Skills Course in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
BIRMINGHAM 6th & 7th October 2008

This course is designed to assess and train specific skills in diagnostic ultrasound for musculoskeletal disorders. It has proved very successful in previous years. Places on this course are in high demand and as there are only a limited number of places, you are strongly advised to book early.

It is particularly aimed at radiologists, sonographers, physicians, surgeons and rheumatologists who use or would like to use diagnostic ultrasound in sports medicine, rheumatology, orthopaedics and trauma. No knowledge or understanding of the topic is required but tailored pre-course reading material will be advised to establish core knowledge and provide necessary background for those with established skills. A questionnaire will be sent to delegates following booking to ascertain level of experience. A CD Rom containing educational material will be sent to delegates in advance of the course to allow some background factual learning. The assessments and tuition will be in small groups working closely with skeletal radiologists and rheumatologists who have recognised expertise in this field and practice in a wide range of centres in the UK. There will be no formal lectures, and there will be a high tutor to delegate ratio.

The content of the course will be tailored to the delegates. An agreed set of achievable goals and skills will be defined for each participant. After initial assessment by questionnaire the new skills will be taught in small, streamed groups using volunteers and patients. The participant will learn and demonstrate a new set of skills by the end of the course. There will be the opportunity to revise and repeat skills that are complex or difficult to attain. A multiple choice test and formal appraisal of examination technique will be employed to appraise each delegate. We will issue an individual and confidential report written by the tutors advising delegates on their current level of skill and newly acquired skills. Delegates will also each be advised of future learning objectives and experience needed to attain a higher level of personal expertise. By the end of the course, delegates should attain a clear understanding of their own skills and level of training.

The course is intended to aid the delegate in their practice by defining their strengths and weaknesses. It is not a certification in MSK US and it does not substitute for supervised experience of considerable number of cases. The Royal College of Radiologist guidance document on US training (Ultrasound Training Recommendations for Medical and Surgical Specialities RCR Jan 2005 http://www.rcr.ac.uk/index.asp?PageID=310 ) defines the level of expertise and amount of training experience that would be needed to practice independently.

Call 0121 204 3800 for more details

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