Training & Certification
Certificates of competence
Introduction
Ultrasound constitutes the cornerstone of modern obstetric care. It is therefore essential that sonographers are properly trained and that high standards are maintained by continuing education and audit.
The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) has introduced a process of comprehensive training, support and audit for the proper implementation of many aspects of Fetal Medicine.
The appropriate FMF Certificates of competence will be awarded to those sonographers who have:
1. Attended a theoretical course
2. Submitted a logbook of images of relevant scans
The certification is open to all those involved in obstetric ultrasound, including obstetricians, radiologists, radiographers and midwives.
Details on the individual FMF Certificate of competence are provided under the following sections:
- The 11-13 weeks scan
- The 20-22 weeks scan
- Doppler ultrasound
- Cervical assessment
- Invasive procedures
The 11-13 weeks scan is further subdivided into the following FMF Certificates of competence:
- Measurement of nuchal translucency
- Assessment of the nasal bone
- Measurement of the facial angle
- Assessment of ductus venosus flow
- Assessment of tricuspid flow
- Measurement of uterine artery PI
Sonographers who have obtained the FMF Certificate in the measurement of nuchal translucency (NT) can obtain free of charge the FMF software for first-trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities by maternal age, fetal NT thickness and maternal serum free β-hCG and PAPP-A. Should they wish to use the additional markers for chromosomal abnormalities (nasal bone, facial angle, tricuspid flow and ductus venosus flow) they would need to obtain the appropriate FMF Certificate for each of these markers.
Similarly, a new development in the 11-13 weeks scan is early screening for preeclampsia by Doppler assessment of the uterine arteries (in combination with maternal history, blood pressure, serum PAPP-A and PLGF). Sonographers who have obtained the FMF Certificate of competence in NT can proceed to obtain the FMF Certificate of competence in measurement of uterine artery PI and they can then have free of charge the appropriate FMF software for calculation of risk for preeclampsia.
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