Professionals performing cardiac ultrasound on paediatrics and adults with congenital heart disease require additional specialised knowledge and skills. This course will expect students to assimilate how aberrations in foetal heart development result in congenital heart lesions. By applying basic principles and a systematic segmental approach to scanning congenital heart disease, students will learn to assess common acyanotic and cyanotic congenital lesions by integrating their knowledge of aetiology, pathology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation. Students will further explore ultrasound findings in individuals who have undergone surgical medical intervention to gain a broader understanding of these expected findings.
The course is delivered primarily online by distance via the University of Auckland’s learning management system ‘Canvas’. It incorporates a range of learning approaches including videos, webpages, links to the library databases and resources, and utilising online technologies to promote shared learning opportunities. Assessments in this course are a mix of both Lane 1 and Lane 2. Academic learning is expected to inform clinical practice and enhance levels of clinical competency.
This course is a compulsory part of the PGDipHSc (Cardiac Ultrasound) programme.