• Solomon Aronson, Aggie Butler, Raja Subhiyah, Richard E Buckingham, Michael K Cahalan, Steven Konstandt, Jonathan Mark, James Ramsay, Robert Savage, Joseph Savino, Jack S Shanewise, John Smith, and Daniel Thys.
• Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. aronson@airway.uchicago.edu
• Anesth. Analg. 2002 Dec 1;95(6):1476-82, table of contents.

UnlabelledA key element in developing a process to determine knowledge and ability in applying perioperative echocardiography has included an examination. We report on the development of a certifying examination in perioperative echocardiography. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that examination performance is related to clinical experience in echocardiography. Since 1995, more than 1200 participants have taken the examination, and more than 70% have passed. Overall examination performance was related positively to longer than 3 mo of training (or equivalent) in echocardiography and performance and interpretation of at least six examinations a week. We concluded that the certifying examination in perioperative echocardiography is a valid tool to help determine individual knowledge in perioperative echocardiography application.ImplicationsThis report describes the process involved in developing the certifying transesophageal echocardiography examination and identifies correlates with examination performance.

7 keywords...

hide…