School of Cardiac Ultrasound

---

Hands-On Cardiac Imaging
Hands-On Cardiac Doppler
Hands-On Stress Echocardiography
Interpretation and Reporting of the Adult Echocardiogram

Foundations of Hands-On Ultrasound for Beginners (Sat-Sun)

Most of our Guests have had some informal exposure to ultrasound before they come to class; many have not. We created this course to close this gap from uncertainty to confidence, for any area you’ll come to work in.

Exactly what its name implies, this course is best short-term preparation possible. Even if you are already experienced, the classroom instruction alone will demystify virtually all of the academic concepts of ultra-sound physics and instrument controls. We will focus on the common, universal applications of ultrasound technology, using different organ systems as test models. Accordingly, we do not target your experience to a single organ system. We’ll also make use of several different manufactured systems to help you gain confidence in the common operation of any machine you will come to work with. 

The difference between mediocrity and expert is in any career field usually only about 2%. Complete this course and you’ll come away with knowledge and skills that will boost you far above the rest in your field.

Class runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm over two days. One half of your time will be spent in classroom lectures and one half in instructor-guided, small group hands-on sessions. 

Our clinical hands-on instructors personally guide each Guest through specific exercises to accomplish maximum skills development. Our hands-on approach is focused on optimizing your performance for any specialized exam. In-depth techniques for specialized applications are covered in our dedicated hands-on courses, conducted separately.

See how this course fits in to our Recommended Career Training Plans

top of page

Hands-On Cardiac Ultrasound Imaging (Mon - Thurs)

Cardiac ultrasound training is the reason Keith Mauney founded the company: As early as 1976 he saw contemporary methods of instruction either too shallow or pedantic, or too intimidating and insulting.

This course will change forever how you look at echocardiography, and it will do it in a positive setting you will remember for years to come. Imagine for a moment a small, personal class format where each person, regardless of background, title, or experience is respected, supported, and pleasantly challenged to master each of the cornerstone principles of echocardiography. It’s a reality here. This course is taught in two modules: half lecture, half hands-on. 

Small group, interactive lectures help you build the mindset you need to perform precisely the study of every valve, chamber, and wall of the adult heart. We’ll look at the interrelated role of structure and function as we systematically study each component of the entire heart.

We’ll begin with the normal heart and carefully study how an abnormality in one part affects all other parts, including other remote organs. Each lecture emphasizes the thought processes necessary to understand the integration of complex pathologic processes as they develop. Then, in small hands-on groups, we’ll work together on normal subjects to master the techniques for precision documentation and measurement of every single structure. And, most importantly, we’ll reveal all of the time-tested secrets to obtaining optimal images in each one of difficult subjects you’ll ever come to encounter. 

A key element of our learning strategy is to master the variations in technique required to overcome body
habitus challenges in normal subject types. Optional, self-directed hands-on practice after hours is not staffed with faculty or models.

Our goal is to create a lifelong systematic mindset, coupled of course with technical expertise.  Accordingly, our focus is on normal structural relationships in hands-on sessions; pathology is presented in lecture and case study analysis. 

Hands-on scan groups range from four to six per system. We'll personally guide you through specific exercises to accomplish quickly maximum skills-development.  And during hands-on your learning experience continues, even if your hands aren't on the probe: We'll work together as a group to solve problems, both real and proposed. And you'll have access to countless hours of video instruction both in, and after class.

Class runs from 8:30 am to 5 p.m. over five days. Includes course materials, complimentary continental breakfast and lunch.

Ten to twelve Guests usually comprise the class. Your peers will likely include a range from allied health professionals to physicians, all with limited or no formal hands-on experience in echocardiography.

See how this course fits in to our Recommended Cardiac Career Training Plans

top of page

Hands-On Cardiac Doppler (Fri - Mon)

A three-dimensional, physiologic approach to the functional assessment of cardiac disease states. Emphasizes principles of instrumentation and hydraulic physics to describe the use and value of both achromatic and color Doppler in both quantitative and qualitative applications. 

Imagine being able to perform and understand completely the summary of findings in a given echocardiogram, including Doppler.  It doesn’t take a lifetime of learning to build the framework that makes this possible. This course will complete your exposure to vital imaging skills obtained in our Hands-On Cardiac Imaging course by including the physiologic assessment of disease.  We’ll look at more than just structure; we'll integrate it with function.  Accordingly, we’ll go far beyond just the operation of the system in obtaining data. 

Together we’ll come to understand exactly what the findings mean. If your background is limited, so much the better:  As complex as the subject is, it all can be brought down to several easy-to-learn, bedrock principles which will guide you through every physiological condition you will ever encounter. And, as complex as the calculations appear to be, we’ll demystify them by using everyday analogies to explain their basis. 

If you are already expert in your understanding of the physical principles of the technology, you’ll find our technical expertise invaluable to assist you in forming the basis to perfect your technique and ultimately prepare for the ARDMS or CCI Registry Examinations. You'll find the experience similar in philosophy to our Cardiac Imaging course:  One half of your time will be spent in classroom lectures, half in small group hands-on sessions.  Our methods include lectures, in-class workshops, clinical case analysis, and small group hands-on learning laboratories. We'll personally guide you through specific exercises to accomplish quickly maximum skills-development.  And during hands-on your learning experience continues, even if your hands aren't on the probe:  We'll work together as a group to solve problems, both real and proposed.

Class runs from 8:30 am to 5 p.m. over four days. Includes course materials, complimentary continental breakfast and lunch.

Eight to twelve Guests usually comprise the class; this small group approach allows us to modify our learning plan to fit your needs.  Hands-on scan groups range from four to six per system. Your peers in class will likely range from allied health professionals to physicians, all with limited or no formal hands-on experience in echocardiography. Expect to have more fun–and accomplish more in a short time–than you ever have as an adult.

See how this course fits in to our Recommended Cardiac Career Training Plans

top of page

Hands-On Stress Echocardiography

Hands-on and interpretive instruction for both entry-level and experienced technologists and physicians already familiar with two-dimensional imaging. Separate learning tracks are offered during the interactive seminar. 

There are two levels of proficiency in stress echocardiography: Knowing what to do, and knowing what you're doing. 

This course will help you accomplish both. Together we will master every relevant element of the basis of myocardial contraction and integrate it into the heart's response to physical stress, including how it is measured and interpreted.  Literally every hour of the seminar builds further on the one before it, to ultimately bring you to an uncommon level of understanding of both the 'What' and the 'Why' of the procedure.

Class runs from 8:30 am to 5 p.m. the first two days and from 8:30 am until Noon on the third day. It is both hands-on and classroom intensive. Includes course materials, complimentary continental breakfast and lunch.  

Two thirds of Day One deals with the complete analysis of cardiac perfusion and function, in complete and appropriate detail; the remainder is spent in previewing the use of digital capturing system technology. 

The entire second day we'll spend together in the hands-on laboratory practicing the techniques of both exercise and pharmacologic stress.  We'll use normal subjects to practice safely the various methods of stress echo, and place particular emphasis on the method(s) you will be using upon your return.

The morning of Day Three ties the entire theoretical and practical elements together as we analyze clinical accuracy issues and view abnormal case studies.

Seven to ten Guests usually comprise the class. Your peers will likely include a range from allied health professionals to physicians, all experienced in the acquisition of standard 2-D image planes.  

See how this course fits in to our Recommended Cardiac Career Training Plans

top of page

Interpretation and Reporting of the Adult Echocardiogram

Provides a systematic framework of thought in which to evaluate data quality, measure dimensions and flow patterns, and integrate findings into a clear, concise report. Open to technologists and physicians. 

Echocardiography has been changed forever. The reality behind this fact has a very practical basis: Reimbursement for both professional and technical component services will be linked to credentialing of both facilities and the people who staff them, from the physician to the technologist.

Approximately one half of the physicians who take the American Society of Echocardiography national credentialing exam fail it. Included in this group are some of the brightest minds in cardiology, thus illuminating a significant shortcoming of the technical educational process available to them.

In August 1997, the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories began the process of voluntary credentialing of all echo facilities, regardless of the basis of their location. Shortly afterward, Third Party payers across the United States began announcing their intention to restrict payment based on credentialing and certification.  As of 2000 several states have already linked Medicare reimbursement to professional certification and facility credentialing.

Regardless of your previous training, you will benefit immensely from this systematic mindset approach to echocardiographic analysis. 

Our focus in this course is to present for you a systematic approach to cardiac ultrasound data analysis.  We will build the differential diagnosis through the interrelationship of clinical findings with the primary and secondary findings of M-Mode, 2-D, and Doppler data. Your flexible learning experience will integrate dynamic lectures with case examples in every categorical area of function. Complete written course materials will preserve every element of discourse for your future review. 

Class runs from 8:30 am to 5 p.m. the first two days and from 8:30 am to Noon on Day Three. Includes course materials, complimentary continental breakfast and lunch. All of your time will be spent in the classroom environment in a highly interactive format. Through the use of slide and lecture presentations we will carefully apply a common, systematic approach to the assessment of each categorical pathological state which might involve the heart. You will have multiple opportunities to privately assess your own level of skill in the analysis and concise reporting of data. 

Ten to fifteen Guests usually comprise the class. Your peers will likely include physicians from internal medicine and cardiology backgrounds as well as experienced technologists. This is not a hands-on seminar. Your entry-level or advanced hands-on skills can be refined in either our Hands-On Cardiac Imaging or Cardiac Doppler courses conducted continuously throughout the year. (Available also as a Custom Tutorial)

See how this course fits in to our Recommended Cardiac Career Training Plans

top of page