Sonology with Drs Karon Hoffmann and Cathy Beck

• Introduction
• Timetable for Modules
• Content of Modules
• Reading List
• Technical Requirements for Online Study
• Register for this Course

Thank you for your interest in the Sonology program.

Purpose:
The aim of this course is to assist you to develop a logical and thorough approach to the use of ultrasound in veterinary practice. Ultrasound services should only be provided by those veterinary practitioners who have competence in the specific examinations they undertake, and for which they issue reports. Unfortunately, the hands-on skills necessary for a thorough complete sonographical examination take years to develop and may require approximately 3 years or over 1,000 cases. Obviously, this cannot be achieved in a one-day workshop or short course. However, every examination observed or performed will be adding to your knowledge base and will ultimately contribute to your skill level.

What does the course consist of?
The course consists of ten modules. The first module will address the technical know-how needed to control the machine and understand its limitations. Thereafter each module will deal with a region or body system. The notes you receive will essentially provide an outline of the anatomy, normal sonographic anatomy and sonographic pathology of the area of interest. The core notes will be supplemented with suggested reading from the recommended textbooks, and relevant journal articles. Supplementary abstracts will be provided to allow you to be aware of the literature and to locate any other articles that may be of interest to you. You will be asked to complete various exercises and assignments to assist your learning along the way.

What do the assignments consist of?
The assignments will be of various types. You will be asked to maintain and submit a log book of all your sonographic examinations during the course. In most modules you will be asked to write up at least one case that you have seen in your practice. You may also be asked to write up an unknown examination from a clinical case provided. Also, you will be asked to revise and submit diagrams or images of various anatomical landmarks.

Key Benefits:

By completing this course you can expect to:

• Learn to control sonographic equipment rather than have it control you.
• Develop new technical skills.
• Revise three-dimensional anatomical knowledge.
• Define sonographic protocols for examining each organ system.
• Be able to identify sonographic signs of disease.
• Update your sonographic knowledge.

Basic Requirements for the Sonology Course

• An ultrasound machine that works and you are already using.
  
• A transducer with a small foot print that has a frequency range that includes 7 MHz transducer. You will need other transducers for various size animal and deep tissues but if you only have one please make sure it is a higher frequency transducer.
  
• The ability label and print images from your machine.
  Not only is this required as part of a legal medical, it is also a vital part of the course. You will be required to submit images regularly throughout the year as part of your assignments. Some participants have successfully used a digital camera to take photos from the screen. However if you do not set your camera up correctly, have the correct lighting, or move, the images are unsatisfactory and are not representative of the examination. Ideally you should have a thermal paper printer attached to your machine.
  
• The time to devote to the course, approximately 8 hours a week. The topics you are most familiar with may require a little less time. The topics you are unfamiliar with usually require more time.

If you do not have the above please give very careful consideration to enrolling in this course. It is extremely difficult to teach ultrasound technique by correspondence. This difficulty becomes an impossibility if you do not have the required equipment or indeed the time needed to cover the material.

Methodology:

• You will receive ten modules, modules 1-5 in February and modules 6-10 in July, to your nominated address. These modules will contain much of the information required to complete the course.
  
• You may find it useful to consult the recommended reading list and your own medicine textbooks for any additional information that you may require. The modules will also be available online for download online.
  
• The modules will contain notes, readings and other materials that you will work through. There will be regular assignments that you must complete and return to the PGF. Your tutor will assess these assignments and return them with valuable feedback. There are no traditional examinations or assessments for this subject.
  
• It is anticipated that you will need to spend around 8-10 hours per week studying the course material. You must be able to dedicate this amount of time to get the most out of the program.
  
• There will be two live workshops that will be held during the year. These workshops will be held at the Veterinary Clinic & Hospital in Werribee Victoria. They will give you the opportunity to meet the tutor and other course participants and also to raise any questions about the course content. These are not compulsory, however for such a 'hands on' program, will help you immensely.
  
• On completion of all ten modules, you will receive a certificate of completion from the Post Graduate Foundation that recognises your achievement.
  
• As a Member of the PGF you can access the key animal health databases, CAB Abstracts and MEDLINE, that may assist you throughout the year. Access is through the PGF website. For further information about the databases and to apply for a login and password to access them, please contact Rhondda Hollis +61 2 9351 7979 or email r.hollis@usyd.edu.au.

• If, at any stage during the program, you have any difficulties or enquiries the Distance Education team are available to assist you Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30AM to 4:30PM.

Remember, 30 November is the last day for the PGF to receive Distance Education material for assessment.

Please note that assignments received more than 14 days after the due date may not be marked, at the tutors discretion.

Reading List

Core:

1. Small Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound
Edited by Nyland and Matoon - Second edition (2002) ISBN 0-7216-7788-6

2. Colour Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy Volume 3. The Dog and Cat
Done, Goody, Evans and Strickland (1996)
Published by Mosby ( London)

Supplementary:

1. An Atlas and textbook of Diagnostic Ultrasonography of the Dog and Cat
Nautrap and Tobias. Edited by Cartee (2000)
Published by Manson Publishing Ltd. London, ISBN 1-874545-10-3

2. Diagnostic Radiology and Ultrasonography of the Dog and Cat
Kealy and McAllister - Third edition (2000)
Published by WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia, ISBN 0-7216-5090-2

Technical requirements for online study WebCT is a software program developed in Canada which provides a platform and a set of web course teaching tools for online learning. As an introduction to the online learning environment The Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science is using this platform to give you access to your course online. This medium will allow you to access your course and participate in online discussions with other participants and your tutor via a computer, a modem and a web browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.

To optimise your use of WebCT for online learning we recommend the following specifications: http://www.pgf.edu.au/disted/index.cfm#technical

• Read your Online Course Requirements?
  
  
• Read the General Information page?
  
  
• Read the How Much Does it Cost page?
  
  
• Become a Member of the Post Graduate Foundation?

Please email Giselle Alegria if you would like to be put on the waiting list.