RDMS Information

RDMS Certification
IVUSS recognizes the skill set and training of RDMS trained individuals and the market need of veterinarians to avail themselves of those ultrasound skills in clinical small animal medicine. The RDMS role and RDMS IVUSS CERT status is not intended to act as a stand alone diagnostic tool without the support of specialist interpretation of the image set acquired by the RDMS. The RDMS and qualified veterinary specialist (ACVR, ACVIM, ABVP or similar) should work in tandem regarding image acquisition and interpretation in order to overcome any issues in remote interpretation of pathology.

The goal of the RDMS IVUSS Certification program to provide a structured training environment that allows a small animal sonographer to reach a defined level of veterinary ultrasonography expertise. Sonographers who are performing cardiac and abdominal ultrasound exams as an integral part of diagnostic work ups for veterinarians on a daily basis and desire credentials to reflect their expertise are especially suited. The credentialing and examination process necessary for IVUSS certification is both highly challenging and rewarding.

The role of the RDMS certification program in IVUSS

1. A form of credentials in veterinary clinical sonography
2. A peer reviewed mechanism to improve imaging skills
3. Incentive to improve their knowledge base through case reports, and a remote and direct testing process.
4. A society to belong to that shares their intellectual and business goals

The program combines extensive prerequisite criteria with two additional training tools. The first is the requirement for presentation of casebooks in each of the three areas. Participants will be required to submit a casebook of 24 cases.  A standardized format of case description, imaging protocol, follow-up verification, case discussion with extensive use of references will be followed. After completion of prerequisites and acceptance of casebooks, the participant will take an on-line final exam, involving practical case material, and a practical exam to be taken at the annual meeting.

RDMS of all disciplines may be suitable for IVUSS candidacy as long as the rest of the described criteria is met. It is expected that the candidate has and may document adequate experience to submit cases in the 3 categories cardiac, advanced abdomen and basic abdomen. The candidate will be assessed based on the quality of cases submitted.

Timeframe:

• Duration:
  • 3 years from time of enrollment to successful completion of the on-line examination.
  • If the timeframe is exceeded, a new enrollment is required.

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Prerequisites:

• Current ARDMS certification, listing specialty certification(s)
• Minimum one year experience in human sonography, with explanation of type of experience
• Written explanation of training with veterinary patients. Formal coursework in veterinary sonography should be listed, but is not required
• Verification of supervised veterinary case load within a specific time frame: a total of 500 veterinary cases performed within a two year period from the time of application (either before or after application is made). No less than 100 cases in each cardiac and abdominal are required. Two methods of verification can be available:
  • Three letters of reference: Two from the consulting veterinary specialists (ACVR, ACVIM or ABVP) will act as verification. One additional letter is required to verify the human work experience.
  • Case submissions for interpretation can also act as verification. The cases submitted will include a form which the specialist will fill out. The form is based on quality of submission, images, and presentation of the case. These case submission forms must be able to be audited if requested.
• Ultrasound system in the practice
• 5.0 to 7.5 MHz small footprint transducer minimum
• B- and M-mode
• Color Flow and Spectral (CW and PW) Doppler

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Casebooks

• Casebook of 24 clinical cases will be prepared by each participant.
• 8 cases each from basic abdomen, advanced abdomen, and echocardiography category.
• One "normal" case will be accepted for basic abdomen and echocardiography.
• Click here for an Abdominal Casebook Example
• Click here for an Echocardiography Casebook Example
• Cases can be submitted individually or in pairs to program organizers on-line. The feedback received for each case will help you streamline and improve the process of case submission, as well as become a better sonographer.
• No outside consultation or advice is acceptable. Specialist’s interpretation and report is included in each case presentation, but the specialist should not be consulted on presentation of the case as part of the casebook requirement here.
• Any evidence of outside consultation or advice will result in irreversible discontinuation from the program.
• Cases will be evaluated individually
• Cases will be evaluated on all image and clinical aspects (see casebook criteria)
• Participants may re-submit the same case with additional materials, as appropriate
• After submission of 10 unacceptable cases, the participant will be discontinued from the program with no financial reimbursement.

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The format of each case will be as follows:

• Case identifier with name of presenter, date of case presentation, name of patient
• Signalment
• History
• Physical examination findings
• Results of preliminary work-up (blood work, urinalysis, radiographs, etc. as appropriate)
• Complete set of ultrasound images (format varies with each topic)
• Interpretation of ultrasound examination (include the complete report by the interpreting specialist)
• Differentials
• Results of additional diagnostics, therapy, and/or confirmatory testing (surgery, cytology, histopathology, necropsy, etc. as appropriate)
• Definitive diagnosis
• Discussion of case
• References
• Word or pdf document similar to the case report examples provided with ultrasound images embedded in this document in jpeg format.
• If the file is too large for standard email then the document may be sent for free at www.yousendit.com
• Case studies not submitted in this format will not be accepted.
• Example case book submissions will be available upon enrollment.

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Case Book Criteria:

• Basic Abdomen:
  • One normal exam accepted.
  • Each case needs to include complete set of quality labeled images to include at least one image of each abdominal organ including common bile duct, iliac lymph nodes, etc. Pathological organs should be represented more thoroughly.
  • Choose cases with pathology in one of the following organs: liver, gall bladder, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder.
  • Examples include masses, urolithiasis, inflammatory changes, etc.
  • Choose cases that will have objective proof of your findings: surgical confirmation, histopathology or cytology, or necropsy reported.

   

• Advanced abdomen/soft tissue:
  • Each case needs to include complete set of quality labeled images to include at least one image of each abdominal organ including iliac lymph nodes. Pathological organs should be represented more thoroughly.
  • Appropriate cases will have pathology in any of the following organs: adrenal glands, reproductive organs, common bile duct, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, vascular, lymphatic, other small parts, non-cardiac intrathoracic pathology.
  • Choose cases that will have objective proof of your findings: surgical confirmation, histopathology or cytology, or necropsy reported. For the rare case in which confirmation was not possible, the differentials for the pathology imaged should be minimal such as an invasive adrenal tumor. Exhaustive differentials without definitive cytology or histopathology will be discouraged.
  • Demonstration of your knowledge and use of power and color Doppler, complex documentations such as portal hypertension, biopsy needle placement, shunt examinations will be highly regarded.

   

• Cardiac:
  • One normal accepted.
  • Include at least one feline and one canine echo.
  • Complete image set will include B mode images: right parasternal long axis four chamber, right parasternal long axis “five chamber” (LVOT), right parasternal short axis high base, LA/Ao, Mitral, and LV views, at least one, ideally 4-5 views from the apical and/or left parasternal view. M-Mode images will show measurements to include LA, Ao, LA/Ao, and standard LV measurements of wall thickness and chamber size, and calculated fractional shortening. Optional, yet where appropriate, demonstrate knowledge and use of EPSS, and left and right auricular views.
  • Spectral Doppler in canine should include the LVOT/aortic, RVOT/pulmonic, mitral and tricuspid flows, as well as an example of at least one color flow examination with explanations for each case submitted. If aliasing is present on PW then CW should be employed to quantify the lesion. Optional, yet where appropriate, demonstrate knowledge and use of insufficiencies, pressure gradients, transmitral flow, IVRT, pulmonary venous flow, etc.

• The format for cases should reflect how you perform an exam. Date of exam, name of patient and facility should be on all images.
• Sonographic description section should provide a radiology based description of the sonographic presentation without differentials. Use of references is appropriate here as well as in the differentials section.
• The discussion section of the case presentation should be the most extensive portion. It should reflect thorough research and use of references to support the sonographic findings, differentials, and case conclusion and discussion. All references should be cited in the text and no more than 50% of the references should be from textbooks. The remainder should be derived from published articles. A minimum of 5 references for each case should be utilized, but more are encouraged. The relevance of each cited reference in regards to the case presentation should be explained clearly in the case study text.
• The case study description should justify each procedure performed and if a procedure was not performed that would have been indicated, the candidate should explain why the procedure was omitted
• The case study should be written based largely on published data and minimally based on personal bias or experience.
• Please click here for an example of a cardiac submission and an abdomen submission.

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Final Examination:

• After completion of all coursework and acceptance of the casebook of 30 cases, the candidate may take the final examination. Each candidate must obtain a 70% satisfactory rating in each of the 4 sections of the examination. Exam content will match the listed course content and will be image-based. The examination will be divided into the following sections:
• ultrasound equipment and physics
• echocardiography
• basic abdomen
• advanced abdomen
• Participants may re-take the examination 30 days after the last unsuccessful attempt
• After three unacceptable examination efforts, the participant will be discontinued from the program with no financial reimbursement
• No outside consultation or advice is acceptable. This is a closed book exam.
• Any evidence of outside consultation or advice will result in permanent discontinuation from the program.
• Discontinued participants, due to failure of 5 attempts at completion of the examination, will need to complete all coursework and casebook submissions again prior to re-enrollment

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Certification:

• Successful participants will be  “Certified in Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound by the International Veterinary Ultrasound Society” and will receive a certificate reflecting that accomplishment  
• This will be awarded at the next  IVUSS meeting during the banquet
• If unavailable for the IVUSS meeting, the Certificate will be mailed to the participant
• Successful participants will be asked to assist with the management of the Certificate Program

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Cost:

• $750 per participant
• Includes 3-year IVUSS membership
• Annual meeting registration fees are not included.

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Privacy/Reporting Policy:

• IVUSS will provide corporate sponsors with pass rates. Each sponsor will receive the pass rate for individuals sponsored by that company as well as the overall pass rate for all individuals enrolled in the Certificate Program. For example, "Company Z" has 10 sponsored participants and there are 100 participants from all sources. "Company Z" would have access to their participant pass rate (90%, 9 of 10) and the overall pass rate (80%, 80 of 100). No company will receive any personal information in the reporting of pass rates.
• Corporate Sponsors will not receive information on ultrasound machines being used by participants.

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Additional Information or Questions:

• Please contact Dr. Robert O'Brien or Dr. Ken Waller

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News

Meeting:
See you in Jackson Hole, WY for the 2012 Annual Meeting.
Meeting information and early registration are available now!

Certificate:
Drs. Bossung, Lindquist and Miller have successfully completed the IVUSS Ultrasound Certificate Program, which includes didactic training, case submission, practical exam and a written final examination.

Congratulations Amy, Eric and Chris!