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Frequently Asked Questions
Building Ultrasound Career Guide
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1. How to learn ultrasonography in Australia? Where to get started in incorporating clinical ultrasound into practice?
In simplest terms, clinical ultrasound can be used as an extension of clinical evaluation by all medical practitioners. Think of it as “ultrasound assisted clinical evaluation”, and so basic ultrasound of the heart, lungs, deep veins, abdomen, musculoskeletal system and even during pregnancy simply improves the diagnostic fidelity of routine clinical evaluation. In this most complex form, ultrasound forms a part of specialties such as cardiology or radiology.
Many universities are now teaching basic clinical ultrasound as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum. In a few years’ time this is likely to be routine across most universities. This is where you get started in incorporating clinical ultrasound into your practice. However, it is just the start and like most medical skills, needs further training to improve knowledge and skill. To this end, there are number of options available including purely online learning, or blended learning program such as workshops or simulator-based programs. Within clinical learning, mentors will help guide and check skills and interpretation.
The Ultrasound Education Group in the Melbourne Medical School, at the University of Melbourne already has many options available from simple online courses to graduate award programs such as certificate, diploma, or master courses; as well as a suite of workshop and simulated base courses.
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2. What are other specialties in ultrasound?
In the future, all doctors should be able to perform basic clinical ultrasound. The range and type of ultrasound scans will depend on the scope of practice of the medical practitioner. Within each specialty craft group, there will also emerge a group of practitioners who become advanced clinical ultrasound usages.
For example, in the critical care specialties (anaesthesia, intensive care and emergency medicine) all doctors should be able to perform basic clinical ultrasound, but some will become experts including applications such as transoesophgeal echocardiography. The two core specialties where ultrasound is seen as a subspecialty is cardiology and radiology. Practitioners become very expert in their field of ultrasound use, and typically will supervise ultrasound laboratories which are staffed by ultrasound sonographers.
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3. What is the future of diagnostic sonography?
The uptake of clinical ultrasound by non-cardiology/radiology practitioners is a highly disruptive process that is excellent for patient care. The ability to more accurately diagnose medical conditions during their first presentation will enormously improve patient care and probably reduce cost due to misdiagnosis.
However, when abnormalities are detected with basic ultrasound, there will frequently be a need to confirm and quantify the diagnosis and severity with more advanced ultrasound imaging. It is likely that specialists in diagnostic sonography will see fewer “normal studies” but more studies with pathology. Furthermore, over time more basic uses will extend their knowledge and skill to diagnostic level. Within departments or groups of practitioners from multiple specialties including general practice specialists, there will be “in-house” ability to confirm findings from basic ultrasound.
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4. What is the difficulties and challenges while studying ultrasound?
Studying ultrasound has two key components-knowledge and practical skills. When a practitioner starts to learn ultrasound, the knowledge, hands on learning, and practice of roughly equal proportions. However, as the transition from basic to advanced practitioner the greatest proportion of learning is knowledge.
When starting, it is important to have a systematic approach to learning and starting with basic before tackling advanced topics. It is important to have good instruction on how to perform the ultrasound in a systematic manner and then applying it in practice.
One of the difficulties is when students have a burst of learning and then don’t practice. We highly recommend that the student tries to perform a number of echocardiography studies early on to boost their confidence. We know that after about 30 scans, their confidence improved enormously and the rate of continued learning begins to slow.
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5. What is the difficulties and challenges while studying ultrasound online?
Online learning is very good for delivering knowledge and for practicing interpretation. Part of that learning is how to perform the scan. However, sooner rather than later, the student does need to learn and practice the actual acquisition of ultrasound images-and that cannot be done online.
It is best to think of the online learning as a part of a blended learning program whereby the knowledge and interpretive practice is delivered online and the hands-on learning and practice must be done with the patient.
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6. Is ultrasound scan safe, what should I pay attention to when performing a scan?
The ultrasound scan is considered completely safe. This includes ultrasound scans during pregnancy. Some types of ultrasound scans are considered “invasive procedures” where body cavities are entered, and then there is risk of damage to the body organ or discomfort to the patient.
For example, Transoesophageal echocardiography or vaginal ultrasound are examples. When performing a scan, it is important to consider how to position and expose the patient maintaining their privacy at all times.
Physical pressure of the probe on the skin can be uncomfortable, particularly if there is bruising or fractures around the site that you’re putting the ultrasound probe onto. Sometimes, one has to not scan a certain part for the patient comfort sake.
Study Portal
Exam Extension Request:
You will need to have your student number handy please allow 24 hours for processing.
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound
Graduate Diploma in Clinical Ultrasound
MEDI90056 | Advanced Anatomy and Doppler Analysis |
MEDI90057 | Advanced Valve and Aortic Pathology |
MEDI90058 | Applications of Echocardiography |
MEDI90059 | Advanced Echocardiography |
Masters in Clinical Ultrasound
MEDI90046 | Echocardiography and New Technologies |
MEDI90083 | Research Methods and Ultrasound Literature |
MEDI90047 | Congenital, Obstetric and Medical Conditions |
Graduate Diploma in Perioperative Medicine
MEDI90103 | Prehabilitation and Risk Assessment |
MEDI90104 | Enhanced Recovery After Surgery |
MEDI90105 | Perioperative Complications |
MEDI90106 | Post-op Quality of Recovery Practicum |
Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care
VETS90036 | Cardiovascular and Respiratory Emergencies |
VETS90037 | Abdominal and Urogenital Emergencies |
VETS90038 | Haemato, Neurological and Global Conditions |
VETS90039 | CPR, Eye Emergencies and Practical ECC |
Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Ultrasound
FAQ
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Booking the Simulator at Centre for Medical Research
DETAILS
We have a variety of simulators available for
Simulator bookings are only available to UOM students and staff members of Royal Melbourne Hospital.STEP 1
Please click the link to access the Simulator Booking System.STEP 2
Log in using your email address.STEP 3
An instruction is given on how to select a suitable simulator for your use in the booking system.
Please read it before you make the appointment.
Select the Suitable Simulator on the top right-hand corner.STEP 4
You can click on the Calendar on a preferred day (on the right-hand side) and time (below the calendar).
All booking session is to be booked in1 hour blocks. Multi-bookings are available.
Enter your full name and click 'Create Reservation'.Or, you can click Available tab, it will show you a list of time and available simulators within 24 hours.
You can modify this search at the bottom of the page.Please contact us on +61 3 9035 4739 or email mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au if you require assistance with your booking.
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Login issues check up
I'm getting an error when I try to login to the Tutorial Webviewer.
From 1 April 2021, all our courses are being delivered in our new learning portal. If you have not received an activation email for your courses please email us at mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au
How do I get my login details?
Our 'Getting Started' email is sent to you immediately after you successfully enrol in a course. This will contain your login details along with other information you need to get started.
Do a search of your inbox for 'Getting Started' to quickly locate this email.
Please check your junk mail if you do not see the 'Getting Started' email in your inbox.Contact our support team if you cannot find this email.
I’m seeing "The username or password you entered is incorrect.". What can I do?
If you have forgotten your password, use the 'Forgot your password' option on the login screen to reset your password.
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Cancellation & Transfer Policy
Participants are required to inform our office in writing if they need to cancel their place on a FUSE/FCU course. Requests to cancel a course or workshop or to transfer to another course or workshop must be sent by email to mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for the policy.
CME and CPD accreditation guide
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound | Graduate Diploma in Clinical Ultrasound | Master in Clinical Ultrasound | All Focused Ultrasound Simulator Education Simulator Courses | How to claim | Contact | |
ACEM | Yes - Contact ACEM for more information | Yes - Contact ACEM for more information | Yes - Contact ACEM for more information |
Workshops & Training, Procedural & Skills based 3 hours |
Complete the participant feedback form and submit it to us at echo-info@unimel.edu.au immediately upon completion of your course. We will then notify ACEM of your attendance at our course. | cpd@acem.org.au |
ANZCA |
Knowledge & Skills, 2 Credits per hour (up to maximum of 50 points per course) |
Knowledge & Skills, 2 Credits per hour (up to maximum of 50 points per course) |
Knowledge & Skills, 2 Credits per hour (up to maximum of 50 points per course) |
Knowledge & Skills, 2 Credits per hour (up to maximum of 50 points per course) |
Upload the evidence of your participation in the ANZCA CPD portfolio system using your college ID number and password. | cpd@anzca.edu.au |
ASUM | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Sign into MyASUM and log the details of your activity. More information here. | asum@asum.com.au |
CICM | Category 1B, 2 points per hour | Category 1B, 2 points per hour | Category 2B, 2 points per hour. | Pre-course learning: Category 1A, 1 point per hour or Category 2B, 2 points per hour. | Sign into the CICM members' portal and log the details of your activity. More information here. | stephanieh@cicm.org.au |
RACS | Not available | Not available | Not available | 1 Point per hour in Maintenance of Knowledge and Skills |
Notify us at mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au of your RACS membership number and the workshop that you attended immediately after completing your workshop. We will then notify RACS of your attendance. | college.sec@surgeons.org |
Graduate Courses in Clinical Ultrasound
These three award courses are offered to medical professionals who wish to obtain further expertise in medical ultrasound for clinical practice. All graduate courses are delivered online and require no contact hours.
Simulator Courses
Focused Ultrasound Simulator Education (FUSE) and Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FCU)
Clinical training and education are vital elements for any hospital’s growth. Our Focused Ultrasound Simulator Education (FUSE) and Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FCU) workshops have been developed to combine the advantages of eLearning and Simulator Self-training.
- FUSECOVID-19 Lung Course
- FUSEUltrasound Guided Peripheral Venous Access
- FCU Transoesophageal Echocardiography
- FCU Transoesophageal Echocardiography Advanced
- FCU Transthoracic Echocardiography
- FCU Transthoracic Echocardiography Advanced
- FCU Peri-Arrest
- FCU Institutional
- FUSELung and Gastric Ultrasound
- FUSEVascular Access
- Lung Ultrasound for Nurses and Physiotherapists
- FCU Transthoracic Echocardiography Certification
- WorkshopUltrasound Simulation Education Brisbane
Continuing Professional Development
Short Courses
Continuing Professional development for medical practitioners includes a range of activities to meet individual learning that is relevant to their scope of practice, in order to maintain, develop, update and enhance knowledge, skills and performance to ensure that they deliver appropriate and safe care
Micro Courses
These micro courses aim to provide topic focused educational courses in specific learning areas. These short courses are cost and time effective with the average learning time of 1 month for a single course or 3 months for a package course.
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences
Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care and Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Ultrasound Abdominal will provide students with comprehensive veterinary ultrasound diagnosis.
2022 Workshops
WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT TAKING NEW ENROLMENTS FOR 2022 WORKSHOPS.
2023 Workshop Schedule
To make sure we provide you with the opportunity to do the workshops you want, please fill in the wishlist and let us know. We will release 2023 dates in Jan/Feb 2023. on the website.
We are changing how we run our workshops in 2022 in order to provide more flexibility for you.
We will be focusing on running the following workshops for 2022:
FCU Transthoracic Echocardiography
FCU Transthoracic Echocardiography Advanced
FUSE Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Venous Access
If you wish to undertake another workshop we have not listed, please complete this form.
You can enrol at any time throughout the year, we will be publishing workshop dates to those enrolled quarterly. We plan to run each workshop 7 times throughout the year (from March to December), to ensure that each participant has the best opportunity to attend.
Each workshop is approximately 3 hours, generally, they will commence at 9 am. You need to be double vaccinated and provide us with your certificate two weeks prior to the workshop.
Workshops are limited to 5 participants, if a workshop is full you can put your name on the waitlist and you will be notified if a spot opens up. Please check your emails to ensure you don't miss out.
Contact Us
Office Direction
A: Level 6, Centre for Medical Research (entrance 5), Royal Parade, Parkville VIC 3050
P: (03) 8344 5673 | E: mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au
Headquarter
Research Overview
UEG comprises of academics, including Prof Alistair Royse (Cardiothoracic surgeon, Deputy Director of Surgery), Prof Colin Royse (Anaesthetist) and Dr David Canty (Anaesthetist, Senior Lecturer), who supervise higher research degree students, undergraduate medical students performing research projects, and post-graduated clinicians pursuing active research and education projects.
Research themes include a wide range of ultrasound including transoesophageal echocardiography for cardiac surgery, clinical point of care diagnostic ultrasound of heart, lungs, abdomen, vascular, invasive procedures, and new techniques. Other active areas of research include cardiac surgery, cardiothoracic anaesthesia, postoperative quality of recovery in all types of surgery, and medical education.
History
The Ultrasound Education Group (UEG) was founded in 2004 at the University of Melbourne's Department of Surgery by Professors Alistair and Colin Royse. With advancement in recent technology, Portable Ultrasound Machine will be ubiquitous and affordable for professionals across different areas of healthcare industry in the near future.
Our mission is to equip holistic knowledge for medical practitioners to perform Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis. By combining eLearning with hands-on simulator workshops and and live-model practices, delivered by world-renowned experts in the field, we open the Pathway to Ultrasound Future for all healthcare professionals around the world.
The first course created was the Postgraduate Diploma of Perioperative and Critical Care Echocardiography. Over time this has expanded to the current portfolio which includes Graduate Certificate, Diploma and Master of Clinical Ultrasound. The iHeartScan and iHeartScan Advanced workshops were also developed, and more recently the Focused Ultrasound Simulator Education TTE, TOE, Peri-Arrest, Vascular and Lung and Gastric courses which integrate eLearning with simulators to reinforce practical components.
Our Mobile Learning Platform can be accessed, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any device!
Impact
In Australia, there are roughly 6500 anaesthetists and intensive care physicians. Over 2500 students have graduated from our award courses, and over 3000 have completed one of our workshops or getting started packages. To put this in perspective, we believe we have trained approximately 40% of the entire pool of anaesthetists and intensive care physicians in Australia.
Testimonial
The course has been so useful in fact the other day I was reading a tutorial then when at work the same scenario occurred and I was able to directly save a life because of that knowledge. Very grateful, thank you.
Anaesthetist
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From a MBBS, MRCP (UK), FANZCA, Anaesthetics
With regards to the iHEART scan; 'An accessible, informative and hugely relevant workshop. Highly recommended
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From an Anaesthetics Registrar
I have found the Diploma course to be excellent preparation for a career in this field and well recognised by all my peers. The content and presentation of the course material is excellent and provides an in-depth knowledge of echocardiography and its clinical application. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is interested in echocardiography from a critical care background.
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From a Cardiologist
The courses are very well organized, professional and applicable in clinical ultrasound and echocardiography. Staff from Ultrasound Education Group of The University of Melbourne are very helpful
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From an Anaesthesia Fellow
The course did a fabulous job of equipping me with the knowledge base I need in order to be competent and effective in echocardiography. I heartily recommend this for anyone who needs flexibility of correspondence combined with the authority of a qualification from a respected institution
Featured
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