Training activity information
Details
Select appropriate ophthalmic imaging equipment and set it up
Type
Entrustable training activity (ETA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee repeatedly, consistently, and effectively over time, in a range of situations. This may include occasions where the trainee has not successfully achieved the outcome of the activity themselves. For example, because it was not appropriate to undertake the task in the circumstances or the trainees recognised their own limitations and sought help or advice to ensure the activity reached an appropriate conclusion.
Reflection at multiple timepoints on the trainee learning journey for this activity.
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
- What does success look like?
- Identify what is expected of you in relation to this specific activity, considering learning outcomes related to creating imaging plans, performing and interpreting a range of ophthalmic imaging modalities, employing effective communication, assessing and managing risks in the testing environment, and selecting and operating ophthalmic imaging equipment.
- What does appropriate equipment selection and setup look like for a specific patient or imaging plan? How do you ensure the equipment is ready and safe to use?
- Discuss with your training officer to gain clarity on what is expected of you when selecting and setting up equipment.
- What is your prior experience of this activity?
- Think about what you already know about ophthalmic imaging equipment, different modalities (e.g., OCT, colour fundus camera, slit lamp), and how to set them up.
- Consider possible challenges you might face, such as equipment malfunctions, compatibility issues, unfamiliar interfaces, or space constraints, and think about how you might handle them.
- Recognise the scope of your own practice for this activity, i.e., know when you will need to seek advice or help, and from whom, regarding complex setups or troubleshooting.
- Acknowledge how you feel about selecting appropriate equipment and setting it up.
- What do you anticipate you will learn from the experience?
- Consider the specific skills you want to develop in equipment selection, setup, and initial checks – drawing upon previous experiences.
- Identify specific insights you hope to gain, perhaps regarding the nuances of setting up different equipment types, optimising settings for image quality, or ensuring patient safety during setup.
- What additional considerations do you need to make?
- Consult actions identified following previous experience of equipment setup or handling, if any.
- Identify important information you need to consider before embarking on the activity, such as the specific imaging plan requirements, equipment availability, room layout, and safety protocols.
In action
- Is anything unexpected occurring?
- Are you noticing anything surprising or different from what you anticipate while selecting and setting up the ophthalmic imaging equipment?
- Are you encountering situations such as a piece of equipment failing a pre-use check, the required settings proving incompatible, or unfamiliar connections complicating the physical setup?
- How is this experience comparing with previous experiences of similar activities, like setting up different types of equipment?
- How are you reacting to the unexpected development?
- Identify how this is impacting your actions during the selection and set up. Are you responding to the situation appropriately? Are you adapting or changing your approach? Is it affecting your ability to undertake the activity independently?
- In the moment, what steps are you taking, such as immediately re-checking cable connections, consulting relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), or seeking advice from a more experienced colleague regarding a complex technical fault?
- How are you feeling in this moment? Are you finding it difficult to adapt your established setup protocol? Is the equipment failure affecting your confidence in completing the setup safely?
- What is the conclusion or outcome?
- Identify how are you working within your scope of practice when selecting and setting up ophthalmic imaging equipment e.g., are you successfully troubleshooting minor issues but escalating major faults to engineering?
- Identify what are you learning as a result of the unexpected development e.g., a new technique for verifying equipment compatibility?
On action
- What happened?
- Begin by summarising the key points of the experience of selecting and setting up the ophthalmic imaging equipment.
- Consider specific events, actions, or interactions that felt important during the setup process, such as confirming safety checks, achieving correct equipment compatibility, or managing logistics.
- Include any ‘reflect-in-action’ moments, where you had to adapt to the situation as it unfolded, for instance, troubleshooting a minor equipment issue or quickly confirming settings. How did you feel during this experience?
- How has this experience contributed to your developing practice?
- Identify what learning you can take from this experience regarding equipment selection and setup.
- What strengths did you demonstrate e.g., efficiency in setting up, adherence to safety protocols?
- What skills and/or knowledge gaps were evident (e.g., unfamiliarity with specific calibration requirements or complex interfaces?
- Compare this experience against previous equipment setup activities. Were any previously identified actions for development achieved? Has your practice in equipment setup improved?
- Identify any challenges you experienced during setup e.g., equipment malfunction, technical incompatibility and how you reacted to these. Did this affect your ability to deal with the situation? Were you able to overcome the challenges?
- Identify anything significant about the activity, such as needing to seek advice or clarification regarding setup or escalating to ensure you were working within your scope of practice.
- Acknowledge any changes in your own feelings now you are looking back on the experience.
- What will you take from the experience moving forward?
- Identify the actions you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learnt, including from any feedback you have received on your ability to select and set up equipment.
- What will you do differently next time you select and set up equipment? Has anything changed in terms of what you would do if you were faced with a similar situation again?
- Do you need to practise any aspect of the activity further? E.g., Practising pre-use checklists or refining your troubleshooting protocol.
Beyond action
- Have you revisited the experiences?
- Have you reviewed the actions identified in your previous reflections for selecting appropriate ophthalmic imaging equipment and setting it up?
- What specific actions did you previously identify you would need to take to improve your practice, such as refining your process for selecting equipment based on patient needs or referral information, or improving your setup procedures? Have you completed these previously identified actions? If so, how did completing them impact your subsequent performance of this activity? Are you ready to demonstrate this new learning confidently and consistently when selecting and setting up equipment?
- Engage in professional storytelling about managing unexpected equipment challenges, troubleshooting equipment failure during setup, or justifying the selection of specific imaging equipment based on patient flow or resource limitations with peers, near peers, or colleagues. Has discussing these experiences changed your perspective or approach?
- How have these experiences impacted upon current practice?
- Consider how the accumulated learning from performing or reflecting on selecting and setting up equipment will support you in preparing for relevant observed ‘in-person’ assessments for the module. This includes Direct Observations of Practical Skills (DOPS) such as ‘Set up a patient and perform an OCT,’ ‘Set up a patient and perform colour fundus imaging,’ or ‘Set up a patient and perform a biometry’.
- How has your practice related to selecting and setting up equipment developed and evolved over time? This includes recognising when something related to this activity is beyond your scope of practice, such as complex equipment issues or requirements.
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Create imaging plans based on referral information. |
| # 2 |
Outcome
Perform and interpret a range of ophthalmic imaging modalities. |
| # 4 |
Outcome
Employ effective communication with a range of individuals including the patient and the multidisciplinary team. |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Assess and manage risks in the testing environment. |
| # 8 |
Outcome
Select and operate ophthalmic imaging equipment. |