AIUM/AAO-HNS Establish Accreditation Training Guide for Head and Neck Ultrasound
For the past year, negotiations and formal documentation have passed from our Ultrasound Review Board to the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) and the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). The Review Board consists of four individuals who have been part of the ACS Head and Neck Ultrasound Courses for several years and are experienced in both performing ultrasound and teaching it to residents and post-graduate physicians. This Board has been a working group and will be expanded as the accreditation project advances. The end result has been a joint approval from both organizations for an accreditation of the facilities where clinicians and residents, who have had sufficient exposure and experience in head and neck ultrasound, can practice. The precise timing of implementation is still undetermined, but should be within the next six months. This process has evolved to add credibility to those who take the initial step of enrolling in the American College of Surgeons Post-graduate Head and Neck course during the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting, ACS Annual Congress, and identical exported courses. Some individuals have complained that as non-radiologists they are unable to receive reimbursement for their service of “point-of-care” ultrasound and future requirements from government agencies will certainly demand that we are qualified to apply this important craft. With that simple introduction, we would like to outline the process as follows: Training Guidelines Completion of an ACGME-approved residency in otolaryngology, general surgery, and radiology (either Board certified or eligible) Documentation of one of the following: Completion of the ACS Post-graduate Course in Head and Neck Ultrasound. An equivalent course may by acceptable to the Review Board if the course content and experience is in keeping with the ACS course. Completion of a residency in which sufficient practical experience and didactic lectures and skill sets may be considered for accreditation. The resident must keep an accurate log of performance of 100 ultrasound examinations from each of six designated head and neck areas. The resident must successfully complete the 100 question ACS test and then will not be required to enroll in the formal ACS course. After completing one of the above requirements the clinician must have a minimum of six months of hands-on experience along with an identified experienced mentor for consultation. During this minimum interval time or maximum of two years the candidate must demonstrate direct application of 100 ultrasound examinations. Validation of competency—de-identified images and reports from 20 ultrasound cases taken from three of six head and neck areas must be submitted to an amplified Review Board and then maintain a minimum experience with 50 ultrasound examinations per year. Accredited individuals are required to obtain a minimum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1TM credits in head and neck ultrasound every three years. This is a brief introduction and the AIUM website will be the primary resource for best understanding the details of submission. The cost will be modest and all submissions will be to AIUM under the evaluation by our Review Board that is soon to be constructed of competent otolaryngologists with significant ultrasound experience and education. The AAO-HNS and ACS will help us to alert its members when the process is to begin. Please do not query or try to rush the process as its construction is complicated and must be ideally configured before it becomes public. This is a very exciting opportunity for our membership and is likely to stimulate the involvement of residency programs that do not yet teach or provide ultrasound. Ultrasound Review Board Robert A. Sofferman, MD, emeritus professor of surgery, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Review Board chairman Lisa A. Orloff, MD, professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, Stanford University Merry E. Sebelik, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center Russell B. Smith, MD, professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) is very pleased to have collaborated with the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in developing the Practice Guideline for the Performance of Ultrasound Examinations of the Head and Neck, along with the “Training Guidelines for Physicians Who Evaluate and Interpret Ultrasound Examinations of the Head and Neck.” As a multi-specialty, modality-driven society, the AIUM appreciates the value of collaboration, and we commend the AAO-HNS and Robert Sofferman, MD, in particular for their initiative and leadership in helping to bring this to fruition. These guidelines will help serve as a measure of quality and will help to promote patient safety. Carmine M. Valente, PhD, CAE CEO, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
For the past year, negotiations and formal documentation have passed from our Ultrasound Review Board to the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) and the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). The Review Board consists of four individuals who have been part of the ACS Head and Neck Ultrasound Courses for several years and are experienced in both performing ultrasound and teaching it to residents and post-graduate physicians. This Board has been a working group and will be expanded as the accreditation project advances. The end result has been a joint approval from both organizations for an accreditation of the facilities where clinicians and residents, who have had sufficient exposure and experience in head and neck ultrasound, can practice. The precise timing of implementation is still undetermined, but should be within the next six months. This process has evolved to add credibility to those who take the initial step of enrolling in the American College of Surgeons Post-graduate Head and Neck course during the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting, ACS Annual Congress, and identical exported courses. Some individuals have complained that as non-radiologists they are unable to receive reimbursement for their service of “point-of-care” ultrasound and future requirements from government agencies will certainly demand that we are qualified to apply this important craft. With that simple introduction, we would like to outline the process as follows:
Training Guidelines
- Completion of an ACGME-approved residency in otolaryngology, general surgery, and radiology (either Board certified or eligible)
- Documentation of one of the following:
- Completion of the ACS Post-graduate Course in Head and Neck Ultrasound. An equivalent course may by acceptable to the Review Board if the course content and experience is in keeping with the ACS course.
- Completion of a residency in which sufficient practical experience and didactic lectures and skill sets may be considered for accreditation. The resident must keep an accurate log of performance of 100 ultrasound examinations from each of six designated head and neck areas. The resident must successfully complete the 100 question ACS test and then will not be required to enroll in the formal ACS course.
- After completing one of the above requirements the clinician must have a minimum of six months of hands-on experience along with an identified experienced mentor for consultation. During this minimum interval time or maximum of two years the candidate must demonstrate direct application of 100 ultrasound examinations.
- Validation of competency—de-identified images and reports from 20 ultrasound cases taken from three of six head and neck areas must be submitted to an amplified Review Board and then maintain a minimum experience with 50 ultrasound examinations per year.
- Accredited individuals are required to obtain a minimum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1TM credits in head and neck ultrasound every three years.
This is a brief introduction and the AIUM website will be the primary resource for best understanding the details of submission. The cost will be modest and all submissions will be to AIUM under the evaluation by our Review Board that is soon to be constructed of competent otolaryngologists with significant ultrasound experience and education. The AAO-HNS and ACS will help us to alert its members when the process is to begin. Please do not query or try to rush the process as its construction is complicated and must be ideally configured before it becomes public. This is a very exciting opportunity for our membership and is likely to stimulate the involvement of residency programs that do not yet teach or provide ultrasound.
Ultrasound Review Board
Robert A. Sofferman, MD, emeritus professor of surgery, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Review Board chairman
Lisa A. Orloff, MD, professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, Stanford University
Merry E. Sebelik, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center
Russell B. Smith, MD, professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center