Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Clinical Skills Experience - Scanning Record

The Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging pathway has been developed to provide students with access to high quality education in musculoskeletal ultrasound and to respond to the requirements of an external accreditation group – The Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE).

A CASE accredited pathway must include evidence of several clinical components. Firstly as assessment of competency assessment, this is completed in the Postgraduate Certificate Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging pathway.

Secondly, students must provide evidence that they have continued musculoskeletal scanning, there is no requirement for competency to be evaluated again. This Clinical Skills Experience – Scanning Record provides evidence of students’ ongoing engagement with the modality.

The scanning record requirement is a component of the Postgraduate Diploma or MSc Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging. Students who have completed the components of the Postgraduate Certificate Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging will have passed summative assessments confirming clinical competency.

Whilst enrolled on the component modules of the Postgraduate Diploma and MSc, students must be able to demonstrate they are continuing to scan and are therefore maintaining their clinical skills.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• demonstrate evidence of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging to maintain previously assessed clinical skills.

• Completion of the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging.
• Registration on any module that is a component of Postgraduate Diploma or MSc Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language we require an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 450/200.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Module Outline

The submitted scanning record will provide evidence of ongoing engagement with clinical musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning. Clinical competency was assessed in the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Professional Practice module, these clinical skills should be maintained whilst you progress through the requirements of your pathway.

Students should document scanning and it is advised that all scans are recorded, (copy the record of learning table as required).

The ‘Notes and critical incidents’ column should include brief significant details e.g.:

• clinical question / reason for scan
• anatomical area scanned
• specific technical issues
• imaging findings – establishing relevance
• role of scan in patient’s pathway

The scanning record requirements per patient should not be time consuming, it is intended that they reflect your scanning experience and provide a form of evidence. The entries into each column should be concise; note form or bullet points are acceptable. The scanning record does not have to be supported by evidence that requires referencing.

Logbook records of scanning practice are required for the entire duration of each student’s registration period and will need to be submitted each academic year, (starting 12 months after completion of the Postgraduate Certificate). It is not possible to state a number of hours of scanning or a number of patients that are required for a student to demonstrate they have engaged with musculoskeletal ultrasound clinically but CASE have stipulated that 300 scans each year must be completed each year to prevent skill fade. The logbook must therefore include a minimum of 300 scans.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Assessment strategy

Scanning logbook.

• Fees for 2023-24 (.PDF).

• Fees for 2024-25 (.PDF).

If you have any questions about the module fees please email msk@essex.ac.uk.

In the first instance approach your Education Liaison Manager to see if funding can be secured via the organisation you are working for.

To apply for an individual module please complete the module application form (.docx) and email to msk@essex.ac.uk for the attention of Sophie Young.