Frequently ASked questions

Yes, we only offer private training in order to create the most efficient use of your time.  You will not have to compete with other course participants for simulator, instructor, or echocardiography machine time.  It has been our experience, and the experience of our participants, echocardiography skills cannot be acquired by watching others perform in small groups.

Dr. Green will be your full-time instructor and your only instructor.  Dr. Green is a National Board of Echocardiography Diplomate, American Board of Anesthesiology Diplomate, and a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE).   He has privately instructed in the Echo Simulation Laboratory since 2014. 

We offer one, three, and five-day training sessions.  However, since this is a private customized experience, there is no fixed course agenda.  Your time in the laboratory is tailored to your current level of knowledge and your specific goals. 

Yes.  Our simulator creates a highly accurate simulation of spectral and color Doppler echocardiography in both normal and pathological states.  It is an invaluable tool for learning echocardiographic calculations and understanding Doppler color flow patterns. 

We do not offer CME credit.  However, we are frequently asked to write an individualized letter to your department or institution describing the details of your training and your performance in the laboratory. 

Yes, we can help you prepare for the National Board of Echocardiography (NBE) examinations.   Whether you need tutoring in echocardiographic calculations, ultrasound physics, or understanding machine operation, we are here to help you improve your examination scores. 

Yes, we have a Philips iE33 3D Matrix machine equipped with both an X5-1 3D TTE and an X7-2t  3D TEE probes.  This equipment is used to image our ultrasound cardiac phantom.  When combined with simulation training, this is clearly the most effective way of learning 3D image acquisition and processing.  Images are analyzed using QLab software at our 3D workstation.  

We have trained sonographers, medical device representatives, anesthesiologists, emergency physicians, critical care physicians, cardiologists, trauma surgeons, and cardiothoracic surgeons. Cardiologists with extensive backgrounds in TTE can become more versatile in a more complete TEE exam.  Cardiac and general anesthesiologists can develop basic TTE skills or advanced TEE skills for monitoring, cardiothoracic guidance, or echocardiographic support for device implantation.   We have helped many cardiac anesthesiologists, general anesthesiologists, and critical care physicians pass all four of the current National Board of Echocardiography (NBE) exams.

Our unique highly relastic pharyngel-esophageal airway model is used in combination with a Philips X7-2t probe for instruction in proper techniques for passing the TEE probe safely and efficiently.  Aideed by a live visual display screen from a camera placed in the model's nasopharynx, the model has an uncanny realistic feel of resistance and challenge to passing the TEE probe.  As Dr. Green is an experienced anesthesiologist, he is extremely familiar with all issues regarding safety and patentcy of the upper airway.   

Our state of the art Heartworks Simulator is both TTE and TEE capable.   We will frequently concentrate on a single modality while using a limited amount of time to expose our attendees to the alternate modality while they are attending the lab.  

We use a simulated touch screen interface to instruct in machine operation and measurement package skills on our Heartworks simulator.  These skills are then carried over to the real Philips ultrasound machine using both the TTE and TEE probes.  We use live models for TTE training and a custom ultrasound phantom for both 2D and 3D TEE training.  This constellation allows the attendee to learn complex machine operation skills in a relaxed non-clinical environment at his or her own pace. 

Yes.  For participants who demonstrate adequate simulator skills we schedule live models for the TTE exam.  We DO NOT schedule live models for TEE training.