of scanners and transducers?
- Revisiting your reflections, have your skills and confidence in performing these procedures improved with subsequent practice?
- Have you compared the QA processes for ultrasound with those for other imaging modalities, and what similarities or differences have you observed?
- Has your understanding of the importance of QA and acceptance testing influenced how you use ultrasound equipment and interpret images in your current work?
- Have you been more attuned to potential equipment faults or performance issues as a result of this training activity?
- How has the knowledge gained about specific QA tests for different applications (e.g., echocardiography, elastography) informed your understanding of the technical aspects of these scans?
- As you take on more responsibility, how might your experience with acceptance testing and QA contribute to service improvement or equipment procurement decisions?
- What problem-solving skills or attention to detail did you develop through this training activity that will be valuable in future technical roles?
- Considering the ongoing development of ultrasound technology, how will your understanding of fundamental QA principles help you adapt to new equipment and techniques?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Use ultrasound scanners, applying basic and advanced modality controls. |
| # 3 |
Outcome
Assess the performance and safety of ultrasound scanners used in common clinical applications, including advanced imaging techniques. |
| # 4 |
Outcome
Appy image processing techniques to extract information from ultrasound images. |