April 2020

Cardiac point of care ultrasound provides rapid bedside diagnosis of important cardiovascular pathology and is performed by a growing number of users in a variety of clinical settings. Echocardiographers and sonographers may be asked to play a role in training practitioners in cardiac ultrasound who come from disciplines outside of the cardiovascular field. These trainees’ backgrounds, needs, objectives, and available time can create challenges and opportunities for echocardiography laboratories. Furthermore, the presence of additional learners in the echocardiography laboratory will require additional resources. The following recommendations are intended as practical resource to assist echocardiography laboratories to train partners in the provision of high quality cardiac ultrasound: 1: Identify Trainee Needs; 2: Employ Educational Resources; 3: In General, Avoid Certifying Global Competency; 4: Count the Cost in Echocardiography Laboratory Resources; 5. Advocate for Resources to Meet Extra Needs.