Distance Education
Program
Having problems managing ultrasound
cases? Want to develop an effective
treatment plan for your patient?
Sonology
at a glance:
Tutors:
Dr Karon Hoffmann Dr Cathy BeckCommences:
February 2013No of Modules:
10No of Workshops
2
Price:
$5925 Early Bird Option 1 $6225 Early Bird Option 2 $6425 Full Price
The aim of this course is to assist you to develop a logical and thorough approach in the use of ultrasound in veterinary practice. Ultrasound services should only be provided by those veterinary practitioners who have competence in the specific examinations they undertake, and for which they issue reports. Unfortunately, the hands-on skills necessary for a thorough, complete sonographical examination take years to develop and may require approximately three years or over 1,000 cases. Obviously, this cannot be achieved in a one-day workshop or short course. However, every examination observed or performed will be adding to your knowledge base and will ultimately contribute to your skill level.
This course consists of ten modules. The first module will address the technical know-how needed to control the machine and understand its limitations. Thereafter each module will deal with a region or body system. The notes you receive will essentially provide an outline of the anatomy, normal sonographic anatomy and sonographic pathology of the area of interest. The core notes will be supplemented with suggested reading from the recommended textbooks, and relevant journal articles. Supplementary abstracts will be provided to allow you to be aware of the literature and to locate any other articles that may be of interest to you. You will be asked to complete various exercises and assignments to assist your learning along the way.
The assignments will be of various types. You will be asked to maintain and submit a log book of all your sonographic examinations during the course. In most modules you will be asked to write up at least one case that you have seen in your practice. You may also be asked to write up an unknown examination from a clinical case provided. Also, you will be asked to revise and submit diagrams or images of various anatomical landmarks.
Earn up to 320 CPD hours by completing this
course
Distance Education
Program
Key Benefits
By completing this course you can expect to:
● learn to control sonographic equipment rather than have it control you.
● develop new technical skills.
● revise three-dimensional anatomical knowledge.
● define sonographic protocols for examining each organ system.
● be able to identify sonographic signs of disease.
● update your sonographic knowledge.
Course
Modules
Module 1 Equipment, Physical Principles, Optimising Image, Bioeffects, Artefacts
Module 2 Abdominal Protocol, Record Keeping, Positioning Orthogonal Planes, Abdomen (Vessels and Lymph
Distance Education Program
Basic Requirements for the Sonology Course
You need to have:
● an ultrasound machine that is already working and that you have been using for a year or more. You need to have a copy of your machine’s operation’s manual to help you to complete Module 1.
● a transducer with a small foot print that covers a frequency range of over 7 MHz. You will need other transducers for various size animals and deep tissues, but if you only have one, please make sure it has a higher frequency option.
● the ability to label and print images from your machine. Not only is printing images from your machine required as part of a legal medical record, it is also a vital part of the course. You will be required to submit images regularly throughout the year as part of your assignments. Videos are not acceptable for marking. The printed images must be of equivalent image quality as the image on the screen.
● the time to devote to the course. You will need approximately 8 hours a week. The topics you are most familiar with may require a little less time. The topics you are unfamiliar with usually require more time.
We know that sonology is an area that is extremely difficult to teach by correspondence, but this difficulty becomes an impossibility if you do not have the required equipment or indeed the time needed to cover the material. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have the equipment and time requirements to gain the full benefits from your course. If you do not, please give very careful consideration to enrolling in this course. Participants in the past who have not had the above requirements have been either left behind or have had to put in a mammoth effort to keep up.
Distance Education Program
Dr Karon Hoffmann
BVSc MVSc PhD Dip Vet Clin Stud
Dr Karon Hoffmann is a graduate of the University of Sydney. After completing an internship (Sydney) and residency in large animal internal medicine (North Carolina, USA) she became fascinated by the application of diagnostic ultrasound in the large animal patient. She returned to the University of Sydney to complete both a Masters degree and a PhD in diagnostic ultrasound and the rest is history!
Since 1993, Karon has worked exclusively in veterinary diagnostic
ultrasound on many animal species. Some of the animals Karon has imaged include horses, domestic cats, dogs, cattle, alpacas, sheep, ostriches,
marsupials, various reptiles, zoo animals, e.g. tigers, leopards, lions, bears, seals, tapirs, chimpanzees, orangutans (and the occasional odd veterinarian). Karon has been involved in both teaching and research of veterinary ultrasonographic diagnostic imaging and is the author of over 30 scientific publications. She is currently a veterinary diagnostic ultrasound consultant for small animal and equine specialists and practitioners, and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney in Diagnostic Imaging – Ultrasound.
Dr Cathy Beck
BVSc (Hons) Dip Vet Clin Stud MVS FACVSc
After graduating from the University of Sydney in 1992 Cathy worked in private practice in Australia and the United Kingdom for two years. In 1995
Distance Education Program
Recommended Reading List
Core:
1. Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound. Edited by Nyland and Matoon - Second edition (2002) ISBN 0-7216-7788-6
This is a must-have reference while you complete this course. It is fundamental reading.
2. Atlas of Small Animal Ultrasound. Edited by Penninck and d’Anjou. First edition ISBN 978 0 8138 2800 8
This book is also essential as it contains some lovely images from modern machines.
Supplementary:
1. Colour Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy, Volume. 3. The Dog and Cat. Done, Goody, Evans and Strickland (1996). Published by Mosby ( London)
The best anatomy book you can find. We like.
2. Kremkau FW. Diagnostic Ultrasound - Principles and Instruments. Sixth ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2002.
This reference should be called on if you are having difficulty understanding the physics.
Most publications may be purchased from: www.amazon.com
Distance Education Program
Distance Education courses are designed to provide structure and flexibility to your professional development. This course is based on a 10 module program starting in February. Course material consists of notes, assignments and supplemental journal reading.
There are no formal exams. Instead there is ongoing assessment and feedback from your tutor.
You can access your course material online at any time.
The fundamental advantage of our programs is the guided approach to learning.
● Notes are expertly written and updated regularly.
● Individual feedback and advice will be provided by your tutor following the completion of each module.
● Email discussion forums can complement your learning experience. Workshops are an integral part of the Distance Education Program.
● This course includes two one-day hands-on workshops.
● Workshops utilise a case-based approach to draw out and consolidate the knowledge you have developed.
If you are a motivated, independent learner and want to get more out of your veterinary career, this is the program for you!
All courses have a limited number of places so enrol now for our 2013 intake.
Distance Education
– What is it?
Distance Education Program
Technical Requirements
The Distance Education program has fairly simple technology requirements.
● You can use either a PC or a Mac to complete the course.
● These requirements are set so that you can access the homepage and the various multimedia files that are part of the course (Adobe PDF, Apple QuickTime and Microsoft Word).
● You need to be able to access the internet to complete the DE program.
● Most ‘newish’ PC and MACs will easily satisfy the minimum hardware requirements for the course. The specific hardware requirements depend on the specific programs being run. The online component can be completed in all the major internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Netscape (PC) or Safari and Firefox (MAC).
Software
Requirements
Throughout your course you will need the following three programs to access the course material.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
You need this program to be able to read the course notes.
You can download the latest version of the reader from Adobe at the link below:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Apple QuickTime
This program will be used to view the video included in your notes.
You can download the latest version of Apple QuickTime at the link below: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Microsoft Word or Open Office
You will need either of these programs to complete your assignments.
Microsoft Word is not a free program. If you do not have Microsoft Word or a compatible program, you can download Open Office which is a free program similar to Microsoft Office. You can download Open Office from the link below: http://www.openoffice.org/
Distance Education Program
Policies
Each individual who registers for a Distance Education Program will gain electronic assess to C&T and the e-library for the duration of the course. Individuals who wish to register for Distance Education are required to pay a $1000 non-refundable deposit to secure their place in the program.
An early bird discount applies to all those who register and fully pay for a Distance Education Program by 30 June (option 1) or 31 October (option 2). Full payment for the Distance Education Program must be made by
1 December.
The closing date for registrations and payment in full for a Distance Education Program is 1 December.
Cancellation Policy
Please note that the Centre for Veterinary Education has a strict cancellation policy.
● No refunds will be offered for a cancellation received less than six weeks (42 days) prior to the course starting, or for non-participation or cancellation during the course.
● The CVE reserves the right to retain 50% of the payment received if the cancellation has been made at six weeks (42 days).
● Cancellations made more than six weeks before the course date will receive a full refund minus $1000 administration fee.
The CVE does not accept deferral of courses. You must complete your course in the year of commencement.
