Medical Imaging News

January 31, 2007

Toshiba Makes Ongoing Clinical Education Accessible

The advent of 64-slice CT systems have been a boon for cardiac imaging. It also has meant seeing the heart in new ways.

"Cardiologists have not been seeing images at this level before, so it's important for them to get comfortable in viewing an image in a different plane than they are used to," said Anita Bowler, manager of customer education at the Toshiba Education Center. "We invest a significant amount of time ensuring that physicians and technologists understand our systems and all of the applications they are capable of so that patients receive the full diagnostic benefits possible."

One way that Toshiba America Medical Systems is making this happen is through an online training portal. The Toshiba Learning Center provides access to a variety of courses that satisfy requirements for continuing education credits. Modules on the e-Learning site last approximately 1 hour.

E-learning is structured around guidelines by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists regulating self-study courses. A score of at least 75% is considered passing, at which point participants can print their certificate.

Although students work through the lesson individually and finish by taking a test, they can call a "help line" and receive answers to specific questions.

Toshiba's Web-based offerings include several other courses that are not certified for CME credits but that provide valuable information on related topics, such as radiation safety or MR safety courses. Medical professionals also can access the site to register for physician training or Toshiba's in-house training for customers using the company's technology.

In addition to the e-Learning option, Toshiba also provides courses for physicians seeking a Level II certification from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

Radiologists choose to obtain this certification at a variety of locations throughout the country, thanks to partnerships between Toshiba and such organizations as Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, the University of California, Irvine, the Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and Liberty Pacific Medical Imaging in San Francisco.

"All courses meet the requirements established by the ACC and the American College of Radiology (ACR) for Level II certification," Bowler said. "We use our Aquilion 64 CFX system so that the physicians are able to visualize the plaque and the vessel remodeling much easier."

To successfully complete the program, participants are required to attend class for 35 to 40 hours. That time includes didactics, lectures, and observing patient scans. Attendees witness at least 25 cases being scanned.

"They don't actually initiate the scan, but they observe the techniques, protocols, set-up procedures, and the administration of beta-blockers," Bowler explained. "Then they read 50 cases or more during the first week."

Once the on-site portion is complete, the physicians are provided with a self-study program. The exact contents vary by university, but include access to an additional 100 cases, which must be read within 8 weeks.

"They are mentored the whole time," Bowler said, noting that the personal attention doesn't stop after class wraps up. "Once they go home they always have access to a mentor, if they have a question or for any other reason."

Each course is run as part of the educational facility existing organizational structure, although Toshiba does collaborate with each school to determine the exact curriculum. Courses are available to all health care professionals, not just Toshiba customers.

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