International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) and Northwest Imaging Forums Announce Partnership to Advance IV Training for Sonographers

April 24, 2024 — The International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) and Northwest Imaging Forums (NWIF) announced an educational partnership to help train sonographers to perform contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examinations and administer intravenous ultrasound contrast agents.

The new IV training program follows the recent update of the sonographer Scope of Practice, which expands the role of sonographers in administering ultrasound contrast agents. The new Scope of Practice and Clinical Standards for the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer was released last month by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

“Sonographers play a crucial role in conducting ultrasound examinations, and it is vital that they become proficient in IV insertion and administration of ultrasound contrast agents so they can provide state of the art diagnostic imaging and patient care,” said Maria Stanczak, a member of the ICUS board of directors and Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

The new IV training program will cover the benefits and uses of CEUS, safety considerations, setup procedures, needle selection, insertion techniques and specialized preparation for cardiac or abdominal studies.

“CEUS is an extremely safe, reliable and valuable medical imaging tool that can reduce repeat testing and lower diagnostic imaging costs,” said Jessica Stout, a member of the ICUS board of directors and Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Registration and additional information are available by visiting:
https://icus-society.org/education/sonographer-training-resource-hub/#ivtraining

The first phase of the joint IV training program is comprised of joint CEUS webinars for abdominal and cardiovascular imaging. The second phase will include customized hands-on IV training sessions offered by NWIF at individual medical centers.

“These practical training programs primarily target sonographers, but they are also open to medical residents, fellows, nurses, technicians and other healthcare professionals interested in integrating CEUS into ultrasound practice,“ said Christina Merrill, a member of the ICUS Board of Directors, Lead Sonographer in the CEUS department at the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

During a CEUS exam, an ultrasound contrast agent is injected intravenously to improve the clarity and functionality of the ultrasound image. Ultrasound contrast agents do not contain dye or create any known risk of kidney damage or deposit of contrast media in the brain, and CEUS does not expose patients or staff to ionizing radiation, she added.

Ultrasound contrast agents are sometimes called ultrasound “enhancing” agents. They are distinguished from contrast agents used with CT and MRI, which have less favorable safety profiles.

“CEUS is shaping the future of ultrasound laboratories and IV insertion is a vital skill that will be instrumental to providing optimal diagnostic imaging and patient care,” said Joan Olson, an ICUS board member and Manager of the Echocardiology Laboratory at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

“ICUS and NWIF will bring together world-renowned CEUS educators to empower sonographers with the necessary expertise, shaping the trajectory of medical practice for the better,” said Matt Wilson, President of NWIF.

“This program will set sonographers and other medical professionals on a path to diagnostic imaging excellence,” said Bev Gorman, a member of the ICUS Board of Directors and recently retired Director of Accreditation of Echocardiography for the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

Ultrasound contrast agents are manufactured and sold in the US and elsewhere by Bracco (Lumason and Sonovue), Lantheus (Definity, Luminity and Definity RT) and GE Healthcare (Optison and Sonazoid).

ICUS is a nonprofit global medical society dedicated to expansion of CEUS utilization to improve patient care. ICUS does not charge fees for membership, CME-accredited webinars on CEUS, newsletters and other CEUS resources or programming. To join ICUS, register and learn more, visit the ICUS website at www.ICUS-Society.org, or download the free ICUS app for iPhone and Android devices.

NWIF is a provider of continuing medical education programs that focus on professional development for medical imaging.

For more information: www.icus-society.org