Prominent organizations endorse new contrast-enhanced ultrasound curriculum and training
Two prominent ultrasound organizations are lending their support to the expansion of sonography curriculum to include contrast enhanced ultrasound.
In a joint statement issued by the International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the safe use of the modality, and Inteleos, an internationally recognized medical certification organization, the duo endorsed the implementation of additional student training in this burgeoning field.
“[Contrast-enhanced ultrasound] has transformed how we diagnose and monitor disease, and expansion of CEUS training for sonography students is a critical step forward in ensuring broader patient access to one of the most innovative and patient-friendly advances in diagnostic imaging,” the statement reads.
Their endorsement follows recent updates to the National Education Curriculum for sonography programs, which were implemented following an expansion to the Scope of Practice and Clinical Standards for the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Those updates were enacted to better reflect the growing role of sonographers in CEUS exams.
“Expanded CEUS training will help prepare the next generation of sonographers to deliver safer, more effective and more patient-centered care,” noted Maria Stanczak, a member of the International Contrast Ultrasound Society board who helped develop the new content.
“Training in CEUS during formal sonography education enables students to graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the evolving demands of modern healthcare,” added Hannah Simmons, director of global business growth at Inteleos.
The changes reflect the growing use of CEUS over the last several years. That growth has been driven largely by the ease of access to ultrasound, lack of radiation exposure, and safety considerations pertaining to contrast agents. Unlike traditional contrast agents used in other modalities such as MRI and CT, agents used in ultrasound exams do not contain gadolinium nor iodine. What’s more, ultrasound contrast agents also are not associated with any adverse physical effects, such as kidney or thyroid damage, which are occasionally seen with CT and MRI.
To learn more about the recent updates to CEUS curriculum, click here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.