... and maintain competency

doi:10.1136/bmj.39583.750150.3A

BMJ 2008;336:1146-1147 (24 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39583.750150.3A

Letters

Everyone’s a radiologist now

... and maintain competency

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Given the effectiveness of ultrasound scanning as a clinicaltool it is perhaps inevitable in the long term that market forceswill drive the increasingly compact ultrasound devices intowards and surgeries to be used routinely by physicians and generalpractitioners. However, Wise does not mention that ultrasoundscanning is a modality where the accurate reporting of an abnormalfinding depends on the confidence of the operator.¹ ² This inturn is reliant on maintaining skills by using ultrasound regularlyas part of daily clinical practice. An ad hoc approach to maintainthe necessary required standard would not suffice and, on thecontrary, would generate unnecessary further imaging.

Furthermore, radiologists’ ultrasound skills are continuouslyhoned in the department by correlating ultrasound findings withcomputed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, as wellas case discussions in multidisciplinary team meetings, whereboth positive and negative feedback is of educational merit.The main concern . . . [Full text of this article]

Usman Shaikh, specialist registrar radiology, Dan Earnshaw, consultant radiologist

¹ Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, Merseyside CH49 5PE

usmansh8kh@googlemail.com