I recently had the opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) in Chicago. I went in expecting to learn more about the rules, the processes, and the mechanics of accredited continuing medical education. And I did. But what really stuck with me was something much bigger. ACCME […]
More Than CME Credit: What ACCME Accreditation Means for CardioServ Read More »
Every so often, we receive a message that reminds us why we do what we do. Recently, we received an email from Sierra Hendren, a cardiovascular sonography graduate from the Class of 2026. Her message was more than a thank-you note. It was a reminder of the dedication, resilience, and heart that new sonographers bring
A Student Sonographer’s Story: Perseverance, Purpose, and the Power of Support Read More »
Across the United States, and around the world, one issue is becoming increasingly difficult for imaging labs to ignore: the shortage of qualified sonographers. While many departments have felt this operationally for years, recent workforce data now confirms what labs are experiencing every day: persistent staffing shortages, rising vacancy rates, increasing workloads, and growing pressure
Growing Demand, Shrinking Workforce: The Sonographer Shortage Facing Imaging Labs Read More »
In part 1 of our hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) series, we reviewed the key echocardiographic clues that should raise suspicion for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In part 2, we focused on how to differentiate LVOT obstruction flow from mitral regurgitation. Now, in this third and final article, we’ll cover one of the most important ways to unmask obstruction
Goal-Directed Valsalva in HCM: How to Unmask LVOT Obstruction in the Echo Lab Read More »
In part one of our HCM series you learned key echocardiographic clues that should raise suspicion for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this article we’ll look at one of the more challenging aspects of scanning patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: accurately differentiating LVOT vs Mitral Regurgitation in HCM. Both produce high-velocity systolic jets and sometimes even overlap
LVOT vs Mitral Regurgitation in HCM: How to Tell the Difference on Echo Read More »
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is more common than most sonographers realize, and it’s missed more often than anyone would like to admit. In fact, according to ASE, HCM may affect as many as 1 in 200 patients, yet a large percentage remain undiagnosed for years. Many of these patients are already being scanned in everyday echo
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Echocardiography: What You Might Be Missing Read More »
CardiServ is committed to supporting individuals and organizations that share our values of inspiring excellence in echocardiography. I recently had the opportunity to interview Michael Owen, RDCS, RVT, a sonographer and the developer of EchoWorkflows.com. I also had the chance to put his tool to the test in a real-world clinical environment in a busy
EchoWorkflows: A Practical Tool for Applying ASE Guidelines in a Busy Echo Lab Read More »
Both constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy limit ventricular filling, but for completely different reasons.
They share nearly identical symptoms and often similar Doppler findings such as dyspnea, edema, JVD, preserved EF and abnormal filling, which is why they’re so commonly mistaken for one another.
But they arise from completely different mechanics, one from the outside of the heart, one from the inside.
Learn how to diagnose cardiac tamponade using echocardiographic signs, Doppler clues, and hemodynamic changes. Identify critical pressure patterns before clinical shock develops.
Cardiac Tamponade: Echo Findings, Doppler Clues & the Hemodynamic Cascade Read More »
After learning the pericardial disease spectrum in Part 1 of our pericardial disease series, the natural next step is mastering the first question in the Three-Step Framework: Is there fluid? Seems like a simple enough thing to do, right? Well, it’s not always as straightforward as you might hope. Misinterpreting an effusion can lead to
How to Recognize a Pericardial Effusion on Echo: and Avoid Common Mimics Read More »