The Leader in Cardiac CT Education
Cardiac CT Practicum: Activity Description
The activity is held approximately monthly at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. When classes are held "in-person", we use a multimedia classroom constructed specifically for the learner's needs. This is a workstation-based training program, designed to meet American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Level 2 requirements. Each participant has their own workstation to use throughout the activity and receives personal attention and instruction by the activity faculty. An additional workstation, which projects to the front of the room, is used by instructors to demonstrate various aspects of CT interpretation.
When classes are held in a "virtual" format, lectures, case presentation, and all instruction is provided live using Zoom, and participants are given access to cloud-based workstations that can be run from their home or office.
After receiving training on the use of the workstation, a case library of over 300 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, etc) are reviewed. Several hours are devoted to reviewing issues in valvular disease, including making measurements for TAVR. A minimum of 100 cases will be reviewed during the 5 days of the activity with additional cases provided for review in the following week(s). Twenty hours of didactic instruction is included through lectures and reading materials, which 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 present these topics. Participants take a written quiz to confirm understanding of these materials.
The requirement for observation of the acquisition of 65 studies is satisfied by utilizing a combination of onsite observation of approximately 40 studies supplemented by interactive observation of approximately 25 studies performed offsite and viewed by interactive videolink. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions during acquisition of the studies (i.e., patient selection, use of beta blockers, etc) and to observe the steps in obtaining the scan by direct observation of the scanner console.
The course provides everything that is needed for Board eligibility, and everything required for CT reading privileges at most hospitals.
Other Information
There is a learning curve that must be overcome to master cardiac CT, and the amount of material to be covered is large. Therefore, these days will be long (8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., and it is expected that participants will be present for the entire week. For "in-person" courses, breakfast and lunch will be provided on site. An evening event, which will include dinner, will be arranged on Wednesday during the course.
Social Event
During "in-person" courses, a social event is planned for Wednesday evening. This is often held at the Johns Hopkins Faculty Club. Details will be provided with your confirmation notice
For Further Information, registration, and confirmation of registration please call (410) 550-0845 or email Susan Orr at sorr1@jhmi.edu