subject: Echocardiography Training Programs [print this page] Echocardiography is increasingly used in the management of the critically ill patient as a non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring tool. Whilst in few countries specialized national training schemes for intensive care unit (ICU) echocardiography have been developed, specific guidelines for ICU physicians wishing to incorporate echocardiology into their clinical practice are lacking. Further, existing cardiography accreditation does not reflect the requirements of the ICU practitioner. The WINFOCUS (World Interactive Network Focused On Critical Ultrasound) ECHO-ICU Group drew up a document aimed at providing guidance to individual physicians, trainers and the relevant societies of the requirements for the development of skills in echocardiology in the ICU setting.
The essential components of basic training include independent work, supervised activities, and assessment programs. Through a structured independent reading and study program, trainees must acquire an understanding of the principles of ultrasound and indications for perioperative echocardiography. This independent work should be supplemented by regularly scheduled didactics such as lectures and seminars designed to reinforce the most important aspects of perioperative echocardiography. Under appropriate supervision the trainee learns to place the TEE probe, operate the ultrasonograph, and perform a TEE examination. Subsequently, some clinical work should be performed with progressively more independence. However, a practitioner with advanced training must review every examination performed by the trainee with him/her.
People who want to work as an echo cardiographer need to undergo echo training from one of the schools that is accredited by (CAAHEP) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. If you find that you do not have the necessary funds or the time to complete an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in Cardiac Sonography or Echocardiography, there are some certificate programs that can still help you land a job as an echo cardiographer.
If you fell however that you stand a better chance of getting a job as an echo cardiographer with the help of as associate degree, which is what a lot of employers look for when they try to check your credentials for your echocardiography training and educational background, then you might want to choose to enroll in an associate course for this job. There are a number of schools that offer on-campus and online or off-campus courses for this kind of a profession. While most of the lessons that you will study with an online course for this kind of a job can be done via the internet, you will still be required to complete at least a year of specialty training and clinical experiences to be able to graduate from such a course.
If you are a graduate of any two year Allied Health course from an accredited school, you can also get echocardiography training courses from certain well known medical institutions to help you become an echo cardiographer. The training programs that these highly-acclaimed and well known medical institutions have for those who wish to become echo cardiographers are often full time, hands-on courses that take you a little over a year to finish. These courses will include academic courses as well as clinical training that will teach you the principles of cardiography, the physics of echocardiology and will also include courses on the technology and instrumentation of cardiac sonography.
You will also find that before you can be admitted to these shorter period courses that can give you the chance to work as an echo cardiographer, you will need to have completed some of the prerequisite coursework needed for admission to this kind of a training program. Some of the prerequisite courses you need to have finished before applying for a slot on training courses like the one mentioned above include college algebra, college physics, human anatomy and physiology and medical terminology, to name but a few.
