Acquiring, interpreting, and integrating information appropriately in to the clinical decision making process is important in providing quality health care. Ultrasound be used to aid can the clinical decision making process and guide patient management. The acquisition and interpretation of ultrasound images for appropriate clinical integration of findings takes practice.  You will need to demonstrate your ability to perform a bedside cardiac ultrasound assessment on a live patient or model.  You will need to acquire cardiac views, optimise the image quality to allow it to be at a diagnostic level, demonstrate your ability to interpret images with correct recognition of anatomy and any pathology if present and appropriately document findings and outline the clinical integration of findings in patient management. This practical assessment will be performed at the residential school, (although there may be an ability for it to performed remotely at a workplace, with a video of the sonographic examination conducted submitted.  A written outline to describe views conducted, any difficulties obtaining views, the sonographic findings and how these guided patient management will be required to be submitted alongside evidence of your practical assessment).

You will be assessed on the appropriate use of ultrasound equipment, adequate image acquisition relative to the patient scenario, image optimisation, image interpretation and safe integration of the sonographic findings into clinical practice.

You are required to develop and submit a portfolio assessment consisting of five bedside cardiac ultrasound examinations performed by you.  This will assist you to develop proficiency in performing the FoCUS protocol, including defining an appropriate indication for the test, obtaining diagnostic on-axis cardiac views, image optimization, recognition of anatomy and any pathology, appropriate documentation, and integration of findings in to patient management.

The portfolio will consist of:

1. Introduction to five cases

2. Outline of each of the three sonographic cases including:

- Clinical indications for the examination

- Description of the sonographic protocol used, and an outline of the ultrasound imaging obtained (real time scanning and stored static images and cine clips for documentation). Static images will be labelled to identify structures for educational purposes. The acquisition plane of the image must be described. All sonographic imaging must be de-identified.

- Justification for extent of sonographic imaging performed and what anatomy and any pathology (if present) was demonstrated

- Critique of the sonographic imaging

- Report of the sonographic findings using correct sonographic terminology

- Patient management post sonographic imaging

- Reflection on what went well, how the sonographic imaging may have been improved, what you could have done to improve the quality of the imaging produced (if needed) and what you may do differently in the future studies to aid a diagnosis

3. Summary and learning points from the portfolio

4. References

Please ensure that patient privacy is adhered to by de-identifying images.

Your portfolio will be assessed on:

* Academic writing including the layout and flow from beginning to end, succinct and relevant descriptions of the patient history, sonographic imaging obtained and findings discussed, critique of imaging performed, image interpretation, safe integration into clinical practice, and identification of areas for improvement if required and impact of imaging of patient management.  A reflection to allow future learning must be demonstrated.

* Use of evidence based information to support statements used

* Inclusion of images which are de-identified and labelled. All images must be referred to in-text and figure numbers provided

* Insight must be demonstrated with self-reflection and identification of learning points to enhance future practice.