Cardiovascular Business - October/November 2007 - (Page 7) ACCF/AHA Clinical Competence Statement on Cardiac Imaging with CT and MR @ CardiovascularBusiness.com Cardiac CT Training › ACQUIRING THE SKILLS to get the most bang for your techto be live for levels 2 and 3, there isn’t Confidence is an important factor nology investment buck, you’ve got to currently any clarity about whether in becoming competent in the pracinvest in acquiring the needed skills those cases actually have to be done tice of conducting and analyzing carto make the most of that technology. in person or whether they can be diac Ct scans for James Adams, MD, With cardiac Ct, achieving certificadone through a live feed. the Society FACC, a cardiologist at Cardiovascular tion and becoming proficient are two of Cardiovascular Computed tomogAssociates of Marin and San Francisdifferent things. raphy (SCCt) is now certifying trainco in Larkspur, Calif., and a principal “It’s a pretty steep learning in Civic Associates, a Ct training curve,” says tony DeFrance, MD, firm. “to have confidence in your Training, just a click away! an interventional cardiologist and ability is to interpret a study and SCCT.org is a great resource for training medical director of CvCtA edudecide whether to cath or not to programs—complete with attendee ratings. Click on cation, an independent cardiac cath based on the results and “Training Courses and Program” on the left nav bar. imaging company. “It’s something knowing that you are doing the a physician has to focus on. It is right thing,” he says. a different technology than cardioloing centers; courses certified by the When deciding to make the investgists are used to in terms of the 3D SCCt are considered high quality. ment to become certified and compeworkstation.” Gaining proficiency in reading and tent in cardiac Ct, consider both the In terms of the acquisition of skills, interpreting cases takes months of investment of training dollars—which many cardiologists and radiologists practice, says Scott Flamm, MD, FACr, typically cost from $1,800 for a twoopt for training courses to become a radiologist who is the head of the Deday course to $7,000 to $10,000 for Level 2 certified, required by most inpartment of Cardiovascular Imaging a three-to-five day course—but also surers for reimbursement. the table at Cleveland Clinic. “you can’t become the revenue you’ll lose by being away below provides information about competent in a weekend-long course,” from your practice. Better to make the number of cases required and he says. “It is ridiculous and insulting that investment now rather than latdeadlines for the three levels of trainto patients to think that you could. you er; if you wait until after July 1, 2010, ing currently available. have to put in the time to gain an inyou’ll have to give up two months of While the certification guidelines depth understanding so that you can your time to receive fellowship trainnote the number of cases that have interpret studies correctly.” ing for Level 2 certification. LEVEL I Level of competency Number of cases Designed for Determined by Deadlines Eligibility CME requirements Classroom time Other requirements Knowledge of cardiac CT; cannot conduct or interpret independently 50 mentored; none live Radiologists American College of Radiology July 2010 Board eligible or certified cardiologists, radiologists or in nuclear medicine None Generally two days None LEVEL 2 Trained to both conduct and interpret cardiac CT independently 150; 50 must be live; 50 mentored; 50 CME Quality CD or DVD Cardiologists American College of Cardiology July 2010; after this deadline, you must take a 2-month fellowship for certification Board eligible or certified cardiologists, radiologists or in nuclear medicine 50 studies conducted/interpreted per year; 20 hours in CCT each 36 months 20 hours of class None LEVEL 3 Certified to train physicians in Levels 2 and 3; can supervise an academic cardiac CT program 300; 100 must be live Instructors American College of Cardiology July 2010; after this deadline, you must take a 6-month fellowship for certification Board eligible or certified cardiologists, radiologists or in nuclear medicine 100 studies conducted/interpreted every year; 40 hours in CCT each 36 months 40 hours of class Must be faculty lecturer in 2 CME classes; engage in fellowship teaching or has published 3 or more peer reviewed publications. Granted by SCCT after review. CardiovascularBusiness.com Cardiovascular Business 7 http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/full/46/2/383 http://www.SCCT.org http://www.CardiovascularBusiness.com
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