PGCert Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging

Program Overview

The PgCert Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging course equips professionals in radiology or sports medicine with advanced ultrasound skills. The program emphasizes theoretical understanding, practical application, and clinical competency in musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations, preparing graduates for autonomous practice as musculoskeletal sonographers. Accredited by CASE and eligible for RCT registration, the course provides career advancement opportunities in diagnostic ultrasound within the NHS, private practice, or elite sports.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The PgCert Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging course is designed for professionals working in diagnostic radiology within the NHS, private practice, or elite sports. The program aims to enhance diagnostic ultrasound skills, whether to advance existing musculoskeletal scanning capabilities or to expand the scope of practice to include musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging.

• To acquire the skills needed to operate ultrasound equipment safely and effectively.
• To gain knowledge of key factors that influence equipment choice and responsibilities for equipment maintenance and other quality assurance processes.
• To understand professional and medico-legal issues, regulatory and ethical aspects of ultrasound practice.
• To develop knowledge and practical skills on musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations of peripheral joints.
• To apply and refine knowledge and skills during clinical placements.
• To develop the necessary skills for ultrasound scanning of musculoskeletal pathologies and diseases in clinical settings.
• To achieve competence in examination and reporting within professional ultrasound practice.

Outline:

The course is structured to establish a robust connection between theoretical knowledge and practical application of musculoskeletal ultrasound.

• Students develop the skills needed to operate ultrasound equipment safely and effectively.
• The module covers key factors that influence equipment choice alongside the responsibilities for equipment maintenance and other quality assurance processes.
• It also introduces professional and medico-legal issues and explores regulatory and ethical aspects of ultrasound practice.

Module 2: Musculoskeletal ultrasound in professional practice (40 credits) – Core module

• This module focuses on developing students’ knowledge and practical skills on musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations of peripheral joints.
• The module includes clinical placements where students apply and refine their knowledge and skills.
• These placements enable students to develop the necessary skills for ultrasound scanning of musculoskeletal pathologies and diseases in clinical settings, ensuring competence in examination and reporting within professional ultrasound practice.
• Under the direct supervision of qualified ultrasound practitioners, students gain hands-on experience in a supportive clinical environment.

Assessment:

A variety of formative and summative assessment methods are employed across units in the PgCert Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging course. The aim is to balance the formative and summative aspects of assessment to promote deeper learning among students and give a greater opportunity to maximize their potential. The types of assignments demonstrate progression of skills and abilities as students’ progress on the course.

Fundamentals of ultrasound

• EX1: Viva voce – Professional issues – 30 minutes (50% weighting)
• CW1: Written assignment – Physics – 2000 words (50% weighting)

Musculoskeletal ultrasound in professional practice

• EX1: Practical exam (Pass/Fail)
• CW1: Clinical placement portfolio - incl.
250 ultrasound scans and reports (Pass/Fail)
• CW2: Case study and reflection in practice – 3500 words (100% weighting)

Teaching:

The course will take a blended approach to learning. It will provide a range of learning formats and teaching delivery styles, including:

• Online pre-recorded and on-campus lectures
• Tutorials
• Practical classes and workshops
• Small group learning activities
• Case-study analyses
A range of technology enhanced learning applications will be used via the University’s virtual learning environment to provide guidance of and opportunities for learning, and to support face-to-face delivery. The course will be taught by a diverse team of experienced clinicians, including MSK radiographers, sonographers, and sports and exercise medicine consultants, bringing real-world insights from both the NHS and private sectors.

Careers:

Upon successful completion of the PgCert Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging course, graduates will obtain 60 credits at level 7 and will be able to demonstrate a competency-based award in musculoskeletal ultrasound to employers. This will enable them to work autonomously as a musculoskeletal sonographer in a number of different clinical settings. Thus, they may go on to incorporate musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations as part of their routine clinical assessments in order to achieve a definitive diagnosis for their patients, in either public or private sector.

Other:

• The program is accredited by CASE (Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education).
• Graduates are eligible to join the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT) accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
• The course is part of LSBU's acclaimed radiography and imaging education portfolio, recognized with the 'Diagnostic Radiographer Course of the Year 2022' at the Radiology Awards.
• The course uses top-of-the-range ultrasound equipment with the support from ESAOTE.
• LSBU Health and Social Care graduates are the second highest paid among all London Modern university graduates, and the sixth highest in the UK one year after graduating (DfE LEO data 2022).
• The course is taught by leading experts who are in current practice in diagnostic radiology departments within the NHS, and point-of-care-ultrasound in the private sector.
• Students gain clinical proficiency through supervised, live ultrasound scanning sessions conducted in small, interactive groups.