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Ultrasound education is undergoing significant and innovative changes. There is a BSc (Hons) Medical Ultrasound programme running in its third year, with students due to quality in Summer 2019 and an apprenticeship standard has been developed for BSc (Hons) in Medical Ultrasound. These new courses are in addition to the many CASE accredited post graduate programmes and focussed courses currently available. To ensure the developments continue to provide high quality ultrasound services to the public there is a vast amount of strategic level work being undertaken by volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds. CASE member organisations are involved in the discussions and working groups, as any changes to education and practice will impact on the role of CASE in assuring the quality of new approaches. A summary of the work to date has been published by the Society and College of Radiographers1 and the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS).2 This report provides a further update on the latest developments.

The ‘Integrated Imaging Workforce Group’, set up by Health Education England (HEE) are overseeing many projects linked to developing the imaging workforce. As part of the work there is a ‘Sonography Steering Group’ who are setting objectives for smaller ‘task and finish’ working groups. The three groups are responsible for pushing forward different aspects of sonographer education and a career framework:

1. Sonography Implementation Group are developing a career framework for ultrasound. To date they have approved the ‘Standards for Sonographic Education’ document.3 Current work is looking at defining a career for a four tier ‘profession’ for sonographers. This includes the scope of practice, reporting, accountability and career progression. Linked to this, other work is beginning looking at preceptorship and a capability framework, to support the transition between career levels.

2. Sonography Training Group are reviewing options to increase capacity for clinical education, to try and take some of the pressure off over-stretched clinical departments. Several different options are being considered and the plan is to suggest a menu of different possibilities to meet the differing regional requirements. Currently the group are having discussions with colleagues who have already set up ultrasound clinical academies, regional peripatetic education models and ultrasound clinics within universities. Discussions are also taking place with Radiology Academy colleagues, reporting radiographer academies and sonographers in other countries, to share innovative practice.  

3. Sonography Regulation Group, led by HEE is currently putting together a case for regulation of sonographers. Evidence will be presented to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), prior to submission to the Department of Health and Social Care for further consideration.

Further dissemination and discussion will take place at the BMUS conference in December 2018 in Manchester, where there are professional issues streams on both Tuesday and Thursday, looking at education, training and professional developments.

References:

1. Harrison, G.  ‘Sonographer workforce developments.’ 2018. Synergy News, April, pp.12-13. Available: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/20221/
2. Parker, P. ‘Development Officer report.’ 2018. BMUS Summer Newsletter. [Online]. Available:https://www.bmus.org/media/resources/files/BMUS_FINAL_NEW_ADVERTwebpdf.pdf
3. CASE. ‘Standards for Sonographic Education.’ 2018. [Online]. Available:http://www.case-uk.org/information/document-store/

CASE has published a new guidance document entitled ‘CASE Standards for Sonographic Education’. This document, commissioned by Health Education England as an important step towards meeting the needs of the changing ultrasound education landscape, clearly identifies the standards that need to be met within/through sonographic education and training for non-medical practitioners known as ‘Sonographers’.

It is acknowledged that it is no longer appropriate to restrict ultrasound education and training to current healthcare practitioners such as radiographers and midwives. A long-term, sustainable source of future sonographers is therefore required through a process of direct entry to programmes such as:

• Bachelor of Science e.g. BSc (Hons) Clinical Sonography or BSc (Hons) Medical Ultrasound;
• Apprenticeship in Clinical Sonography or Medical Ultrasound;
• Integrated Masters e.g. MSon (combines undergraduate and postgraduate study into a single four-year programme);
• Master of Science e.g. MSc Clinical Sonography or MSc Medical Ultrasound.

This document was created to provide guidance on educating the future ultrasound workforce, along with learning outcomes for academic levels 6, 7 and 8, as a result of the increasing diversity of ultrasound programmes and courses.  It is intended to be used as a resource by ultrasound educators and CASE accreditors; however, we hope it will be of interest to all those involved in the training and education of student sonographers.