Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound
OVERVIEW
The Graduate Certificate has a core focus on:
- Understanding and generating ultrasound images
- Provides an introduction to transesophageal echocardiography
- Includes a variety of applications for transthoracic echocardiography
- Three new electives will be introduced for Semester 2 2020:
- Abdominal and Peri-Arrest Ultrasound
- Obstetrics Gynaecology and Practicum
- Vessels Nerves Lungs and Musculoskeletal
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
Designed for medical professionals wishing to obtain further expertise in ultrasound for clinical practice, this course is particularly valuable for rural GPs, anaesthetists, GPs, emergency physicians, surgeons and cardiologists, and other medical specialists. Allied health specialists maybe be interested in completing individual subjects to enhance their practice.
International students are welcome to study this course. However, please note that this course is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in Australia as it does not meet the onshore study requirements and it is not registered with CRICOS.
International students are welcome to study this course. However, please note that this course is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in Australia as it does not meet the onshore study requirements and it is not registered with CRICOS.
COURSE AIMS
This course provides medical professionals with advanced knowledge needed to utilise ultrasound within their practice.
PATHWAYS
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound is part of a nested suite of courses, designed for versatility. You can transform a Graduate Certificate into a Master, or start with a Master and exit early with a Graduate Diploma.
- Graduate Diploma in Clinical Ultrasound
- Master of Clinical Ultrasound
As a student of this course, you will:
- DEVELOP ADVANCED SKILLS IN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
- EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER IMAGING TECHNIQUES
- GAIN KNOWLEDGE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO YOUR DISCIPLINE
You will need to obtain practical experience at your institution or attend hands-on workshops to supplement your knowledge base, alternatively you could enrol in any of our practical workshops, giving you access to our innovative simulator room
COURSE STRUCTURE
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound is a 50-point program, designed to take six months if studying full time, or one year if undertaken part-time. You must complete four subjects, each worth 12.5 points:
- One core subject
- Three electives.
WORKLOAD
- A part-time workload involves two subjects per semester, with an estimated 10 hours study time per week.
- A full-time workload involves four subjects per semester and an estimated 20 hours study time per week.
CAREER OUTCOMES
As clinical ultrasound technology becomes more widely accessible, medical professionals with relevant knowledge are increasingly sought after. This program will help you gain the skills to confidently undertake clinical ultrasound within your existing practice.
This course will also enhance your professional development, provides accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points and may be eligible for Continuing Medical Education reimbursement*.
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound at the University of Melbourne is the first in our suite of postgraduate clinical ultrasound courses. Upon completion, you can choose to proceed to the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Ultrasound and then to the Master of Clinical Ultrasound.
This course does not qualify you to be a sonographer. It is for those medical health practitioners who wish to incorporate ultrasound into their practice.
*Please check with the governing body in your state.
Entry requirements
In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- A Doctor of Medicine or a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent, or
- An undergraduate degree or equivalent in allied health, nursing, physiotherapy, or science.
- Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.
- In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- Prior academic qualification and performance.
The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
English Language Criteria
Applicants are required to satisfy the University’s English language requirements for graduate degrees. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7 is required.
Principles of Ultrasound Heart Scan 12.5 pts (COMPULSARY)
This subject will outline a physics related to medical ultrasound use; an introduction to transthoracic echocardiography using the focused assessment technique HEARTscan (Haemodyanmic Echocardiography Assessment in Real Time).
Topics include:
- The role of Echocardiography in Perioperative and Critical Care Medicine
- Optimising Ultrasound Images (Knobology)
- Physics/Modes of Ultrasound/Transducers
- Anatomy of the Heart
- Anatomy of the Valves
- Comprehensive Transthoracic Echocardiography Examination
- Basic Haemodynamic State Assessment
- HEARTscan Valves
- HEARTscan Case Studies
- Comprehensive Transoesophageal Echocardiography Examination Artefacts
Doppler Echocardiography 12.5 pts (ELECTIVE)
This subject will introduce Doppler echocardiography to complement basic transthoracic echocardiography imaging.
Topics include:
- Principles of Blood flow
- Principles of Doppler, and Optimising Image
- Basic Doppler Measurement Technique
- Colour Flow Doppler
- Doppler Assessment of Systolic Function
- Using Doppler to Help Grade Valve Lesions
- HEARTscan Studies with Doppler Measurements
Ventricular Function 12.5 pts (ELECTIVE)
This subject will expand the knowledge of transthoracic echocardiography by learning pathophysiology and assessment of ventricular function, including in diastolic function.
Topics include:
- The Cardiac Cycle
- Left Ventricular Systolic Function Pathophysiology
- Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function
- Right Ventricular Systolic Function
- Right Ventricular Function Evaluation
- Atrial Function and Pressure Estimation
- Diastolic Function Pathophysiology
- Assessment of Diastolic Function
- Management of Diastolic Function
- HEARTscan Studies
Ultrasound Guided Procedures 12.5 pts (ELECTIVE)
This subject will outline the technique of using ultrasound to guide percutaneous procedures. Procedures will include vessel access, nerve blocks, and trauma related procedures. There will be an elective of either "Nerve Blocks" or "Critical Care Procedures".
Topics include:
- Ultrasound Guided Vascular Access
- Nerve Blocks-Upper Limb
- Nerve Locks-Lower Limb
- Nerve Blocks-Peripheral Nerves
- Nerve Blocks-Abdominal and Thoracic
- Focused Abdominal Scan in Trauma
- Additional Ultrasound in Trauma
- Assessment of Flow and Stenosis in Vessels
- Critical Care Procedures
Abdominal and Peri-Arrest Ultrasound 12.5 pts (ELECTIVE)
In the subject, the student will learn about ultrasound assessment of the abdomen and learn to integrate abdominal, lung and cardiac ultrasound in the peri-arrest scenario.
Obstetrics Gynaecology and Practicum 12.5 pts (ELECTIVE)
In the subject, the student will learn about basic ultrasound assessment of pregnant women, and for gynecological emergencies, as well as completing a logbook of 20 clinical cases.
Vessels Nerves Lungs and Musculoskeletal 12.5 pts (ELECTIVE)
In the subject, the student will learn about ultrasound assessment of lung and musculoskeletal ultrasound and learn how to perform ultrasound guided vascular access and nerve blocks
