The 21st Century Echocardiography Laboratory in Australia and New Zealand: Rapid Evolution of Training and Workforce, Practice and Technology

Brown, Lynn; Swan, A.; Whalley, Gillian

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2019.03.010

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Alongside the technological advances and broadening clinical applications in use, questions of workforce and access to echocardiography in resource poor settings have arisen. Brown and colleagues [24] remind us that, in addition to increase in clinical demand, our populations are ageing and survival from cardiovascular (CV) diseases is improving; as a result, the number of older patients with pre-existing CV disease needing echocardiographic evaluation is also growing. Due to these increasing demands, future training and practice models are likely to evolve.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Due to these increasing demands, future training and practice models are likely to evolve. Brown and colleagues envision an echocardiography laboratory of the future where much of the measurement and analysis of echocardiograms can be performed off-line, and where new technologies, such as 3D and speckle tracking will be incorporated into clinical guidelines; they say there is no doubt that artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics will change the way echocardiographers work [24].…”

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confidence: 99%

“…As Brown and colleagues say, we are beginning to appreciate that the future is likely to involve multi-modal imaging where echocardiography plays its role alongside other modalities, like CMR and cardiac CT. Further, echocardiography equipment will continue to become more specialised and powerful but simultaneously simpler, as in the case of handheld transducers allowing for clinician-performed ultrasound [24]. Measurements performed are likely to be more automated with the significant increase in artificial intelligence, which will improve test-retest variability and improve reproducibility.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Echocardiography: Navigating Complexities to Provide Many Useful Applications in Contemporary Clinical Cardiology

Gregory

Stanton

Thomas

et al. 2019

Heart, Lung and Circulation

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Echocardiography has been around for more than half a century [1]. Recent decades have seen significant technological advances, with increasing clinical applications of this non-invasive imaging tool, beyond the basic assessment of left ventricular function, with further evolution evident on the horizon. There has also been a burgeoning increase in use: According to the 2017 Australian Medicare Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Taskforce, about 900,000 echocardiographic procedures (excluding stress echo) are reimbursed annually, at a cost of over $180 million each year [2]. In addition, the use of echo is growing at a rate of about 8.8% each year [3]. Stress echocardiography accounts for over $56 million in billing annually in Australia and has grown each year at a rate of 12% for the past 5 years [4]. In recognition of this expanding use, this fully commissioned Special Issue of Heart, Lung and Circulation presents an overview of contemporary practice in echocardiography.

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Echocardiography: Navigating Complexities to Provide Many Useful Applications in Contemporary Clinical Cardiology

Gregory

Stanton

Thomas

et al. 2019

Heart, Lung and Circulation

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“…Having sonographers with advanced training may improve reporting efficiency while retaining senior sonographers by providing additional career opportunities. 4…”

Section: The Importance and Job Responsibilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Advanced Cardiac Sonographer: A Decade of Impact!

Bierig¹

2022

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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“…Having sonographers with advanced training may improve reporting efficiency while retaining senior sonographers, which provides additional career opportunities. 6 The aim of this research study was to evaluate the improvement in patient examination completeness and efficiency, with the addition of ACS, in hospital and clinic settings.…”

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Impact of Advanced Cardiac Sonographers on Exam Completeness in the Echocardiography Laboratory

Guthrie,

Bierig

2023

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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Objective: Laboratory accreditation has been shown to impact variability and completeness. However, little data exist demonstrating the impact of personnel credentialing on completeness and efficiency. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate exam completeness and efficiency among staff with an advanced cardiac sonographer (ACS) credential, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer or Registered Cardiac Sonographer and noncredentialed staff. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of adult and pediatric echocardiograms at eight facilities in three states. Exam completeness was compared with Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) standards and completeness by pathology was compared with the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) standards. Results: This study was based on the review of 1147 patient cases. Of the cases reviewed, 60.3% were performed by credentialed (non-ACS) sonographers, 28.3% were completed by credentialed ACS, and 11.3% by noncredentialed staff. The credentialed staff completed exams ≤ 12 hours. The exams were reviewed for compliance with IAC standards and completed by ACS staff: 80.0% in aortic stenosis and 55.6% in non-ACS staff. Those patient cases for mitral regurgitation (14/19) were 73.7% IAC compliant, cases completed by credentialed non-ACS (20/56) were 35.7% compliant, and those completed by noncredentialed sonographers (2/11) only 18.2% were compliant. Cases specific to patent ductus arteriosus were 92.1% compliant with IAC standards that were completed by ACS compared with 77.9% completed by non-ACS staff. Cases of pulmonary hypertension were also evaluated for IAC compliance and 61.8% met the standard with ASE versus 41.7% completed by non-ACS. Conclusion: Examinations performed by ACS are more often complete in important pathology. Examination efficiency is highest among credentialed sonographers.

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The 21st Century Echocardiography Laboratory in Australia and New Zealand: Rapid Evolution of Training and Workforce, Practice and Technology

Cited by 3 publications

References 17 publications

Echocardiography: Navigating Complexities to Provide Many Useful Applications in Contemporary Clinical Cardiology

Echocardiography: Navigating Complexities to Provide Many Useful Applications in Contemporary Clinical Cardiology

The Advanced Cardiac Sonographer: A Decade of Impact!

Impact of Advanced Cardiac Sonographers on Exam Completeness in the Echocardiography Laboratory

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