1-day Focused Acute Medicine Echocardiography (FAME) course

The Acute Medicine, Critical Care and Cardiovascular directorates are proud to be relaunching the FAME2 Echocardiography course for GSTT healthcare professionals.

Key Information

• No prior experience of echocardiography required
• 4 hours of hands on practical scanning, using a variety of high end echo machines from leading industry vendors, with live models and real time feedback from expert faculty
• Small group sizes for scanning sessions
• Interactive seminars and numerous case examples on how to assess patients with left ventricular, right ventricular, pericardial and valvular abnormalities
• Interactive echo cases reviewing the use of screening echocardiography in real clinical scenarios
• Limited spaces
• Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis
• Personally signed copy of “Echocardiography: A Practical Guide for Reporting & Interpretation” to support continued learning beyond the course

About the course

FAME II is a 1-day Focused Acute Medicine Echocardiography (FAME) course that covers both theoretical and practical echocardiography skills required for healthcare professionals working in acute medicine. This course is the first step to achieving FUSIC echocardiography accreditation or BSE level 1 accreditation.

The course includes lectures from experienced FAME faculty, as well as 4 hours of individual practical scanning sessions.

FAME II is FUSIC accredited and supported by the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE).

Course Content

• Introduction to echocardiography, the role of focussed scans and BSE level 1
• Basics of ultrasound and machine controls, general ‘knobology’
• Acquisition and interpretation of the four main echocardiography windows: PLAX, PSAX, Apical 4-Chamber and subcostal view.
• Additional requirements for BSE: Obtaining measurements, colour flow doppler and using M mode.
• Practical scanning of live participants and state-of-the-art pathology simulation machines.
• Interactive case review session using real life cases.
• How to get FUSIC and BSE Level 1 sign off, overview of accreditation requirements.

How is the course taught?

The FAME II course will begin with a range of short introductory lectures covering the basics of echocardiography, knobology and how to obtain the four main echocardiography windows. Following this, attendees will have dedicated practical scanning sessions to put theory into practice and gain confidence in achieving the basics of echocardiography.

In the afternoon, we will focus on recognising pathology, image optimisation, taking measurements and applying colour doppler. This will be followed by further practical scanning sessions on live participants and simulator machines with a broad range of common pathology. Our faculty will be on hand throughout the sessions to assist you in achieving the views and recognising pathology.

The course finishes with an interactive case review session using real life cases to consolidate the skills and knowledge attendees will obtain during the day.