Strategies for teaching and assessing obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound skills: Donald school model

Abstract

Ultrasound is a powerful tool that can improve patient safety, save lives and reduce the cost of healthcare services in both developed and developing countries. A critical step in this direction is the availability of high quality training programs and continuous medical education. While scientific medicine is based on evidence, practice of ultrasound commonly relies on the combination of clinical reasoning, experience, application of modern ultrasound technology, pattern recognition and expert clinical judgment. Sonographer's communication and interpersonal skills, empathy, tolerance and personal knowledge of the patient are equally important for the successful practice of ultrasound scanning. In this article we will define the Donald School standards and practices of obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound training, discuss the most efficient strategies for encouragement of the professional behavior, life-long learning and improvement of the ethics of ultrasound scanning.