European Association of Echocardiography recommendations for training, competence, and quality improvement in echocardiography

Abstract

The main mission statement of the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE) is 'to promote excellence in clinical diagnosis, research, technical development, and education in cardiovascular ultrasound in Europe'. As competence and quality control issues are increasingly recognized by patients, physicians, and payers, the EAE has established recommendations for training, competence, and quality improvement in echocardiography. The purpose of this document is to provide the requirements for training and competence in echocardiography, to outline the principles of quality measurement, and to recommend a set of measures for improvement, with the ultimate goal of raising the standards of echocardiographic practice in Europe.

Safety of long-term treatment with cabergoline on cardiac valve disease in patients with prolactinomas

“…Both cardiologists worked on the same machine; therefore, technical sensitivity was always identical throughout the study. Standardized operating procedures were used based on international guidelines (40) and monthly meetings were conducted for quality control. The echocardiographic quantitative assessment was performed according to standard methods (41).…”

Indicaciones actuales del ecocardigrama transtorácico

“…En Europa se han publicado estándares para la solicitud del ecocardiograma transtorácico, la a c r e d i t a c i ó n d e l o s l a b o r a t o r i o s d e ecocardiografía y en el 2003 se realizaron los primeros exámenes de acreditación para los individuos entrenados que efectúan y reportan los exámenes ecocardiográficos, originando como misión de la sociedad Europea de Cardiología y Ecocardiografía "promover la excelencia en el diagnóstico clínico, investigación, desarrollo técnico y educación en ultrasonido cardiovascular en (4,5) Europa" . Las recomendaciones para el ecocardiograma transtorácico incluye el que sea realizado por un especialista o personal de salud con entrenamiento en ecocardiografía y se han establecido guías y sistemas de auditoria para revisar las solicitudes, reportes e historias clínicas de acuerdo a los hallazgos del ecocardiograma.…”

The use of echocardiography in acute cardiovascular care: Recommendations of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the Acute Cardiovascular Care Association

“…21 The experienced echocardiographer will generally use the two techniques (TTE and TOE) interchangeably in order to obtain the information required. The operator must take into account the pathophysiological status of the patient, frequently with rapidly changing haemodynamic support, and synthesize all information to provide the relevant guidance to the attending physician.…”

“…The operator must take into account the pathophysiological status of the patient, frequently with rapidly changing haemodynamic support, and synthesize all information to provide the relevant guidance to the attending physician. For performing TOE studies and advanced echocardiography techniques, operators should fulfil advanced echocardiography training requirements 21 and undergo specialized additional training in undertaking studies in the acute setting. Since echocardiographic examinations in patients with an acute cardiovascular condition are frequently requested as urgent/ emergency, it is suggested that all such studies should be supervised by an expert cardiologist with an advanced level of competence in echocardiography 19,21 and experienced in performing and interpreting echocardiography in the acute/ critical care setting.…”