PREECLAMPSIA SCREENING

Accreditation in the 11-13+6 week scan


Introduction

The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) has set up a process for accreditation in the 11-13+6 weeks scan to ensure that those performing this ultrasound examination have been adequately trained to do so and that high standards of performance are maintained by continuous education and audit.

We offer two tracks: The Full Credentialing Process is appropriate for those sonographers/sonologists who will be obtaining the NT measurements themselves by scanning patients. The Interpreting/Supervisory Physician Process is appropriate for those physicians who do not themselves scan patients to obtain NT measurements but who supervise fully credentialed sonographers and interpret and sign off on the scans obtained by their fully credentialed sonographers.

Once the Full Credentialing Process has been completed, the sonographer/sonologist will be entitled to download the free FMF software for the calculation of risk of Down syndrome by a combination of maternal age, nuchal translucency (NT) measurement. Additional first trimester ultrasound markers can be used to further refine the risk of Down syndrome in the FMF software, once the NT-credentialed person has earned a Certificate of Competence (for nasal bone and/or tricuspid flow and/or ductus venosus flow and/or facial angles).

The fully credentialedindividual will be included in the FMF USA weblist of Accredited Sonographers. Insurance companies, laboratories, and potential employers can check this list by entering a person's last name or FMF ID number. The Supervising/Interpreting Physician will be included in the FMF USA weblist of Supervising Physicians.

For fully credentialed persons, the only condition for ongoing accreditation and use of the software is annual provision of NT data and images by the fully credentialed person for the purposes of quality assurance.  An annual process of renewal for Supervisory/Interpreting Physicians is in the planning stages.

The Accreditation Process (Full Credential)

Nuchal translucency scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online theory course and payment of the one-time $100 administrative fee.
    • Click here to register for the free online theory course (11-13 Weeks Scan Course - choose the "Medical Practitioner" option)
    • You may pay the one-time $100 administrative fee by credit card or by mailing a check made out to FMF USA to:

    • Naomi Greene PhD

    12207 Hillslope St.

    Studio City CA 91604

  • Uploading or submission of three images of NT measurements.
  • If all of the images are acceptable, a certificate of NT accreditation will be sent. If the technique is not consistently correct, feedback will be given and three more BRAND NEW images, taken after reading the most recent report, will be requested. Once consistent mastery of the technique is demonstrated the certificate will be sent
  • Click here for film submission form for those mailing images.
    Click here for nuchal translucency protocol.

Nasal bone scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online 11-13 Weeks Scan course for Medical Practitioners (one-time requirement).
  • Current Fetal Medicine Foundation NT certificate
  • Successful completion of a short online test in which you will be asked to examine images on assessment of the nasal bone.
  • Submission of a set of 3 nasal bone images showing correct assessment of the nasal bone. In the past we requested that the nasal bone should be absent in at least one of the images but this is no longer necessary. You will be asked to tell us whether you think each of your own images is normal or abnormal.
  • If your NB image submission does not pass right away, you will not need to take the short online test again but will be asked to submit 3 brand new nasal bone images, obtained after reading and applying the comments made in the most recent report.
  • Click here for NB protocol.

Tricuspid flow scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online 11-13 Weeks Scan course for Medical Practitioners (one-time requirement).
  • Current Fetal Medicine Foundation NT certificate
  • Successful completion of a short online test in which you will be asked to examine images on assessment of tricuspid flow.
  • Submission of a set of 3 tricuspid flow images showing correct assessment of the tricuspid flow. In the past we requested that the flow should be abnormal in at least one of the images but this is no longer necessary. You will be asked to tell us whether you think each of your own images is normal or abnormal.
  • If your TF image submission does not pass right away, you will not need to take the short online test again but will be asked to submit 3 brand new tricuspid flow images, obtained after reading and applying the comments made in the most recent report.
  • Click here for tricupsid protocol.

Ductus venosus scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online 11-13 Weeks Scan course for Medical Practitioners (one-time requirement).
  • Current Fetal Medicine Foundation NT certificate
  • Successful completion of a short online test in which you will be asked to examine images on assessment of ductus venosus flow.
  • Submission of a set of 3 ductus venosus flow images showing correct assessment of the ductus venosus flow. Please make sure to measure the PI either manually or with the automated trace tool. You will be asked to tell us whether you think each of your own images is normal or abnormal.
  • If your DV image submission does not pass right away, you will not need to take the short online test again but will be asked to submit 3 brand new ductus venosus flow images, obtained after reading and applying the comments made in the most recent report.
  • Click here for ductus venosus protocol.

Uterine Artery Doppler scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online theory course entitled Preeclampsia Screening and payment of the one-time $100 administrative fee if you have not already paid a fee for NT credentialling. Payment is accepted in the form of a credit card payment or check or money order made out to FMF USA and mailed to Naomi Greene PhD, 12400 Ventura Blvd. #838, Studio City CA 91064
  • Click here to register for the free online theory course (Preeclampsia Screening)
  • A current Fetal Medicine Foundation NT certificate is NO LONGER a prerequisite for uterine artery accreditation. 
  • Submission of three images, all showing (1) 2D with color-flow mapping of a main uterine artery, and (2) tracing and measurement of the uterine artery pulsatility index. You can either upload your images to your FMF page directly or mail them to Naomi Greene, 12400 Ventura Blvd., #838, Studio City CA 91604. Images are reviewed within 7-10 days of uploading or 2-3 weeks, if mailed..
  • If all of the images are acceptable, your name will be listed on the Accredited Weblist for Uterine Artery Doppler. If the technique is not consistently correct, feedback will be given and three more images requested. The uterine artery Doppler credential must be renewed annually by submitting 3 images.

Click here for uterine artery assessment protocol.

Click here for the Film Submission form for uterine artery/preeclampsia screening.

Supervisory/Interpreting Physician Process:  : Physicians who do not themselves scan patients to obtain NT measurements but who supervise fully credentialed sonographers and interpret and sign off on the scans obtained by their fully credentialed sonographers should follow these steps:

(1) Complete the 11-13+6 Weeks Scan Course (click here to register for the required online course and then click on the words Login Here just above Book on the 11-13 weeks scan)

(2) Once the course is completed, review the NT image criteria by clicking on the following link: NT image criteria review

(3) E-mail Naomi Greene at NaomiHG@fetalmedicine.com stating that (1) & (2) above have been completed.  You will then receive, by return e-mail, an image scoring quiz (pdf file).  Download,print, and take the quiz and then scan an e-mail it back, or fax it to Naomi  to 818-301-2208, or mail it to Naomi to 12400 Ventura Blvd., #838, Studio City CA 91604.

(4) You must pass by a score of 80% or better.  Once this has occurred, you will receive a special Supervisory/Interpreting Physician's ID number and be weblisted on our site.

(5) If the quiz is not passed by a score of 80% or better, you will receive an e-mail with a detailed report of the points that appear to need clarification and a new quiz to take after reading the report.