Negotiated Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2

Course description

About this module

Building on your existing musculoskeletal ultrasound experience, the module will enable you to extend your skills to provide an enhanced ultrasound service in your own clinical area.

Working closely with a work place mentor, an academic supervisor and an expert advisor, you will be able to define your own learning needs and build a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates competence in an expanded area of practice.

Module content and planned learning outcomes will be agreed by formation of a negotiated learning contract that includes a minimum of two of the following areas of negotiated practice.

• Shoulder
• Hand, wrist and elbow
• Foot and ankle
• Hip and knee
• Rheumatology
• Neonatal hips
• Lumps, bumps and hernias
• Ultrasound guided injections

In all cases, learning contracts will include review of:

• Rationale for the development of a musculoskeletal ultrasound service.
• Current relevant international, national and local legislation, healthcare policy, professional guidelines.
• Relevant anatomy, physiology and pathology.
• Vetting and justification of ultrasound requests.
• Purpose of scan, common Indications, contraindications and limitations
• Patient presentation, preparation and consent.
• Clinical history and clinical examination of the patient
• Dynamic ultrasound assessment of the relevant area, image optimisation and interpretation
• Imaging and reporting protocols
• Comparison of ultrasound with other diagnostic tests and the relevance of ultrasound findings in patient management
• Clinical governance, self-audit and learning from discrepancies.
• Raising concerns, safeguarding, statutory requirements for reporting vulnerable patients.
• Liaison within medical and surgical teams; professional conduct and accountability.

The module is delivered by a combination of distance learning, supervised clinical practice and attendance at a small number of high intensity study days. Individual negotiation of a learning contract will identify intended learning outcomes and these are assessed by a portfolio of evidence.

Placement Learning

In line with CASE requirements, you will require access to a suitable clinical placement.

The total number of scanning hours will vary according to your own specific learning needs. You will be expected to have access to supervised training sessions throughout the duration of the module.

The goal of training is competency, and this must be demonstrated rather than rigid adherence to a fixed number of training scans.

All students must have access to a work place mentor who has the necessary skill and experience to assess final competence in the student’s specialist area. Normally, the Mentor will be based within your own Trust.