Organization of Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratories: Impact of Sonographers on Clinical, Academic, and Financial Performance

Frontiers in Pediatrics

article

Nick Arbic¹  Maelys Venet¹  Xavier Iriart²  Andreea Dragulescu¹  Jean-Benoit Thambo²  Mark K. Friedberg¹  Vitor Guerra¹  Conall Thomas Morgan¹  Luc Mertens¹  Olivier Villemain¹ 

[1] Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto;Department of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology, Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque;IHU LIRYC Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université

关键词: pediatric echocardiography;    laboratory management;    sonographers;    pediatric cardiology;    congenital heart disease;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fped.2022.891360

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Echocardiography has evolved the first-line imaging for diagnosis and management of pediatric and congenital heart disease all over the world. While it recognized as essential component of pediatric cardiac care delivery, organization of pediatric echocardiography services is very heterogeneous across the world, mainly related to significant differences in material and human resources in heterogeneous health care systems. In this paper, we focus on the role of pediatric sonographers, defined as expert technicians in pediatric echocardiography. While in some services sonographers are an essential part of the organizational structure, other laboratories operate only with physicians trained in echocardiography. The impact of sonographers on clinical, academic and financial performance will be discussed. Two organizational models (with and without sonographers) will be compared, and the advantages and disadvantages of each model will be evaluated. Different models of care provision are possible and decisions on organizational models need to be adjusted to the demands and available resources.

【 授权许可】

CC BY