The activity is held monthly at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, in a multimedia classroom constructed specifically for the learner s needs. This is a workstation-based training activity, designed to meet American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Level II and III requirements. Each participant has their own workstation to use throughout the activity and receives personal attention and instruction by the activity faculty. A workstation, which projects to the front of the room is used by instructors to demonstrate various aspects of CT interpretation. After receiving training on the use of the workstation, a case library of over 150 cases selected to demonstrate the variety of pathology, which can be evaluated by CT (coronary disease, bypass grafts, stents, anomalies, cardiomyopathies, EP, pericardial disease, cardiac tumors) is reviewed. A minimum of 100 cases is reviewed during the five days of the activity.
Twenty hours of didactic instruction is included through lectures and reading materials, which will cover topics of patient selection, preparation, radiation, contrast, cardiac anatomy, assessment of cardiac function, cardiac pathology, etc. Members of the Johns Hopkins faculty and guest faculty will present these topics. Participants will take a quiz to confirm understanding of these materials.
The requirement for observation of the acquisition of 50 studies is satisfied by utilizing a combination of onsite observation of approximately 25 studies supplemented by interactive observation of approximately 25 studies performed offsite and viewed by interactive video link. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions during acquisition of the studies (i.e., patient selection, use of beta blockers) and to observe the steps in obtaining the scan by direct observation of the scanner console. The 50 scans that were acquired during the week of the activity are anonymized and participants will interpret these studies on their own time following the five days of onsite training. After faculty review of the participants interpretation of these 50 studies and the other elements of the activity, a certificate documenting completion of the Level II and III requirements will be issued.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND This activity is intended for physicians including cardiologists and radiologists who are currently in practice or are in fellowship, seeking Level II competency training. For those who have already qualified for Level II, this added experience will meet the case requirements for Level II.
OBJECTIVES After attending this activity, the participant will demonstrate the ability to:
- Choose patients appropriate for this imaging modality
- Prepare patients to obtain optimal study results
- Optimize image reconstruction for cardiac analyses
- Use 3D workstation to visualize all aspects of cardiac anatomy
- Assess extent of coronary atherosclerosis and evaluate LV function
