In MEDS20016 you demonstrated competence in three (3) domains of practice. In this unit you must complete the remaining three (3) domains of practice not already completed. You must have achieved a total of six (6) practical assessments on completion of MEDS20016 and MEDS20017, one for EACH domain of practice with no two assessments in the same domain of practice. You must complete and Pass all six (6) domains of practice to be eligible to sit the on campus OSCE component - Assessment 4.

This assessment task measures your overall aptitude and competence in completing an ultrasound examination in one of the six domains of practice that you have not achieved to date.

The required levels of competency are:

• vascular (carotid) to competency level,
• superficial structure (thyroid or testes) to competency level,
• breast to competency level,
• musculoskeletal (shoulder) to competency level,
• abdomen to competency level,
• obstetric - choose one of the following - 2nd trimester morphology scan to advanced beginner level OR 3rd trimester scan to competency level. (Note: If you are to complete the assessment on an 18-22 week scan, you must log a minimum of ten (10) 18-22 week cases before you can attempt the assessment OR if you are to complete the assessment on a 3rd trimester scan then you must log a minimum of ten (10) cases of a 3rd trimester examination before you can attempt the assessment).

For this practical assessment choose one of the domains of practice above not already completed. Then complete a practical test in this domain of practice to achieve the appropriate competency level as stated above. This task will be assessed by your clinical supervisor, or a delegate sonographer, using the standardised form provided. These forms are available in the assessment tab - Assessment Forms - in the unit Moodle site. A copy has been emailed to your clinical site but it is advisable to provide a printed copy to your clinical supervisor at the commencement of your placement.

Please print this form and read it carefully so you understand the criteria against which your sonographic skill, and relevant theoretical knowledge, will be evaluated. Discuss the best time to complete this assessment with your clinical supervisor. After the assessment ask for feedback so you can focus your efforts at improvement in the areas mentioned by your supervisor. If you do not meet the required standard on your first attempt, you must seek detailed feedback from your assessor so you can develop a strategy to improve your performance. You should share your plan for improvement with your assessor. You may then repeat this assessment and must achieve the required level. Your clinical supervisor must complete and sign the assessment form before you submit it through the assessment block in the unit Moodle site. In this assessment you will demonstrate your ability to carry out all tasks of the ultrasound examination with minimal intervention, guidance or correction by the assessor. The assessment must be attempted prior to completion of the clinical placement block.

You are permitted two attempts to complete this assessment task. If repeat assessment is needed to achieve required level, only submit the successful attempt.

1. Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry. Standards for the Accreditation of Sonographer Courses [Internet] 2011 [updated 2014 May 11].[cited March 30 2021] Available from https://www.asar.com.au/public/90/files/ASAR_Accreditation_Standards_%20I1V3.pdf

2. Australian Sonographers Association. ASA standards for the entry level sonographer [Internet] 2011 [cited March 30 2021]. Available from https://www.asar.com.au/public/90/files/ASA_Competency_Standards.pdf

The assessment criteria will address the following areas of your performance:

• Occupational health and safety including ergonomics.
• Accurate documentation and communication of findings.
• Ability to recognise the need to and extend the clinical examination where appropriate.
• Recognition and understanding of the relevant anatomy and pathology demonstrated.
• Interrogation of anatomy and acquisition of relevant images.
• Knowledge of instrumentation including optimisation of survey and images through appropriate selection of parameters and technique.
• Pre-scan, scan and post-scan preparation and tasks.
• Patient care and communication.

The required levels of competency are: - vascular (carotid) to competency level, - superficial structure (thyroid or testes) to competency level, - breast to competency level, - musculoskeletal (shoulder) to competency level, - abdomen to competency level, - obstetric - choose one - 2nd trimester 18-22 week morphology to advanced beginner level OR 3rd trimester growth scan to competency level. To achieve a level of 'competent', you must attain a minimum of sixteen (16) scores of 4, and no scores of 1 or 2. To achieve a level of 'advanced beginner' (obstetric 18-22 week morphology scan only) you must attain a minimum of sixteen (16) scores of 3, and no scores of 1. To achieve a Pass in all competencies you must achieve a score of 3 or 4 with no scores of 1 or 2 in patient communication A score of 1 or 2 in patient communication will result in a Fail for the competency, regardless of whether you achieve the minimum scores required in other components of the competency. You have two (2) opportunities to pass the competency. If both attempts at the competency are failed, this will result in a fail grade for this unit.

In MEDS20016 you demonstrated competence in three (3) domains of practice. In this unit you must complete the remaining three (3) domains of practice not already completed. You must have achieved a total of six (6) practical assessments on completion of MEDS20016 and MEDS20017, one for EACH domain of practice with no two assessments in the same domain of practice. You must complete and Pass all six (6) domains of practice to be eligible to sit the on campus OSCE component - Assessment 4.

This assessment task measures your overall aptitude and competence in completing an ultrasound examination in one of the six domains of practice that you have not achieved to date.

The required levels of competency are:

• vascular (carotid) to competency level,
• superficial structure (thyroid or testes) to competency level,
• breast to competency level,
• musculoskeletal (shoulder) to competency level,
• abdomen to competency level,
• obstetric - choose one of the following - 2nd trimester morphology scan to advanced beginner level OR 3rd trimester scan to competency level.

For this practical assessment choose one of the domains of practice above not already completed. Then complete a practical test in this domain of practice to achieve the appropriate competency level as stated above. This task will be assessed by your clinical supervisor, or a delegate sonographer, using the standardised form provided. These forms are available in the assessment tab - Assessment Forms - in the unit Moodle site. A copy has been emailed to your clinical site but it is advisable to provide a printed copy to your clinical supervisor at the commencement of your placement.

Please print this form and read it carefully so you understand the criteria against which your sonographic skill, and relevant theoretical knowledge, will be evaluated. Discuss the best time to complete this assessment with your clinical supervisor. After the assessment ask for feedback so you can focus your efforts at improvement in the areas mentioned by your supervisor. If you do not meet the required standard on your first attempt, you must seek detailed feedback from your assessor so you can develop a strategy to improve your performance. You should share your plan for improvement with your assessor. You may then repeat this assessment and must achieve the required level. Your clinical supervisor must complete and sign the assessment form before you submit it through the assessment block in the unit Moodle site. In this assessment you will demonstrate your ability to carry out all tasks of the ultrasound examination with minimal intervention, guidance or correction by the assessor. The assessment must be attempted prior to completion of the clinical placement block.

You are permitted two attempts to complete this assessment task. If repeat assessment is needed to achieve required level, only submit the successful attempt.

1. Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry. Standards for the Accreditation of Sonographer Courses [Internet] 2011 [updated 2014 May 11].[cited March 30 2021] Available from https://www.asar.com.au/public/90/files/ASAR_Accreditation_Standards_%20I1V3.pdf

2. Australian Sonographers Association. ASA standards for the entry level sonographer [Internet] 2011 [cited March 30 2021]. Available from https://www.asar.com.au/public/90/files/ASA_Competency_Standards.pdf

The assessment criteria will address the following areas of your performance:

• Occupational health and safety including ergonomics.
• Accurate documentation and communication of findings.
• Ability to recognise the need to and extend the clinical examination where appropriate.
• Recognition and understanding of the relevant anatomy and pathology demonstrated.
• Interrogation of anatomy and acquisition of relevant images.
• Knowledge of instrumentation including optimisation of survey and images through appropriate selection of parameters and technique.
• Pre-scan, scan and post-scan preparation and tasks.
• Patient care and communication.

The required levels of competency are: - vascular (carotid) to competency level, - superficial structure (thyroid or testes) to competency level, - breast to competency level, - musculoskeletal (shoulder) to competency level, - abdomen to competency level, - obstetric - choose one - 2nd trimester 18-22 week morphology to advanced beginner level OR 3rd trimester growth scan to competency level. To achieve a level of 'competent', you must attain a minimum of sixteen (16) scores of 4, and no scores of 1 or 2. To achieve a level of 'advanced beginner' (obstetric 18-22 week morphology scan only) you must attain a minimum of sixteen (16) scores of 3, and no scores of 1. To achieve a Pass in all competencies you must achieve a score of 3 or 4 with no scores of 1 or 2 in patient communication. A score of 1 or 2 in patient communication will result in a Fail for the competency, regardless of whether you achieve the minimum scores required in other components of the competency. You have two (2) opportunities to pass the competency. If both attempts at the competency are failed, this will result in a fail grade for this unit.

In MEDS20016 you demonstrated competence in three (3) domains of practice. In this unit you must complete the remaining three (3) domains of practice not already completed. You must have achieved a total of six (6) practical assessments on completion of MEDS20016 and MEDS20017, one for EACH domain of practice with no two assessments in the same domain of practice. You must complete and Pass all six (6) domains of practice to be eligible to sit the on campus OSCE component - Assessment 4.

This assessment task measures your overall aptitude and competence in completing an ultrasound examination in one of the six domains of practice that you have not achieved to date.

The required levels of competency are:

• vascular (carotid) to competency level,
• superficial structure (thyroid or testes) to competency level,
• breast to competency level,
• musculoskeletal (shoulder) to competency level,
• abdomen to competency level,
• obstetric - choose one of the following - 2nd trimester morphology scan to advanced beginner level OR 3rd trimester scan to competency level.

For this practical assessment choose one of the domains of practice above not already completed. Then complete a practical test in this domain of practice to achieve the appropriate competency level as stated above. This task will be assessed by your clinical supervisor, or a delegate sonographer, using the standardised form provided. These forms are available in the assessment tab - Assessment Forms - in the unit Moodle site. A copy has been emailed to your clinical site but it is advisable to provide a printed copy to your clinical supervisor at the commencement of your placement.

Please print this form and read it carefully so you understand the criteria against which your sonographic skill, and relevant theoretical knowledge, will be evaluated. Discuss the best time to complete this assessment with your clinical supervisor. After the assessment ask for feedback so you can focus your efforts at improvement in the areas mentioned by your supervisor. If you do not meet the required standard on your first attempt, you must seek detailed feedback from your assessor so you can develop a strategy to improve your performance. You should share your plan for improvement with your assessor. You may then repeat this assessment and must achieve the required level. Your clinical supervisor must complete and sign the assessment form before you submit it through the assessment block in the unit Moodle site. In this assessment you will demonstrate your ability to carry out all tasks of the ultrasound examination with minimal intervention, guidance or correction by the assessor. The assessment must be attempted prior to completion of the clinical placement block.

You are permitted two attempts to complete this assessment task. If repeat assessment is needed to achieve required level, only submit the successful attempt.

1. Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry. Standards for the Accreditation of Sonographer Courses [Internet] 2011 [updated 2014 May 11].[cited March 30 2021] Available from https://www.asar.com.au/public/90/files/ASAR_Accreditation_Standards_%20I1V3.pdf

2. Australian Sonographers Association. ASA standards for the entry level sonographer [Internet] 2011 [cited March 30 2021]. Available from https://www.asar.com.au/public/90/files/ASA_Competency_Standards.pdf

The assessment criteria will address the following areas of your performance:

• Occupational health and safety including ergonomics.
• Accurate documentation and communication of findings.
• Ability to recognise the need to and extend the clinical examination where appropriate.
• Recognition and understanding of the relevant anatomy and pathology demonstrated.
• Interrogation of anatomy and acquisition of relevant images.
• Knowledge of instrumentation including optimisation of survey and images through appropriate selection of parameters and technique.
• Pre-scan, scan and post-scan preparation and tasks.
• Patient care and communication.

The required levels of competency are: - vascular (carotid) to competency level, - superficial structure (thyroid or testes) to competency level, - breast to competency level, - musculoskeletal (shoulder) to competency level, - abdomen to competency level, - obstetric - choose one - 2nd trimester 18-22 week morphology to advanced beginner level OR 3rd trimester growth scan to competency level. To achieve a level of 'competent', you must attain a minimum of sixteen (16) scores of 4, and no scores of 1 or 2. To achieve a level of 'advanced beginner' (obstetric 18-22 week morphology scan only) you must attain a minimum of sixteen (16) scores of 3, and no scores of 1. To achieve a Pass in all competencies you must achieve a score of 3 or 4 with no scores of 1 or 2 in patient communication. A score of 1 or 2 in patient communication will result in a Fail for the competency, regardless of whether you achieve the minimum scores required in other components of the competency. You have two (2) opportunities to pass the competency. If both attempts at the competency are failed, this will result in a fail grade for this unit.

The clinical logbook serves as a record of your depth and breadth of experience attained during the placement. It demonstrates the degree of progression of your skill development within and across examination type. You should analyse this record at regular intervals to assist in the formulation of learning goals that will support your achievement of the unit outcomes.

Each case will be categorised into one of the following areas:

• Abdomen (including renal),
• Superficial Parts (thyroid, testes, lumps / bumps, etc),
• Breast,
• Obstetrics (first, second or third trimester) & Gynaecology,
• Vascular (carotid, DVT or other) and
• Musculoskeletal.
• Extra's (paediatric, interventional or other)

Each week of the logbook must be signed by your clinical site supervisor, or a sonographer with the appropriate ultrasound qualifications delegated by the clinical supervisor. The assessment document and information on how to complete including minimum numbers required can be found in the Assessment tab.

Copies are available online for your clinical site.

Please read these forms/information sheets carefully so you understand the criteria against which your logbook will be evaluated.
Optional: You can submit 'outside clinical placement logbook' if you undertake employment in an ultrasound department between the end of your clinical unit 3 placement and the commencement of your clinical unit 4 placement.

Please note:

• The logbook must be verified (signed) by an ASAR accredited sonographer, radiologist or sonologist with appropriate ultrasound qualifications. 
• Details of your employment must be entered onto the outside clinical placement logbook for insurance purposes.

If you are located at a site which does not provide access to certain scans then it is possible to credit surplus log book numbers from MEDS20016 to MEDS20017. Please contact unit coordinator for permission.

You will pass this assessment if you achieve the following minimum numbers in your clinical case log by the conclusion of this clinical placement.

Complete the remaining  three (3) of the six (6) requirements below that you have not already completed in Clinical Unit 3.

-   Vascular (carotid) - 10 studies

-   Superficial Structures (thyroid or testes) - 10 studies

-   Breast  - 10 studies

-   Musculoskeletal (shoulder) - 10 studies

-   Abdomen - 10 studies

-   Obstetric - choose one in which you will undertake your competency  - 2nd trimester 18-22 week morphology OR 3rd trimester growth scan - 10 studies 

PART A (i) - Clinical Attendance

As a health care professional your attendance is relied upon for the provision of quality patient care. Your absence impacts service delivery and safe patient care. It is expected that you attend 100% of the time during your 16 week clinical placement to achieve the minimum 640 hours (16 X 40 hours) of clinical attendance. All hours worked must be entered into the clinical attendance form. This form must be signed by your clinical supervisor, or a sonographer delegated this task by your clinical supervisor, radiologist or sonologist with appropriate ultrasound qualification.

The clinical attendance form is available in the assessment block in the unit Moodle site. A copy has been emailed to your clinical site. Please print this form and read it carefully so you understand the criteria against which your clinical attendance will be evaluated.

Public holidays are included as hours worked. You can log 8 hours worked for each public holiday. These do not need to be 'made up'.

Any time you are away from your clinical institution, you MUST supply a verifiable supporting document indicating why you have not attended. Both your clinical supervisor and the unit coordinator MUST be informed of any absences from your clinical placement. Any absence for part, or all of, a working day must be made up after, or during (e.g Saturday / evenings if available), the clinical placement.

If you present a case study during the online tutorial for this unit you will be eligible to enter this time on your clinical attendance form. This can be entered as one hour per case study. You can also attend the zoom tutorial to listen and provide feedback to your peers to enter this time on your attendance form. This will NOT be available for students that only watch the recorded tutorial session as the unit coordinator will be unable to verify your attendance.

You can submit 'outside clinical placement' hours if appropriate, to a maximum of half the required hours (320 hours), the number of hours permitted to be submitted are at the discretion of the UC and the Head of Course. You must be either employed by the clinical site or engaged in a learning capacity which means you are supernumerary to the workplace requirements. The outside clinical placement attendance form is available in the assessment block in the unit Moodle site. Please note: the hours must be verified (signed) by an ASAR accredited sonographer, radiologist or sonologist with appropriate ultrasound qualifications.

Details of either your insurance, or employment, must be entered onto the outside clinical placement attendance form.

Due to truncated placement opportunities, if students Pass assessments 1,2,3,5,6- Part A (ii), Part B(i&ii) and 6-Part C, however they have not completed the required hours for assessment 6 -Part A (i), they will be eligible to sit assessment 4 the OSCEs. If a student that has passed all assessment requirements except assessment 6- Part A and is eligible to sit the OSCEs and is found to be not competent in the scanning clinical scenario competent, that student will be allowed to have a second attempt of this component after completing and passing assessment 6- Part A (i). Any student that completes and passes assessment 6 - Part A (i) prior to the OSCEs and does not pass the scanning clinical scenario component will not be eligible to have a second attempt.

PART A (ii) - Clinical Placement Checklist

The Clinical Placement Checklist document, must be downloaded and handed to your clinical supervisor and completed by them within the first week of your clinical placement. It is your responsibility to upload this document via the Moodle unit site once completed. It will need to be uploaded by you before 22:00 AEST of week 1 of your clinical placement. 

PART B (i) - Mid-GAPA, (ii) - End GAPA

PART A (i)

To pass this assessment you must achieve a minimum of 640 hours (16 X 40 hours) of clinical attendance. Any days away from your clinical site must be documented. Due to truncated placement opportunities students may be eligible to pass this assessment with reduced minimum hours, this is on a case by case basis.

PART a (ii) 

To pass this assessment you must upload the completed and signed document by the end of your 1st week of placement.

PART B (i & ii)

The criteria for assessment are detailed on the GAPA form in the form of required behaviours and attributes. The assessor will use the stated 1 - 6 scale to indicate the frequency and extent to which you demonstrate each of those. The required behaviours and attributes are grouped into 3 sections, each with its own minimum required scores.

For Section 1: Initiative and Communication, which has nine required behaviours, the minimum required set of scores are:

• no more than 1 score of 'No or insufficient opportunity to assess' (NA),
• no scores of 1 or 2,
• no more than 1 score of 3, and
• the remainder of behaviours scored at 4 or higher.

For Section 2: Responsibility and Demeanour, which has ten required behaviours, the minimum required scores are:

• no more than 1 score of NA,
• no scores of 1, 2 or 3,
• no more than 4 scores of 4, and
• the remainder of behaviours scored at 5 or higher.

For Section 3: Overall Technical Knowledge and Skill, which has three required behaviours, the minimum required scores are:

• no scores of NA and
• all behaviours scored at 4 or higher

In order to achieve an overall grade of 'Pass' in this assessment task, you must:

• undergo both the mid-placement and end-of-placement assessments by the due dates listed,
• on the end-of-placement assessment, meet the minimum required scores in all three sections,
• ensure the documentation of each assessment is complete, and
• upload each completed assessment form into the unit Moodle site by the due date.

If minimum required scores in the mid-placement GAPA are not met, you will be regarded as a "Student At Risk". The unit coordinator will contact you to advise you of the risk of failing MEDS20017 and provide formative feedback. You must respond to this email to show you understand the implications of this information and give details of your plans for immediate improvement. A phone call or visit will follow.

Review of your progress will be completed a short time after the mid placement one, at any time as requested by your supervisor or unit coordinator. Unsatisfactory scores at this second GAPA will result in a fail grade for MEDS20017.

If your second GAPA assessment results in a Fail grade, you will Fail this assessment component and this will result in a FAIL for the unit.

Occasionally student behaviour is beyond acceptable risk to clinical sites. Clinical supervisors contact CQUniversity academics immediately when that occurs. A GAPA assessment is requested at this time (which could be at any time during your placement). If the outcome of this GAPA is unsatisfactory, and/or the site feedback indicates that they can no longer host you due to the risk incurred, then this one GAPA alone, or site refusal to host, will constitute a fail of MEDS20017. Where such risk exists, your placement will terminate immediately. It is difficult to place such students in the clinical environment again. Your continued progress within the sonography course may be at risk