Courses

Course Summary

CPD: 8 Hrs

This course is designed to provide the practitioner with the essential probe handling and image orientation skills required to begin using ultrasound imaging at the Podiatric point of care. This course acts as an introduction to ultrasonography and its applications to podiatry to help practitioners understand more about the topic and what this may add to their practice.

A one-day programme of practical instruction with a further option for follow up remote tutorial sessions to ensure the skills learned are practiced and refined. This model of learning is specifically designed to support practitioners in their incorporation of ultrasound imaging into routine podiatric point of care practice through applied anatomical knowledge and the progressive development of examination skills. The aim is to build confidence through repetition and practice.

The face-to-face teaching programme is delivered by short lectures followed by practice, covering the Achilles tendon, the plantar structures and the tarsal joints anterior, and the tarsal joints. Examination techniques are demonstrated and practiced.

Entry requirements for this course are a BSc Podiatry or equivalent professional qualification entitling the applicant to practice as a registered health care professional.

A sample programme is available here. Please note this is subject to change.

Accredited by the Royal College of Podiatry
The Royal College of Podiatry is approving this introductory training but in no way is it approving any ORCA product or other ORCA service.

Course Objectives

• Deliver a grounding in essential physical principles of ultrasound.
• Learn the controls of a scanner and how to optimise an ultrasound image.
• Identify the anatomy of the lower limb on ultrasound.
• Receive instruction on probe handling and patient positioning to obtain ultrasound images of key target structures.

This course DOES NOT deliver competency to perform an independent diagnostic ultrasound examination.

This course DOES demonstrate how ultrasound imaging can be used to support clinical decision making and treatment at the podiatric point of care.

What's Included?

• One day face-to-face course.
• CPD certificate upon completion.

Additional Cost Option

• 4 x 1Hr follow up small group tutorial sessions which include targeted assignments and feedback to guide practice.

Course Tutor(s)

Jonathan Dewell, Advanced Practice Podiatrist Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust

Over the past 26 years my attitude towards my clinical work has remained consistent. This has centred on striving to develop and provide excellent patient care. My initial clinical work for City & Hackney was broad and included high risk patient management, wound care and biomechanics clinics. This experience helped me establish a more specialist interest in biomechanics and force management in the lower limb. This has been nurtured in my time with Birmingham Community NHs Trust and further developed as an Advanced Practice Podiatrist with Shropshire Community NHS Trust. Podiatric use of ultrasound is gaining pace, as advances in technology have enabled more meaningful interpretation of images and costs are reducing. A fundamental knowledge can offer an insight into pathology, helping to optimise our management of our patients. Diagnosis is not necessarily the podiatrist main use of ultrasound. Often it helps to improve patient concordance, as they feel more engaged with their care whilst also influencing the timing of interventions associated with specific conditions. This all contribute to personalised care for our patients.

Frequently asked questions