Program Overview

Obstetric Ultrasound

The Obstetric Ultrasound course delivers the knowledge base and skills required to assess fetal presentation and wellbeing with ultrasound.

Overview

Developed as a joint initiative between the Mobile Learning Unit, Melbourne Medical School, and Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, this course aims to upskill midwives and doctors providing pregnancy care. The course enables them to accurately determine fetal presentation and assess fetal wellbeing at the point of care without referring to a medical imaging service.

Designed For

This course is highly recommended for midwives and doctors providing antenatal and intrapartum care to pregnant women.

Learning Outcomes

• DESCRIBE the basics of ultrasound, including ultrasound physics, machine operation, bioeffects, and machine care.
• IDENTIFY relevant fetal anatomy as seen when imaged with ultrasound.
• DETERMINE fetal presentation, lie, and position from ultrasound scan images combined with ultrasound probe locations.
• EXPLAIN the purpose and possible clinical abnormalities of Amniotic Fluid.
• DESCRIBE the ultrasound procedures required to assess amniotic fluid volume, a fetal biophysical profile, and feto-placental Dopplers as markers of fetal wellbeing.
• ANALYSE the suitability of Doppler ultrasound waveforms and results.
• EXPLAIN how Doppler ultrasound results relate to blood flow resistance in the umbilical and fetal middle cerebral arteries in given clinical contexts.
• DIFFERENTIATE between the meaning of Middle Cerebral Artery blood flow resistance and velocity.
• EXPLAIN how Middle Cerebral Artery Doppler is applied in clinical practice.

Course Units

• Tutorial 1: Introduction to ultrasound
• Tutorial 2: Fetal Presentation
• Tutorial 3: Amniotic Fluid Volume - Biophysical Profile
• Tutorial 4: Umbilical Artery Doppler
• Tutorial 5: Middle Cerebral Artery Doppler

Knowledge and Skills

• Determination of fetal presentation and lie, including understanding when and why assessment of fetal presentation is indicated
• Recognition of the fetal skull, spine, and trunk, in longitudinal and transverse sections
• Ability to assess amniotic fluid volume and understanding of how it relates to fetal wellbeing
• Understanding of the most common causes of oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios
• Ability to assess a fetal biophysical profile
• Understanding of the basic physics and safety considerations of Doppler ultrasound
• Ability to assess and quantify umbilical artery and fetal middle cerebral artery resistance
• Understanding of how umbilical artery and fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler results relate to placental function at different gestations

Assessment

The assessment is a submission of 5 tutorials, 5 self-assessments, 10 case studies, and 1 end-of-course examination. A certificate is issued upon satisfactory completion of the course.

Delivery Mode

Course completion requires approximately 13 hours of e-learning. This course is delivered online, and students can study in their own time and location. Course materials can be accessed using a web browser.

Course Directors

• Professor Sue Walker AO, MBBS, FRANZCOG, MD, DDU, CMFM: A maternal-fetal medicine sub-specialist and academic clinical researcher.
• Dr Teresa MacDonald MBBS (Hons), BMedSci, FRANZCOG, PhD: An obstetrician, gynaecologist, and academic researcher.
• Ms Rachel L Worboys BN, GDipMid: A midwife providing clinical and organisational leadership.
• Dr Elizabeth McCarthy: A senior lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne.

Authors

• Ms Nadia Bardien RN, RM, MMID
• Dr Lindsay Bridgford CSM, MBBS, DRANZCOG, DCH, FACEM, DDU (EM), DDU (CC), MCU, ASCeXAM, FASE
• Dr Teresa M MacDonald MBBS (Hons), BMedSci, FRANZCOG, PhD
• Ms Rachel L Worboys BN, GDipMid
• Prof Susan P Walker AO, MBBS, FRANZCOG, MD, DDU, CMFM

Fees

For doctors (specialists/GPs)

• The course is online, self-paced, and ready when you are start anytime.
• You will have access to all course materials for a full 12 months.
• $423.50 (inc GST)

For midwives/trainees/students

• AUD $275 (incl. GST)

Groups of 20+

Discounted group rates are available for groups of 20 or more students.

Course Details

Participants of this course should be either enrolled in, or have graduated from, a midwifery or medical degree.