title: Can simulation help to answer the demand for echocardiography education?
abstract: There has been a recent explosion of education and training in echocardiography in the specialties of anesthesiology and critical care. These devices, by their impact on clinical management, are changing the way surgery is performed and critical care is delivered. A number of international bodies have made recommendations for training and developed examinations and accreditations.The challenge to medical educators in this area is to deliver the training needed to achieve competence into already over-stretched curricula.The authors found an apparent increase in the use of simulators, with proven efficacy in improving technical skills and knowledge. There is still an absence of evidence on how it should be included in training programs and in the accreditation of certain levels.There is a conviction that this form of simulation can enhance and accelerate the understanding and practice of echocardiography by the anesthesiologist and intensivists, particularly at the beginning of the learning curve.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Anaesthetics, Consorci Sanitaria Terrassa, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut, Barcelona, Spain (F.C.-T.); Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom (V.S. and N.F.); Service d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France (B.C.); Department of Cardiology, Echocardiography Laboratory, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut, Barcelona, Spain (T.G.-A. and A.E.); and Department of Cardiac Surgery, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut, Barcelona, Spain (M.G.).
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clau-Terré
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cholley
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Alujas
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galiñanes
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003422:Critical Care; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000639:trends*; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins