How do I start the BSE TTE process?
You will need to become a BSE member and read through the
TTE accreditation pack. Once you are happy that you are able to
meet the criteria you will need to apply for the BSE written
examination, this takes place twice a year;
• Spring 2013 exam - friday 26th April 2013,Dublin, Edinburgh,
Bridgend, London and Manchester
• Autumn 2013 exam - Date TBA, Liverpool
Does the BSE have any mutual recognition with any other
associations or societies?
An agreement has been reached with EAE for reciprocity between
BSE and EAE accreditation.
Candidates who have passed the log book section of the BSE
accreditation process (hold BSE Accreditation) only need to pass
the EAE written exam to obtain EAE accreditation (full fee
payable).
Similarly individuals holding EAE accreditation need only submit a
log book and disc to achieve BSE accreditation (full fee
payable).
The BSE have no mutual recognition with any other association or
society.
How much will the TTE accreditation process cost
me?
The BSE charge £150 for you to sit the examination. This cost
also includes the marking of your practical submission. If you fail
the examination you can re-sit the examination for a reduced fee
of £75 if taken within the year.
How many reports must I submit?
In total your logbook should comprise of 250 cases. At least the
final 150 cases should be reported primarily by the candidate alone
although they may be checked by another operator.
The studies should reflect the normal case-load of a general adult
department with the following constraints:
- At least 25 cases should be indicated for left ventricular
function.
- At least 50 cases should he indicated for valve disease.
- At least 10 should show replacement valves.
- Approximately 5 should show pericardial disease.
- At least 5 should show diseases of the aorta.
- There should be some cases of simple congenital disease (e.g.
ASD).
- There should be at least 5 cases of suspected
endocarditis.
- There should be at least 5 cases of cardiomyopathy including at
least 2 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- No more than 25 studies should be completely normal.
- In the logbook the different categories of echoes should be
separated by dividers.
What about my video cases?
Five full studies with reports must be submitted. This is the
section that is often done least well and is where many candidates
fail. It is worth spending extra time doing this to make sure the
submission is as good as it can be. Remember that it is assumed you
will submit your best cases so we will expect the studies to be
complete and of a high standard. Also, remember we are assessing
your echo skills not the pathology you are sending in. The
following diagnoses are required:
- A normal study demonstrating appropriate use of machine
settings for optimal imaging and correct use of standard views
(parasternal, apical, subcostal, suprasternal), M Mode and 2D, CW,
PW and Colour Doppler to assess chambers and valves
- Severe aortic stenosis (you must include demonstration of the
use of the stand alone CW Doppler probe from multiple windows e.g.
apical, right parasternal). You should also calculate the valve
area using the continuity equation.
- Moderate or severe mitral or aortic regurgitation carefully
demonstrating quantification of the degree of regurgitation.
- Previous or recent myocardial infarct describing regional wall
motion abnormalities and carefully quantifying overall ejection
fraction.
- The fifth case of a different pathology to the other cases
(e.g. pericardial effusion/constriction, mitral stenosis,
cardiomyopathies etc).
What is the difference between my submission deadline
and case deadline?
Every candidate will have a submission deadline and a case
deadline. All 250 cases within your logbook and the 5 video cases
have to be collected within a 2 year period (unless an extension
has been granted) this comprises of 1 year prior examination and 1
year post examination. Once this two year timeframe has passed
every candidate has two months to prepare their logbook in the
correct format ready to send to the BSE accreditation office.
If you passed the BSE written examination in April 2009
Your submission deadline would be 31st June 2010 and your case
deadline would be 31st April 2010.
Please remember if you have had an extension this would be
subject to change and would be detailed in your extension approval
correspondence.
Why should my logbook be anonimised and how should I do
it?
In order for cases to be classed as anonimised the assessor must
not be able to gain personal information about the patient that is
not directly relevant to the echocardiogram. This means that name,
address, NHS/Hospital number and date of birth must not be visible.
If the age is not given separately the year of birth may be left
visible.
Please note that correction fluid such as tippex may still allow
data to be visible if you look at the back of the page, as does
placing a sticker over the patient data. Marker pen often fades so
that data may be correctly anonimised at the point of posting to us
but not when we are posting it back to you. Please
note there is a £10.00 fee for returning logbooks not
anonimised.
We therefore advise:
- Cutting out the patient data or
- Deleting data electronically prior to printing or
- Using corrective fluid or marker pen, then photocopying the
sheet
For more information please refer to anonimisation
guidelines.
Should all the logbook cases be signed and
dated?
All logbook reports submitted must carry your signature and full
name and a date.
How do I present my logbook?
The preferred format for the Logbook is a set of copies of
actual clinical reports enclosed in a folder or binder. The folder
must have your name and BSE membership number clearly displayed on
the front of the folder.
The first page of your folder should be the summary sheet; this
groups your cases by the primary diagnosis i.e. why was the patient
referred for an echo scan.
The 5 reports relating to the digital cases should be enclosed,
in the correct order, in an envelope along with the Video/ Disc and
the mark sheets from your Mentor/Supervisor.
For further details please see the TTE accreditation
pack.
Where should I send my completed logbook?
All accreditation documentation should be sent to;
BSE Accreditation, Docklands Business Centre, 10-16 Tiller Road,
London, E14 8PX.
How do I apply for an extension?
In order to apply for an extension request you need to complete
an extension request form this must be done before your case
collection deadline. Please contact the Accreditation department
for a form. All extension requests should be sent to the BSE
Accreditation office with a payment for £100.00.
How do I know you have received my
submission?
Once your submission has been received by the accreditation
office, you will receive a notification by post informing you that
your submission has reached us.
What is the difference between a mentor and a
supervisor?
A supervisor needs to have attended a BSE supervisors training
day and be BSE accredited for a minimum of two year. Your
supervisor will then be able to review and assist you with the
complete TTE submission, including video cases. A mentor can assist
you but they are not able to review and mark the video cases.
Please ensure that they are aware of the new accreditation pack as
guidelines have changed since your mentor or supervisor would have
undertaken the accreditation process.
How do I become a supervisor?
In order to become a BSE supervisor you need to be BSE
accredited for a minimum of one year and have attended a
supervisors training day course. If you would like to book onto the
next available course please send an email to accreditation@bsecho.org
expressing your interest. Please note this training day carries 2
BSE re-accreditation points and is free to attend.
How do I become an external marker?
In order to become an external marker you need to be BSE
accredited for a minimum of three years and have attended a markers
training course. If you would like to book onto the next available
course please send an email to accreditation@bsecho.org
expressing your interest. Please note this training day carries 2
BSE re-accreditation points and is free to attend.
How do I receive my final result?
Your result will be sent out via recorded delivery to the
address we have for you. Any changes should be sent to both the
membership ( admin@bsecho.org) and
accreditation office ( accreditation@bsecho.org).
I am not happy with the result I have received, how do I
appeal?
We appreciate that not passing the accreditation process is
disheartening, and ask that you review the comments from your
assessor in order to appreciate the reasons for a resubmission
being requested. If you still feel that the marking hasn't been
carried out correctly, in any way, then we do have an appeals
system that you can opt to use in order to have your case reviewed
again.
Once you have reviewed the BSE appeals
document, should you wish to appeal can you please return the
completed documents to the accreditation office so that we can
process this for you. BSE would like to bring your specific
attention to the fact that we need to have an appeal lodged within
2 months of you having received the result in order to review the
marking process.
For further details please see the appeals FAQ