Published online October 6, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 116 No. 6 December 2005, pp. 1574-1575 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-2097)

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POLICY STATEMENT

ACC/AHA/AAP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRAINING IN PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY FOUNDATION, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION and AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

	INTRODUCTION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association/American College of Physicians Task Force on Clinical Competence (ACC/AHA/AAP Writing Committee to Develop Training Recommendations for Pediatric Cardiology)
Steering Committee: Thomas P. Graham, JR, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, Chair; Robert H. Beekman III, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, Co-Chair; Michael D. Freed, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP; John W. Hirshfeld, JR, MD, FACC, FAHA; Thomas Kulik, MD; John D. Kugler, MD, FACC, FAAP^*; Tim C. McQuinn, MD, FAAP; David J. Sahn, MD, MACC, FAAP; Victoria L. Vetter, MD, FACC, FAHA; and William B. Moskowitz, MD, FACC, FAAP

Task Force Members: Mark A. Creager, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair; John W. Hirshfeld, JR, MD, FACC, FAHA; Beverly H. Lorell, MD, FACC, FAHA; Geno Merli, MD, FACP; George P. Rodgers, MD, FACC; John D. Rutherford, MB, CHB, FACC, FAHA; Cynthia M. Tracy, MD, FACC, FAHA; and Howard H. Weitz, MD, FACC, FACP

Training Guidelines for Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Programs

Thomas P. Graham, Jr, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, Chair; and Robert H. Beekman, III, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, Co-Chair

Pediatric cardiology is a complex, multifaceted specialty composed of diverse clinical and academic subspecialty areas. It is characterized by rapid growth of subspecialty areas and swift incorporation of new information from the clinical and laboratory sciences. It is important, therefore, to define the fellowship training required to launch a successful career in pediatric cardiology. The following document represents the first broad-based effort to do so.

In 2000, the Society of Pediatric Cardiology Training Program Directors (SPCTPD) embarked on the process of defining fellowship training guidelines. The process itself was broad-based and inclusive. All pediatric cardiology training program directors were invited to nominate members to participate in the training guidelines task forces; in turn, each task force was comprised of all nominated members who agreed to participate. Therefore, all training programs were provided an opportunity to actively participate.

In 2002, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) approved and published the Revised Recommendations in Adult Cardiovascular Medicine Core Cardiology Training.¹ As the SPCTPD was concluding its training guideline development, plans were formalized to use a similar process through the ACC Pediatric Cardiology/Congenital Heart Disease Committee and the ACC Training Program Directors Committee. Accordingly, a steering committee was developed with original authors of the Pediatric Cardiology Training Guidelines to form a liaison with the ACC, the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Section on Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to agree on the final guidelines and to publish them widely.

These guidelines are written with the planned goal of serving as a practical resource for directors of pediatric cardiology training programs. We also hope that this document will prove useful to the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for pediatric training programs in the revision of requirements for the accreditation of pediatric cardiology programs. The general requirements, clinical competencies, and oversight for fellows in pediatric cardiology would remain the same as outlined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

	GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The guidelines proposed in this document address overall recommendations for training in pediatric cardiology and important subspecialties within the field of pediatric cardiology. Although we understand that the pediatric RRC sets minimum standards for accreditation of fellowship programs, this document endeavors to define a more comprehensive set of guidelines for pediatric cardiology fellowship training. Fellowship training guidelines are presented for: general pediatric cardiology (including inpatient care and consultations); echocardiography and noninvasive imaging; electrophysiology; cardiac catheterization and intervention; cardiac intensive care; adult congenital heart disease; and research participation. Each section other than general pediatric cardiology specifies "core" and "advanced" training experiences. Core recommendations are intended to be common training experiences for all pediatric cardiology trainees regardless of long-term career goals. Advanced recommendations are additional training experiences for trainees intending to develop a clinical or academic area of special competence. All guidelines are recommended experiences, and not absolute mandates, as it is recognized that each training program has unique strengths and that clinical and academic variation across training programs provides important diversity for the specialty.

Table 1 summarizes the approximate time commitment (in months) recommended for core training in the task force reports that follow. Variations in these time commitments should be allowed, as pediatric cardiology programs vary widely in size, organization, and emphasis. For example, in some programs, fellows may get considerable cardiac intensive care unit training during their general inpatient experiences and not require a two- to four-month stand-alone rotation. Thus, the training guidelines must provide programs with flexibility to address individual trainee clinical and/or research training needs during a core fellowship of 36 months’ duration.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 1. Core Training Recommendations

 
The training program must possess the faculty expertise, patient volume, and inpatient/outpatient facilities to provide meaningful trainee experiences as outlined in this document. All faculty should be board certified or possess suitable equivalent qualifications. Recommendations for trainee and faculty evaluation are those outlined in the "general and special requirements" as published by the ACGME, and training should take place within a program that is accredited by the ACGME.

A comment about trainee research participation is appropriate. The field of pediatric cardiology is absolutely dependent upon research (basic and clinical) for meaningful progress. There is a critical need for the development of physician-scientists in our specialty to assure such future progress. Therefore, it is key that training programs begin to prepare trainees for a successful investigative career. Such preliminary research training will in most instances require 18 months or more. The balancing of clinical and research training will continue to be a major issue for training programs. It is highly probable that trainees who want to pursue a physician-scientist career will require at least four years of fellowship to begin the academic process and to finish training in the clinical areas. The authors are in complete agreement with the newly published American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Training Requirements for subspecialty certification concerning scholarly activity, meaningful accomplishments in research, scholarship oversight, and differing pathways to train physician-scientists.

	APPENDIX

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The authors of this section declare they have no relationships with industry pertinent to this topic.

	REFERENCE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 

1. Beller GA, Bonow RO, Fuster V. ACC revised recommendations for training in adult cardiovascular medicine Core Cardiology Training II (COCATS 2) (revision of the 1995 COCATS training statement). J Am Coll Cardiol 2002;39 :1242 –1246.[Free Full Text]

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Task Force 1: General Experiences and Training

Hugh D. Allen, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, Chair, J. Timothy Bricker, MD, FACC, FAAP, Michael D. Freed, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, Roger A. Hurwitz, MD, FACC, FAAP, Tim C. McQuinn, MD, FAAP, Richard M. Schieken, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, William B. Strong, MD, FACC, FAAP and Kenneth G. Zahka, MD, FACC, FAAP

	INTRODUCTION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The goals of pediatric cardiology training include acquiring the cognitive and procedural expertise required to provide high-quality care to children with cardiovascular disease, acquiring the academic skills to make meaningful scholarly contributions to the specialty, and, importantly, to develop the capacity for ongoing self-education beyond the years of formal training.

The general training of pediatric cardiology fellows builds on the general clinical and academic skills acquired during residency training. The pediatric cardiology fellow should be given broad exposure to clinical activities in pediatric cardiology inpatient and outpatient care, pediatric cardiology inpatient and outpatient consultations, and in preventive cardiology. The academic skills of formal presentation, small-group teaching, literature review, data analysis, and study design are also components of the general training guidelines.

	CLINICAL TRAINING

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
A fundamental goal of clinical training is to acquire bedside diagnostic skill and the ability to provide high-qualilty consultative inpatient and outpatient pediatric cardiology care. The core skills of history-taking and physical examination are the only means for correctly initiating diagnostic and management options appropriate to the individual patient, and these must be heavily stressed at all points of patient contact. Pediatric cardiology fellows should be observed by faculty while performing key portions of the history and physical examination, and to also have the opportunity to observe faculty perform history-taking and physical examination, so that meaningful discussion of useful strategies and techniques may develop. Consultation services, general inpatient wards, and outpatient clinics all provide excellent opportunities for such interaction.

The pediatric cardiology fellow must have the opportunity to provide not only inpatient and outpatient consultation services but also direct patient care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. There must be a continuity of care in the outpatient clinic so that fellows can begin to appreciate the course of pediatric cardiac disease over time and its cumulative impact on individual patients and their families. The combined time commitment of the general inpatient and inpatient consultation services should be no less than three months. The continuity outpatient clinic should begin early in fellowship and continue throughout training, preferably on a biweekly basis. Both inpatient and outpatient experiences should include exposure to the management of the adult patient with congenital heart disease.

There are many ways for general inpatient and outpatient practices to be organized. In the delivery of high-level inpatient and outpatient care the pediatric cardiologist must demonstrate effective team leadership, accurate and efficient medical record keeping, sensitivity to medical ethical issues, an ability to communicate with and support patients and their families through stressful decisions and experiences, and show strict compliance with federal regulatory statutes. The general inpatient and outpatient training environment for pediatric cardiology fellows must provide full opportunity for observation, acquisition, and application of these skills by the trainee.

During the course of inpatient and outpatient activities the pediatric cardiology fellow will become familiar with a core knowledge base, as outlined in Table 1, at a minimum.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 1. Core Knowledge Base

 

	DIDACTIC CONTENT

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The Core Curriculum
The program should offer courses, seminars, workshops, and/or laboratory experiences to provide appropriate background in basic and fundamental disciplines related to the heart and cardiovascular system. A lecture series encompassing a core curriculum in clinical and basic science topics must be provided for pediatric cardiology fellows. It should be designed so that the spectrum of topics presented will be completed at least once in the three years of accredited fellowship training. Pediatric cardiology fellows should contribute formal presentations of selected topics in the core curriculum, both to strengthen their knowledge base and to develop formal presentation skills. General areas to be covered in the core curriculum include those listed in Table 1.

Additional Conferences
Preoperative conferences with the cardiovascular surgical service are essential. Journal clubs are a recommended element of an academic environment and provide an excellent venue for participatory evaluation of study design and data analysis. Quality assurance evaluation and morbidity/mortality conferences should be held periodically. Multidisciplinary clinical and research conferences are highly desirable; according to the strengths of the institution, contributors might include neonatology, cardiothoracic surgery, adult cardiology, cardiac pathology, physiology, pharmacology, pulmonology, intensive care, cardiac anesthesiology, cardiovascular radiology, clinical genetics, molecular genetics, tissue engineering, stem cell biology, or developmental biology. In all of these conferences, pediatric cardiology fellows should be provided with active roles appropriate to their level of knowledge and training.

	TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
It is a fundamental responsibility in academic medicine that those with the most experience must teach. The pediatric cardiology fellow will often be the most clinically experienced house officer on a team of residents, interns, and/or medical students. The fellow in that setting should be expected to provide lectures/seminars to the team of house officers. The pediatric cardiology fellow should also be allowed the opportunity to practice clinical leadership, organizational skills, and impromptu educational activities as appropriate to his/her demonstrated level of knowledge and training. There should be occasion for observation and critique of these skills by the attending physician as well as demonstration of these skills to the fellow by the attending.

Pediatric cardiology fellows should develop formal evaluation of trainees and training skills during their fellowship. To do so, they should participate in feedback to residents, students, and cardiology attendings throughout their rotations regarding their own educational and technical progress and the progress of other team members. Accurate self-evaluation is the most valuable skill of all and should be nurtured in all phases of pediatric cardiology training.

	APPENDIX

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The authors of this section declare they have no relationships with industry pertinent to this topic.

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Task Force 2: Pediatric Training Guidelines for Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging

Endorsed by the American Society of Echocardiography and the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography

Stephen P. Sanders, MD, FACC Chair, Steven D. Colan, MD, FACC, Timothy M. Cordes, MD, FACC, FAAP, Mary T. Donofrio, MD, FACC, FAAP, Gregory J. Ensing, MD, FACC, Tal Geva, MD, FACC, Thomas R. Kimball, MD, FACC, FAAP, David J. Sahn, MD, MACC, FAAP, Norman H. Silverman, MD, FACC, FAHA, Mark S. Sklansky, MD, FACC and Paul M. Weinberg, MD, FACC, FAAP

	INTRODUCTION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Noninvasive imaging, including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a primary means for elucidating the anatomy and physiology of childhood heart disease. Competence in performance and interpretation of echocardiography and MRI is now essential to the practice of pediatric cardiology. Depending upon one’s individual career goals, varying levels of expertise may be expected to be achieved during fellowship training. This document defines the levels of knowledge and expertise that pediatric cardiology trainees should acquire in echocardiography and MRI during training, and it offers guidelines for achieving these levels of competence.

Training guidelines have been previously published for pediatric echocardiography,¹ fetal echocardiography,² and pediatric transesophageal echocardiography.³ Those documents were reviewed and considered during preparation of these guidelines. The guidelines presented here differ in some instances from previous recommendations because this task force recognizes that training programs have changed significantly over the decade since the last guidelines were promulgated.

	PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Echocardiography, as used in this document, includes two-dimensional imaging of the heart and related structures, M-mode echocardiography for assessment of chamber size and function, color M-mode and Doppler tissue and flow mapping, pulsed and continuous-wave spectral Doppler flow analysis, and other variations of these basic modalities used to assess the structure and function of the heart and related organs, including new technologies such as three-dimensional echocardiography as they become available.

Facilities and Environment
The pediatric echocardiography laboratory should serve a hospital with inpatient and outpatient facilities, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, a pediatric cardiac catheterization/interventional laboratory, and an active pediatric cardiac surgical program. The pediatric echocardiography laboratory should be under the supervision of a full-time pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer qualified to direct a laboratory, and whose primary responsibility is supervision of the laboratory. The laboratory must perform a sufficient number of pediatric transthoracic, pediatric transesophageal, and fetal echocardiograms^1,4 each year to allow trainees sufficient exposure to both normal and abnormal examinations.

	LEVELS OF EXPERTISE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Training goals defined here are to enable trainees to achieve one of two levels of expertise in echocardiography as appropriate for career goals.

Core

• Understanding of the general physical properties of ultrasound and clinical ultrasound technology.
  
• Ability to perform and interpret transthoracic echocardiography in normal infants, children and adolescents, and in those with childhood heart disease, with consultation as needed.
  
• Basic introduction to the principles of performing and interpreting transesophageal and fetal echocardiograms. Physicians with core expertise only are not expected to perform transesophageal and fetal echocardiograms independently.
  

Advanced

• Special expertise in performance and interpretation of transthoracic echocardiography in all forms of congenital and acquired pediatric heart disease, including the adult with congenital heart disease, enabling the practitioner to function independently.
  
• Ability to perform and interpret transesophageal and fetal echocardiography independently.
  
• Ability to supervise training and performance of sonographers, fellows, and other physicians.
  

	TRAINING GUIDELINES

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Core training should be achieved by all pediatric cardiology fellows during core clinical training, typically during four to six months dedicated to echocardiography over the course of the standard three-year training program. This level of expertise is anticipated to be sufficient for those fellows who do not plan to pursue echocardiography as an area of subspecialization.

Advanced training requires an additional 9 to 12 months of training and may be achieved through a dedicated experience in pediatric echocardiography after completion of core pediatric echocardiography instruction. This level of training is appropriate for those physicians who intend to be dedicated pediatric echocardiographers.

	TRAINING GOALS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Successful completion of each training level should result in competence in the following specific areas.

Core

• Understanding of the physical properties of ultrasound.
  
• Proper, safe, and facile use of ultrasound instruments.
  
• Knowledge of the limitations of echocardiography.
  
• Recognition of cardiac structures displayed by echocardiography and the correlation between echocardiographic images and cardiac anatomy.
  
• Interpretation of Doppler flow information and deduction of cardiovascular physiology.
  
• Performance and interpretation of complete transthoracic two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiograms, Doppler color-flow mapping, and pulsed- and continuous-wave spectral Doppler flow analysis in normal pediatric patients and in those with childhood heart disease, with consultation as needed.
  
• Assessment of systolic, diastolic, and regional myocardial function in normal pediatric patients and those with childhood heart disease, with consultation as needed.
  
• Ability to review critically published clinical research in echocardiography.
  

Advanced
In addition to core competencies, other goals include:

• Independent performance and interpretation of complete transthoracic two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiograms, Doppler color-flow mapping, and pulsed- and continuous-wave spectral Doppler flow analysis in normal pediatric patients and in those with childhood heart disease.
  
• Independent assessment of systolic, diastolic and regional myocardial function in normal pediatric patients and in those with congenital or acquired heart disease, to include stress echocardiographic studies.
  
• Special expertise in the performance and interpretation of pediatric transthoracic, pediatric transesophageal, and fetal echocardiography.
  
• Training of sonographers and junior pediatric cardiology trainees.
  
• Participation in basic or clinical research in echocardiography, including presenting original data at one or more scientific meetings.
  

	TRAINING METHODS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Each level of training may be achieved by the methods outlined in the following text or by comparable alternative methods. A summary of the recommended minimum number of procedures is found in Table 1.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 1. Echocardiography Training—Recommended Minimum Procedure Numbers

 
Core
Each trainee should perform and interpret at least 150 pediatric echocardiograms, including at least 50 in patients one year of age or younger, under the supervision of the laboratory director or other qualified staff pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer(s). Each trainee should also review at least 150 additional pediatric echocardiograms.

In addition, the laboratory director or other staff pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer(s) should conduct regular laboratory conferences with the trainee(s) to present illustrative cases and to teach proper interpretation and the limitations of echocardiography. Pathological specimens, models, or photographs for echocardiographic-anatomic correlation are excellent teaching aids that should be incorporated wherever possible.

Integration of echocardiography into the clinical practice of pediatric cardiology should be demonstrated on inpatient and outpatient rotations and at medical-surgical management conferences.

Research training for pediatric cardiology trainees should include active participation in reviews of scientific journal articles that pertain to echocardiography.

Advanced
Each advanced-level trainee should perform and interpret at least 200 additional pediatric transthoracic echocardiograms and review, or perform and interpret, another 200 pediatric echocardiograms. As with core training, at least 50 of these should be done in infants one year of age or younger. Each trainee should perform a significant number of echocardiograms independently (one-third to one-half of the exams), with subsequent review and critique of the examination by the responsible staff pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer. Teaching methods outlined in the previous text should be continued here.

Each advanced-level trainee should perform and interpret at least 50 pediatric transesophageal echocardiograms, including manipulation of the transducer and registration of images, under direct supervision by a dedicated pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer. The trainee should perform intubation of the esophagus in at least 20 patients under the direct supervision of a pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer or anesthesiologist experienced in the procedure. An ideal environment for learning pediatric transesophageal echocardiography is the operating suite during performance of intraoperative examinations, but the training experience should not be limited to this venue and should include the intensive care unit, cardiac catheterization suite, and outpatient examinations.

Each advanced trainee should perform and/or review at least 50 fetal echocardiograms. The trainee must master the fundamental skills of determining fetal position, situs, cardiac anatomy, and cardiac rhythm under the supervision of a dedicated pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer. The trainee should observe and participate in the discussion of the findings with the parents by the staff echocardiographer responsible for the examination. As the trainee’s experience progresses, a significant proportion (30% to 50%) of studies should be performed independently, including cases with normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy and rhythm, with supervision by a dedicated pediatric cardiologist-echocardiographer. Each trainee should understand how to recognize and approach fetal heart failure, and he or she should understand the association of fetal heart disease with extracardiac structural abnormalities, syndromes, and chromosomal abnormalities.

Research training for pediatric cardiology trainees should include, at a minimum, active participation in reviews of scientific journal articles that pertain to echocardiography. In addition, participation in basic or clinical research in echocardiography should be encouraged.

Each advanced-level trainee should be given responsibility for participating in the training of sonographers and junior pediatric cardiology fellows, initially with supervision of the laboratory director and then independently and also presenting echocardiography-related teaching conferences and formal didactic lectures.

	EVALUATION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The laboratory director, in consultation with the teaching staff, should evaluate each trainee in writing on a regular basis. Trainees should maintain a log of all echocardiograms performed and reviewed, including the age of the patient and the diagnosis. The log should be reviewed regularly by both the laboratory director and the training program director to ensure that each trainee is obtaining adequate and balanced experience.

The evaluation should be reviewed with each trainee and a written copy provided. If a trainee does not appear to be progressing adequately during the rotation, a meeting should be scheduled as soon as possible to inform the trainee and to discuss potential remedial measures. The evaluation should be based on achievement of the expected levels of competence in the areas outlined in the previous text.

Direct observation of the trainee during performance of echocardiograms provides information about imaging skills and understanding of the ultrasound instruments. Conferences in which echocardiograms are presented provide an opportunity to assess skills in interpretation of images and Doppler recordings. The trainees’ understanding of research design and methods and ability to review research can be critically evaluated during journal club meetings or other venues for medical literature review. Teaching skills and effectiveness can be evaluated by direct observation and from evaluations by sonographers and more junior trainees and by performance at teaching conferences prepared and delivered by trainees.

Pediatric Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as used in this document includes anatomic and functional cardiovascular MRI in congenital and acquired pediatric heart disease as well as in the adult with congenital heart disease. At present, there are no specific guidelines for training or credentialing in pediatric cardiovascular MRI. It is likely that the training guidelines for pediatric cardiovascular MRI proposed here will require amendment as the field evolves. These guidelines must be considered as goals and should not be considered as requirements.

	LEVELS OF EXPERTISE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Trainees may achieve one of two levels of expertise in pediatric cardiovascular MRI as appropriate for career goals.

Core

• Familiarity with the general physical principles upon which MRI is based.
  
• Ability to view and understand MR images in normal infants, children, and adolescents and those with childhood heart disease.
  
• Introduction to commonly used imaging protocols and MRI terminology.
  

Advanced

• Thorough understanding of clinical MRI instruments and the imaging protocols used for cardiovascular imaging and physiological analysis (e.g., quantitative analysis of ventricular function and blood flow).
  
• Ability to independently perform and interpret all types of MRI in childhood heart disease and congenital heart disease at all ages.
  
• Ability to supervise training of technologists, fellows, and other physicians.
  

	TRAINING GUIDELINES

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Training in pediatric cardiovascular MRI should occur within a pediatric cardiology fellowship program and/or a pediatric radiology training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The MR laboratory should serve a hospital with both inpatient and outpatient facilities, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, a pediatric cardiac catheterization/interventional laboratory, and an active pediatric cardiac surgical program. The MRI laboratory should be under the supervision of a full-time cardiologist and/or radiologist qualified in cardiovascular MRI, and it must perform a sufficient number of annual examinations to allow each trainee sufficient exposure to both normal and abnormal examinations.

Core training should be achieved by all pediatric cardiology fellows during the core clinical years of the program. This level of expertise may be sufficient for those fellows who plan to practice clinical pediatric cardiology with access to a pediatric cardiologist or radiologist with special expertise in pediatric cardiovascular MRI.

Advanced training requires a minimum of six months of instruction in addition to core training. This level of training is appropriate for those physicians who intend to have special expertise in pediatric cardiovascular MRI and is recommended for directors of pediatric cardiovascular MRI laboratories.

	TRAINING GOALS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Successful completion of each training level should result in competence in the following specific areas.

Core

• Physical principles of MRI and physiologic analysis.
  
• Limitations of, and contraindications to, MRI.
  
• Recognition of cardiac structures displayed by MRI and the correlation between MR images and cardiac anatomy.
  
• Basic familiarity with commonly used imaging protocols, their clinical uses, and MRI terminology.
  
• Critical review of published clinical research in pediatric cardiovascular MRI.
  

Advanced

• Thorough understanding of MRI physics, instrumentation, nomenclature, and safety.
  
• Special expertise in the performance and interpretation of pediatric cardiovascular MRI, including all commonly used imaging and flow analysis protocols.
  
• Training of technologists and junior pediatric cardiology trainees.
  
• Management of and quality assurance for the MRI laboratory.
  
• Basic or clinical research in pediatric cardiovascular MRI, including presenting original data at one or more scientific meetings.
  

	TRAINING METHODS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Each level of training may be achieved by the methods outlined in the following text or by comparable alternative methods.

Core
Pediatric cardiology trainees should gain exposure to cardiovascular MRI through active review of scientific journal articles that pertain to pediatric cardiovascular MRI, discussion with cardiologists and radiologists who perform cardiovascular MRI, and, if possible, review of cardiovascular MRI examinations.

Advanced
During a fellowship in pediatric cardiovascular MRI, each trainee should perform and/or interpret at least 100 cardiovascular MRI examinations in patients with congenital or acquired childhood heart disease, including adult patients with congenital heart disease. As the trainee’s experience progresses, an increasing proportion of these examinations should be performed independently, with review and critique by the laboratory director.

Research training should include continued critical review of the pediatric cardiovascular MRI literature and an opportunity to perform basic or clinical research leading to publication or presentation of scientific data.

Each trainee should be given responsibility for participating in the training of technologists and junior pediatric cardiology fellows, initially with supervision of the laboratory director and subsequently independently. In addition, each trainee should have opportunities to observe and participate in the management of the laboratory, especially quality improvement initiatives.

	EVALUATION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The laboratory director, in consultation with the teaching staff, should evaluate each trainee in writing. The evaluation should be reviewed with each trainee and a written copy provided. The trainee should maintain a log of all examinations performed and reviewed, including the age of the patient, diagnosis, and role of the trainee in the examination.

	APPENDIX

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The authors of this section declare they have no relationships with industry pertinent to this topic.

	REFERENCES

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 

1. Meyer RA, Hazier D, Huhta J, Smallhorn J, Snider R, Williams R. Guidelines for physician training in pediatric echocardiography, recommendations of the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography Committee on Physician Training. Am J Cardiol 1987;60164 –5.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
2. Meyer RA, Hagler D, Huhta J, et al. Guidelines for physician training in fetal echocardiography: recommendations of the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography Committee on Physician Training. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1990;3 :1 –3.[Medline]
3. Fyfe DA, Ritter SB, Snider AR, et al. Guidelines for transesophageal echocardiography in children. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1992;5 :640 –4.[Medline]
4. Peariman AS, Gardin JM, Martin RP, et al. Guidelines for optimal physician training in echocardiography: recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography Committee for Physician Training in Echocardiography. Am J Cardiol 1987;60 :158 –61.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]

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Task Force 3: Training Guidelines for Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology

Endorsed by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions

Robert H. Beekman, III, MD, FACC, FAAP Chair, William E. Hellenbrand, MD, FACC, Thomas R. Lloyd, MD, FACC, James E. Lock, MD, FACC, FAAP, Charles E. Mullins, MD, FACC, FAHA, FAAP, Jonathan J. Rome, MD, FACC and David F. Teitel, MD

	INTRODUCTION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The purpose of this document is to recommend minimum training experiences in cardiac catheterization for clinical fellows in pediatric cardiology training programs. Training guidelines in cardiac catheterization are well-established in adult cardiovascular medicine,^1,2 and they have been considered recently in pediatric cardiology as well.^3,4

Pediatric cardiac catheterization is a unique specialty encompassing a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques applied to a diverse group of congenital and acquired cardiovascular disorders. A physician who performs a pediatric cardiac catheterization must possess the technical skills and clinical judgment to safely and accurately perform a thorough diagnostic cardiac catheterization and angiographic study. Furthermore, an interventional pediatric cardiologist must also assess the indications for a catheter intervention, including the risks of performing or not performing the procedure (i.e., requires knowledge of the natural history of the defect), and must skillfully perform the appropriate catheter intervention. It is appropriate, therefore, to delineate minimal training requirements in cardiac catheterization for pediatric cardiology trainees.

There are no studies relating training experiences to subsequent clinical skill in pediatric cardiac catheterization. Therefore, the recommendations in Task Force 3 represent the opinions of the authors. To help guide this process, all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited pediatric cardiology training programs were surveyed in 2001 to inquire about current practices and opinions regarding fellow training in pediatric cardiac catheterization and intervention. Thirty-two programs responded. The responses represented the opinions of fellowship directors (n = 21), catheterization laboratory directors (n = 15), and division directors (n = 13) (in some programs one individual holds more than one position). This document draws on this Training Program Survey to help define training guidelines in this specialty.

	FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Training in cardiac catheterization should occur within a pediatric cardiology fellowship program that is accredited by the ACGME. The cardiac catheterization laboratory should serve a hospital with inpatient and outpatient facilities, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, and an active pediatric cardiac surgical program. The pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratory should be under the supervision of a full-time pediatric cardiologist, whose primary responsibility is supervision of the laboratory. The laboratory must perform a sufficient number of cardiac catheterizations and interventional procedures to provide each trainee with an acceptable experience.

The cardiac catheterization program must have a regular teaching conference in which diagnostic data (hemodynamic and angiographic) and therapeutic outcomes are formally discussed. In addition, each program that provides advanced interventional training must have a regular morbidity and mortality conference in which all adverse outcomes of catheter interventions are systematically reviewed. Participants in this conference should include cardiology faculty, clinical fellows, and preferably pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists. Active participation in these conferences by all clinical cardiology fellows, particularly those at advanced levels, is essential to clinical training that emphasizes quality outcomes.

	LEVELS OF EXPERTISE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
In this report we discuss core training for all fellows, and advanced training for fellows desiring special expertise in cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology. The core training is recommended for all clinical fellows during their core clinical experience. It is intended to be sufficient for fellows who do not plan a career in interventional pediatric cardiology, but who may be required to perform simple diagnostic studies and to interpret catheterization and angiographic data in their clinical practices. (Cardiologists who provide "diagnostic only" catheterization services must coordinate the care closely with interventional cardiologists and surgeons at referral centers to minimize the need for repeat catheterization procedures.) The advanced training provides expertise in both diagnostic and interventional catheterization procedures, and it is intended to qualify a fellow to embark upon a career in cardiac catheterization and intervention.

Core Training: Goals and Methods
Core training in cardiac catheterization refers to the training experiences recommended for all clinical cardiology fellows, regardless of specific career goals. In the Training Program Survey, there was unanimous support for core training in cardiac catheterization for all clinical fellows. The goal of such core training is to introduce fellows to the field of cardiac catheterization and the risks and benefits of catheter-based procedures, to teach basic diagnostic catheterization skills, and to provide a basic knowledge of hemodynamics, angiography, and radiation safety. A core curriculum in pediatric cardiac catheterization should include the topics and experiences outlined in Table 1.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 1. Recommended Body of Knowledge Covered During Core Training

 
The core training should involve each clinical fellow in a minimum of 100 cardiac catheterizations, at least 20 of which include an interventional component (Table 2). These experiences should familiarize the fellow to the indications for cardiac catheterization and intervention, femoral vessel access techniques, basic catheter manipulations, hemodynamic measurements and calculations, and angiographic interpretations. Participation by the fellow as either the primary operator or the primary assistant is satisfactory involvement. A log book should be maintained by the fellow to document the experience and outcomes of catheterization.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 2. Core Training—Recommended Minimum Case Numbers*

 
Advanced Training: Goals and Methods
Advanced training in cardiac catheterization refers to the training recommended for pediatric cardiology fellows who intend to pursue a career in pediatric cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology. Therefore, the advanced training goal is to prepare the trainee to independently perform diagnostic and therapeutic catheter procedures with excellent outcomes. Prerequisite to these advanced training experiences is the successful completion of core training. Advanced training should involve each fellow in a minimum of 200 catheterization procedures, at least 100 of which are interventional. The minimum recommended numbers of procedures are specified in Table 3 (and are in addition to those obtained during the core training). The procedure types and numbers in Table 3 are recommended guidelines, not mandates, as it is understood that some qualified programs may not perform every procedure. Participation by the fellow as either the primary operator or the primary assistant is satisfactory involvement.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 3. Advanced Training—Recommended Minimum Case Numbers*

 
A minimum number of procedures is necessary, but this is not sufficient to prepare a trainee for a career in cardiac catheterization and intervention. Also important to a successful career, and perhaps more crucial, are technical facility and good clinical judgment. During advanced training the trainee must acquire sophisticated skills in complex catheter manipulations, wire and sheath exchanges, device implantation techniques, and retrievals. Furthermore, good clinical judgment regarding the indications for and against intervention require a thorough knowledge of the natural history of congenital cardiac defects,^5,6 and of the medical, catheter, and surgical options available for treatment. It is the responsibility of the training program director to assure that each advanced trainee graduates with the technical skills, clinical judgment, and cognitive knowledge to pursue an independent career in pediatric cardiac catheterization.

A log book is to be maintained by the advanced fellow to document the nature and outcome of each diagnostic and interventional procedure he or she participated in throughout training. The fellow should also participate actively in regular cardiac catheterization teaching and morbidity conferences where outcomes and complications of interventional procedures are thoroughly discussed (see the previous text). Finally, it is strongly recommended that the advanced fellow participate in at least one clinical research project related to cardiac catheterization and/or interventional cardiology.

Advanced training in pediatric cardiac catheterization requires a dedicated 12-month experience, at a minimum. Some fellowship programs may be able to offer the recommended advanced training experiences during a 3- or 3.5-year training program. Nevertheless, even in those programs additional training provides the fellow an opportunity to enhance technical skills and clinical judgment in this very complex specialty. The authors of this document believe that the highest-quality training is obtained during a fourth-year experience. Three or 3.5 years of training may be satisfactory for some individuals if all advanced training guidelines are achieved, and particularly if the fellow’s next postgraduate position can be anticipated to provide ongoing mentoring for complex interventions.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   APPENDIX. Author Relationships With Industry and Others

 

	REFERENCES

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 

1. Pepine CJ, Babb JD, Brinker JA, et al. Guidelines for training in adult cardiovascular medicine Core Cardiology Training Symposium (COCATS). Task Force 3: Training in Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;25 :14 –16[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
2. Hirshfeld JW, Banas JS, Cowley M, et al. American College of Cardiology training statement on recommendations for the structure of an optimal adult interventional cardiology training program J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;34 :2141 –47[Free Full Text]
3. Ruiz CE, Mullins CE, Rocchini AP, et al. Core curriculum for the training of pediatric invasive/interventional cardiologists: report of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions Committee on Pediatric Cardiology Training Standards. Cath Cardiovasc Diag 1996;37 :409 –24[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
4. Benson L, Coe Y, Houde C, Human D, Paquet M. Training standards for pediatric cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology Can J Cardiol 1998;14 :907 –10[Medline]
5. Nadas AS, Ellison RC, Weidman WH. Report from the Joint Study on the Natural History of Congenital Heart Defects. Circulation 1977;56 Suppl I :I1 –87
6. O’Fallon WM, Weidman WH. Long-term follow-up of congenital aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, and ventricular septal defect Report from the Second Joint Study on the Natural History of Congenital Heart Defects (NHS-2). Circulation 1977;87 Suppl I :I1 –126

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Task Force 4: Recommendations for Training Guidelines in Pediatric Cardiac Electrophysiology

Endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society

Victoria L. Vetter, MD, FACC, FAHA Chair, Michael J. Silka, MD, FACC, George F. Van Hare, MD, FACC, FAAP and Edward P. Walsh, MD, FACC

	INTRODUCTION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The field of clinical cardiac electrophysiology has rapidly expanded over the past 30 years. Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cardiac rhythm disorders, and the increasing trend in medicine in general to develop criteria or guidelines for competence and training in specific fields, have led to the need to develop guidelines for training in pediatric clinical cardiac electrophysiology (CCEP).

The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and Heart Rhythm Society (formerly NASPE) have addressed training guidelines in adult CCEP.^1–3 The extensive body of literature regarding adult CCEP training and basic electrophysiology (EP) knowledge provides an important background and should be applied in an appropriately modified form to pediatric CCEP training.^4–21 Recognizing the considerable differences in the pediatric and adult cardiology populations, guidelines that are unique to the pediatric and congenital heart disease population must be developed. Canadian recommendations for training in pediatric EP have been published.²² It should be recognized that pediatric patients are unique, as recognized by the separate training programs and board certification for pediatricians and internists, and for adult and pediatric cardiologists. In addition, the pediatric electrophysiologist will have experience and expertise in groups unique to pediatric cardiac electrophysiology, including the fetus with in utero arrhythmias, the child with a structurally normal heart and supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, or other arrhythmias, the child with preoperative or postoperative arrhythmias after surgery for congenital heart disease, and the adult with congenital heart disease, both in the pre- and postoperative states. This unique group of adults with congenital heart disease is best served by those with a combined knowledge of congenital heart disease and age-specific disease processes, whether this be provided by a combination of pediatric and adult cardiologists or single individuals with broad training or dual training in pediatric and adult cardiology.

	FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Training should be obtained in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited pediatric cardiology training program. Recommendations for catheter ablation facilities have been published.^2,9 Pediatric catheterization laboratory facilities should be available with the appropriate EP equipment to perform EP studies and catheter ablation. These facilities should ensure a safe, sterile, and effective environment for invasive EP studies and implantation of pacemakers and arrhythmia control devices. In many settings, the operating room can be used for the pacing/arrhythmia control devices. Although experience at outside institutions, including adult programs, may be valuable, no more than two to four months of the one-year advanced training should be spent at other institutions. In particular, added experience in pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation, as well as in ventricular tachycardia studies, may be acquired at a certified adult CCEP program, provided that it is within the previously noted time frame.

At least one board-certified pediatric cardiologist with advanced CCEP skills should be identified as the director of the core and advanced Electrophysiology Training Program. Because there is currently no pediatric EP examination, consideration should be given for one pediatric EP faculty member to take the NASPExAM, or its successor examination. For advanced training of fellows, at least one faculty member should be skilled in the implantation of pacemakers and ICDs.

	LEVELS OF EXPERTISE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
In this report we discuss core training for all fellows and advanced training for fellows desiring special expertise in pediatric CCEP. The core training is recommended for all clinical fellows during their core clinical experience. It is intended to be sufficient for fellows who do not plan a career in EP. The advanced training provides expertise in both diagnostic and therapeutic EP and it is intended to qualify a fellow to embark upon a career in pediatric CCEP. Within the advanced level are two tracks related to expertise in pacemaker/ICD care: track 1 physicians prescribe and follow patients who require pacemaker/ICD care; track 2 physicians will also be skilled in device implantation.

Core Training: Goals and Methods
Core EP training is required of all trainees to be a competent pediatric cardiologist. The goal is to enable all trainees to be skilled in electrocardiographic (ECG) interpretation, including standard, ambulatory (Holter), exercise ECGs, and transtelephonic ECGs.

Additionally, the trainee should understand the indications for and the use of noninvasive diagnostic techniques including exercise testing, 24-h ambulatory and event monitors, and tilt table testing and should have a general understanding of their interpretation. All trainees should be able to properly interpret cardiac arrhythmias and manage arrhythmias in the acute care setting. There should be an understanding of the use of non-pharmacologic methods and pharmacologic agents to treat arrhythmias, including drug interactions and proarrhythmic potential. The trainee should understand the indications for the selection of patients for specialized electrophysiologic studies, including ablation. In addition, the trainee should obtain a basic understanding of the indications for, and the information obtained from, invasive EP studies. This should include an understanding of the use of information obtained from these testing modalities for the management of the patient’s clinical condition. The trainee should have skills in the interpretation of basic EP information obtained from electrophysiology study (EPS).

Participation in at least 10 EPS cases including catheter placement and analysis of electrophysiologic tracings are needed to acquire these skills. The trainee should understand the evaluation of patients with syncope, palpitations, chest pain, and irregular heart rhythms. All trainees should understand the indications for pacemaker placement, know the differences in pacing modes, understand and be able to perform basic pacemaker interrogation, reprogram and troubleshoot pacemakers, recognizing basic malfunctions such as capture failure, sensing malfunctions, and battery end of service characteristics. Participation by the trainee in at least 20 pacemaker evaluations is recommended to develop these skills. The trainee should receive instruction in the insertion, management, and follow-up of temporary pacemakers, including measurement of pacing and sensing thresholds. He or she should understand the general indications for consideration of the use of arrhythmia control devices (ICDs and anti-tachycardia devices) and know when to refer these patients for more advanced EP evaluation. The trainee should understand the indications and techniques for elective and emergency cardioversion. Four elective direct current cardioversions are required.

The core training to obtain the previously described skills and knowledge should occur in the first three years of pediatric cardiology training and be equivalent to two to three months of concentrated study, but may be acquired throughout the three years as needed to obtain designated competence skills (Table 1).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 1. Core Competence Skills

 
Advanced Training (Year 4 ± Year 5): Goals and Methods
The goal of advanced training is to enable the pediatric electrophysiologist to perform, interpret, and train others to conduct and interpret specific procedures at a high skill level. Tables 2 and 3 describe the competence skills necessary for advanced-level training. The recommended minimum procedures are summarized in Table 4 for both core and advanced training.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 2. Advanced EP Clinical Competence Skills

 

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 3. Advanced EP Research Competence Skills

 

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 4. Core and Advanced Training: Recommended Minimum Experiences

 
Advanced-level skills involve understanding the evaluation and management of common arrhythmias, from the fetus to young adult. In addition, advanced understanding of complex arrhythmia management, especially in the postoperative period after repair of congenital heart defects and in special groups such as long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and right ventricular dysplasia, should be attained. Evaluation and management of the patient with all forms of syncope should be accomplished, including the performance of tilt table testing when appropriate. In those programs that employ tilt testing, participation in at least 10 procedures in a pediatric or adult laboratory is advisable. A thorough understanding of pathophysiology and therapy of syncope and tilt testing should be required of all trainees. Advanced-level trainees should develop the cognitive skills to evaluate the patient with a family history of sudden cardiac arrest or death. Skill and experience should be encouraged in pediatric EPS interpretation and use of the EP data to make management and therapeutic decisions. Experience with esophageal EPS should be obtained with participation in 10 procedures. The indications, risks, and benefits of these procedures should be known.

Advanced-level trainees will develop technical and cognitive skills and experience in the performance of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic CCEP. At least 75 diagnostic intracardiac EPS should be performed, of which at least 10 should be patients with ventricular tachycardia. At least 40 of these diagnostic procedures must be in patients who are 12 years of age or younger, and at least 10 should be in patients with repaired or palliated congenital heart disease. In addition, participation in at least 40 catheter ablation procedures is required. The diagnostic portion of a catheter ablation procedure may be used to satisfy the requirement for participation in 75 diagnostic procedures. Participation should include scrubbing for the case, catheter manipulation, analysis, review of tracings, and generation of a report.

Advanced understanding of pacemaker indications, optimal pacemaker choices, and follow-up of pacemaker patients should be obtained. The Heart Rhythm Society has recommended two tracks for those caring for pacemaker patients. Track 1 involves electrophysiologists who will be involved in prescribing and following pacemaker and ICD patients. Track 2 individuals prescribe, implant, and follow patients with pacemakers and ICDs. In both tracks, advanced understanding of pacemaker and ICD indications, optimal pacemaker choices, and evaluation or follow-up of 75 pacemaker/ICD patients should be obtained. In addition, attendance—including intraoperative testing of 35 pacemaker or ICD implants (20 new, 10 revisions, 5 ICDs)—is required. To implant pacemakers and ICDs, direct participation in a total of at least 50 pacemaker and device implants is required, of which a reasonable number should be complex devices including ICDs. As new technology develops, the number of device implants necessary to achieve competence may change. Participation should include scrubbing for the surgery, catheter manipulation, participation in intraoperative testing, and generation of a report. As the skills for implanting devices in smaller children are specific to pediatric EP, at least 15 of these implantation procedures should be in children less than 12 years of age. Also, experience with implantation in patients with repaired congenital heart disease is essential.

Advanced-level pediatric electrophysiologists should have all the skills noted in the previous text, but they may or may not perform the implantation of pacemakers and ICDs. If the pediatric clinical cardiac electrophysiologist does not actually perform these procedures, they should participate in the intraoperative evaluation and postoperative care. Advanced-level training is expected for any pediatric electrophysiologist who implants pacemakers and ICDs. An additional one to two years after the general cardiology training program is required to achieve advanced-level training. Supplementary training may be required to achieve track 2 implantation competence. Part of this experience with implantation may be gained in an outside program or an affiliated adult CCEP training program. Until specific pediatric pacemaker and ICD certification is available, consideration should be given for advanced trainees implanting pacemakers and ICDs to take the NASPE examination.

Specific Program Content (Core and Advanced Levels)
Trainees will be expected to develop an appropriate level of knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Basic cellular and whole organ EP related to normal physiology and cardiac arrhythmias in all pediatric and adult congenital patients.
  
• Pharmacologic principles underlying the use of antiarrhythmic drugs and the effects of various conditions encountered in pediatrics on the use of those drugs (prematurity, developmental biologic changes, including those in volume of distribution, hepatic and renal clearance, drug interactions, and congestive heart failure).
  
• Management of pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias; knowledge of presentation and natural history of the variety of arrhythmias encountered in pediatric electrophysiology practice; understanding of the effects of various management strategies on the physiology and psychology of the pediatric and congenital heart patient.
  
• Expertise in the use of the ECG and other noninvasive specialized testing, including ambulatory monitoring, transtelephonic monitoring, exercise stress testing, and tilt table testing to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias and symptoms.
  
• An understanding of the indications, contraindications, and potential risks and benefits of intracardiac EPS and esophageal EPS. Core-level trainees should have a general understanding of the information provided by EPS and recognize basic information provided such as site of heart block, identification of mechanism of the arrhythmia, and location of accessory pathways or focal arrhythmia sites. Advanced-level trainees should have experience with esophageal EPS for the treatment and evaluation of arrhythmias. Advanced trainees should also develop an advanced understanding of intracardiac EPS interpretation and use of the data for management. In addition, advanced trainees should develop the advanced cognitive and technical skills to perform EPS.
  
• Proficiency in the use of esophageal, temporary postoperative epicardial wire, and intracardiac EPS for diagnosis and treatment should be achieved. This includes the ability to manipulate catheters, knowledge of EP equipment and catheters, and ability to perform the full spectrum of programmed electrical stimulation and intracardiac mapping and to interpret the results.
  
• Advanced trainees should develop the full spectrum of cognitive and technical skills in all types of catheter ablation in children and young adults with congenital heart disease. Advanced trainees should develop skills in the indications for and potential complications of catheter ablation and should be prepared to treat any of these complications. During the four years of training, the advanced trainee should develop skills in transseptal perforation by participating in at least 10 transseptal procedures. Trainees should have exposure to and develop skills in manipulation of ablation catheters for antegrade ablation; retrograde (transaortic) ablation experience is also highly desirable.
  

Core-level trainees should have a basic knowledge and understanding of the use of pacemakers and ICDs in pediatric and congenital heart patients. In addition, the core trainee should develop an understanding of pacemakers and skills in evaluation of pacemaker problems that may occur. Advanced-level trainees should have advanced knowledge in the evaluation and management of pacemakers and ICDs. In addition, advanced trainees will participate in implantation (either intraoperative evaluation or actual implant depending on whether track 1 or 2 is chosen) of pacemakers and ICDs, and provide expert understanding and management of implanted pacemakers and ICDs. In addition, advanced-level trainees should have an understanding and experience in using pacemakers and ICDs for noninvasive EPS and internal cardioversion. All levels should have skills in introducing temporary transvenous pacemakers. All levels should have experience with transcutaneous pacing. Both levels should have the skill to use transthoracic temporary postoperative epicardial wires for the recording of electrograms. Advanced trainees should have knowledge and experience in using these wires to convert arrhythmias.

Core-level trainees should have a basic understanding of the indications for and use of cardiac surgery to treat arrhythmias. Advanced level trainees should provide expert mapping and other EP knowledge at the surgical procedure.

Specific formal instruction topics should be covered in a core lecture series and in a journal club format. There should be regularly scheduled conferences regarding EPS interpretation, application of the EPS to the patient’s clinical management, and conferences on interpretation of standard and ambulatory ECGs.

	EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF COMPETENCE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The program director is expected to maintain adequate records of each individual’s training experiences and performance of various procedures for appropriate documentation for levels 1 or 2. The trainees should maintain records of participation in the form of a log book containing clinical information, procedure performed, and outcomes, listing any complications encountered. Finally, formal written evaluations should occur at least every three months.

Track 2 will develop skills in implantation of pacemakers and ICDs, including extraction.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   APPENDIX. Author Relationships With Industry and Others

 

	REFERENCES

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 

1. American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics. ACP/ACC/AHA Task Force on Clinical Privileges in Cardiology Clinical competence in insertion of a temporary transvenous ventricular pacemaker. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994;23 :1254 –7[Web of Science][Medline]
2. Scheinman M. Catheter ablation for cardiac arrhythmias, personnel, and facilities: North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology Ad Hoc Committee on Catheter Ablation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1992;15 :715 –21[Medline]
3. American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association. Clinical competence in invasive cardiac electrophysiological studies: ACP/ACC/AHA Task Force on Clinical Privileges in Cardiology. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994;23 :1258 –61[Web of Science][Medline]
4. Tracy CM, Akhtar M, DiMarco JP, Packer DL, Weitz HH. ACC/AHA clinical competence statement on invasive electrophysiology studies, catheter ablation, and cardioversion A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine Task Force on Clinical Competence. Circulation 2000;102 :2309 –20[Free Full Text]
5. Akhtar M, Williams SV, Achord JL, et al. Clinical competence in invasive cardiac electrophysiological studies. Circulation 1994;89 :1917 –20[Free Full Text]
6. Alpert JS, Arnold WJ, Chaitman BR, et al. Guidelines for training in adult cardiovascular medicine Core Cardiology Training Symposium (COCATS). Task Force 1: training in clinical cardiology. J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;25 :4 –9[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
7. Dreifus LS, Fisch C, Griffin JC, Gillette PC, Mason JW, Parsonnet V. Guidelines for implantation of cardiac pacemakers and antiarrhythmia devices. Circulation 1991;84 :455 –67[Free Full Text]
8. Fisch C, Hancock EW, McHenry PL, Selzer A, Yurchak PM. Task force II: training in electrocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol 1986;7 :1201 –4[Web of Science][Medline]
9. Fisher JD, Cain ME, Ferdinand KC, et al. Catheter ablation for cardiac arrhythmias: clinical applications, personnel and facilities. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994;24 :828 –33[Web of Science][Medline]
10. Flowers NC, Abildskov JA, Armstrong WF, et al. Recommended guidelines for training in adult clinical cardiac electrophysiology. J Am Coll Cardiol 1991;18 :637 –40[Abstract]
11. Francis GS, Williams SV, Achord JL, et al. Clinical competence in insertion of a temporary transvenous ventricular pacemaker. Circulation 1994;89 :1913 –16[Free Full Text]
12. Gregoratos G, Abrams J, Epstein AE, et al. ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 guideline update for implantation of cardiac pacemakers and antiarrhythmia devices: summary article A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (ACC/AHA/NASPE Committee to Update the 1998 Pacemaker Guidelines). J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2002;13 :1183 –99[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
13. Knoebel S, Crawford M, Dunn M, et al. Guidelines for ambulatory electrocardiography. Circulation 1989;79 :206 –15[Free Full Text]
14. Knoebel S, Williams SV, Achord JL, et al. Clinical competence in ambulatory electrocardiography. Circulation 1993;88 :337 –41[Free Full Text]
15. Mitchell LB, Dorian P, Gillis A, Kerr C, Klein G, Talajic M. Standards for training in adult clinical cardiac electrophysiology. Can J Cardiol 1996;12 :476 –81[Web of Science][Medline]
16. Scheinman M, Akhtar M, Brugada P, et al. Teaching objectives for fellowship programs in clinical electrophysiology. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1988;11 :989 –96[CrossRef][Medline]
17. Yurchak PM, Williams SV, Achord JL, et al. Clinical competence in elective direct current (DC) cardioversion: a statement for physicians from the AHA/ACC/ACP Task Force on Clinical Privileges in Cardiology. Circulation 1993;88 :342 –5[Free Full Text]
18. Zipes DP, DiMarco JP, Gillette PC, Jackman WM, Myerburg RJ, Rahimtoola SH. Guidelines for clinical intracardiac electrophysiological and catheter ablation procedures. J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;26 :555 –73[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
19. Hayes DL, Naccarelli GV, Furman S, Parsonnet V. NASPE Pacemaker Training Policy Conference Group Training requirements for permanent pacemaker selection, implantation, and follow-up Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1994;17 :6 –12[CrossRef][Medline]
20. Josephson ME, Maloney JD, Barold SS, et al. Guidelines for training in adult cardiovascular medicine Core Cardiology Training Symposium (COCATS). Task force 6: training in specialized electrophysiology, cardiac pacing and arrhythmia management. J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;25 :23 –6[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
21. Kennedy HL, Goldberger AL, Graboys TB, Hancock EW. Guidelines for training in adult cardiovascular medicine Core Cardiology Training Symposium (COCATS). Task force 2: training in electrocardiography, ambulatory electrocardiography and exercise testing. J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;25 :10 –3[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
22. Gow RM, Beland M, Guiffre M, Hamilton R. Standards for training in pediatric electrophysiology. Can J Cardiol 1998;14 :902 –10[Web of Science][Medline]

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Task Force 5: Requirements for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care

Thomas Kulik, MD, Chair, Therese M. Giglia, MD, FACC, Keith C. Kocis, MD, FACC, FAAP, Larry T. Mahoney, MD, FACC, Steven M. Schwartz, MD, Gil Wernovsky, MD, FACC, FAAP and David L. Wessel, MD, FAHA

	INTRODUCTION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Although pediatric cardiac critical care, as a distinct field of interest, is a relatively recent development, treating critically ill patients has always been a substantial part of clinical pediatric cardiology. In addition, even pediatric cardiologists who do not provide primary care for critically ill patients will be asked to consult on such patients. It therefore seems appropriate to specify what knowledge and skills relevant to the care of critically ill patients should be taught in a pediatric cardiology fellowship program.

	FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Not all pediatric cardiac training programs have a separate pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU), and in some training programs the primary care of hemodynamically compromised cardiac patients is provided by physicians other than pediatric cardiologists. However, this should not preclude trainees from attaining the specified requirements through interaction with pediatric cardiologists, pediatric intensivists, neonatologists, pediatric cardiac surgeons, and other practitioners. Because the advanced practitioner must be board eligible or board certified in pediatric cardiology, it is implied that the pediatric cardiology training be done in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved training program. The additional nine months of advanced training specified below should take place in an institution in which at least 250 pediatric cardiac procedures per year (this number is by consensus of the authors), utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass, are performed.

	LEVELS OF EXPERTISE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
In formulating the core training requirements, it was expected that all board-certified pediatric cardiologists should be proficient in the following: 1) the evaluation and (at least) initial stabilization of the hemodynamically compromised pediatric patient with heart disease; and 2) consultation with surgeons, pediatric intensivists, neonatologists, and others regarding the medical, and preoperative and postoperative management of pediatric patients with heart disease.

It is unrealistic to expect all pediatric cardiac trainees to be expert (and stay expert) in the most advanced aspects of pediatric cardiac critical care. In many centers the critical care management of pediatric cardiac patients is provided primarily by pediatric intensivists, neonatologists, or pediatric cardiac surgeons, rather than by cardiologists. However, given that most pediatric cardiologists will occasionally be responsible for situations such as those previously noted, it is important that they can provide appropriate care until consultation with those more experienced in pediatric cardiac intensive care can be obtained. In some cases the pediatric cardiologist may be the only source of expertise (e.g., in understanding the limitations of echocardiography in delineating the anatomy/physiology of a hemodynamically compromised postoperative patient). Hence, it is important that the pediatric cardiologist be familiar with critical care-related issues, often specific to a given cardiac lesion, when providing consultation in the context of the critically ill patient. Thus, core requirements apply to all trainees seeking board certification in pediatric cardiology.

Advanced requirements, which are more comprehensive, apply to practitioners who will undertake primary responsibility for the comprehensive management of critically ill pediatric patients with congenital or acquired heart disease.

These documents specify training guidelines in pediatric cardiac critical care for pediatric cardiology trainees. The advanced guidelines specify training requirements only for practitioners who are board eligible/board certified in pediatric cardiology. These guidelines do not address what might be a suitable course of training for cardiac critical care for practitioners with primary training in a discipline other than pediatric cardiology.

	CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND METHODS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
General Requirements
At the end of the pediatric cardiology fellowship, the board-eligible pediatric cardiologist should reliably be able to do the following:

1. Evaluate and treat neonates and infants with critical structural cardiac disease. Evaluation and treatment includes:
   1. Establishing an accurate anatomic diagnosis and ascertaining the relevant cardio-pulmonary physiology.
      
   2. Providing appropriate medical therapy to stabilize the patient (provide for adequate oxygen delivery and organ perfusion).
      
   3. Knowing what medical and surgical treatments are appropriate for the condition and what the short- and long-term outcomes of these therapies are.
      
   
   In particular, the trainee should have sufficient training and experience to be efficient in managing these patients:
   • Neonates and infants with ductal-dependent left and right-sided obstructive lesions.
     
   • Neonates with d-transposition of the great arteries.
     
   • Neonates with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with obstruction.
     
   • Infants with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery.
     
   
   
2. Evaluate and treat neonates, infants, and older patients with other forms of critical cardiac disease.
   In particular, the trainee should have sufficient training and experience to be efficient in evaluating and treating these patients:
   • Patients with primary myocardial dysfunction.
     
   • Patients with acutely compromised cardiopulmonary status due to myocarditis or cardiomyopathy (including that due to rheumatic fever, Kawasaki disease, and so on).
     
   • Patients with acutely symptomatic arrhythmias.
     
   • Patients with acutely compromised cardiopulmonary status due to endocarditis.
     
   • Patients with pericardial effusion.
     
   • Patients having a hypercyanotic episode ("tet spell").
     
   • Neonates and infants with increased pulmonary vascular resistance, with or without structural abnormality of the heart.
     
   
   
3. Provide care, or consultation for those providing primary care, for cardiac patients with illness of non-cardiac origin.
   For example, a cyanotic patient with respiratory syncitial virus pneumonitis requires care somewhat different than a patient with a normal heart.
   
4. Provide consultation for those caring for postoperative cardiac patients.
   In particular, the pediatric cardiologist should be able to do the following:
   • Provide interpretation of diagnostic studies, such as echocardiograms and heart catheterization, including clearly delineating the limitations of such studies.
     
   • Diagnose and treat acutely symptomatic arrhythmias.
     
   • Provide consultation regarding therapies to maximize oxygen delivery and cardiac output.
     
   • Provide consultation regarding pharmacologic and other therapies for patients with "single ventricle" physiology.
     
   • Provide consultation regarding therapy for patients with increased pulmonary vascular resistance.
     
   
   

	SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The following section lists certain areas of special importance.

1. Cardiopulmonary physiology, especially as it applies to cardiac patients in the ICU setting.
   
   1. Determinants of, and means of influencing, oxygen delivery, cardiac output, and vascular resistance.
      
   2. The physiology of the patient with a single ventricle, including determinants of, and means of influencing, systemic arterial oxygen saturation, systemic perfusion, and myocardial work.
      
   3. The physiology of the patient with a ductal-dependent left-sided obstructive lesion, including determinants of, and means of influencing, systemic arterial oxygen saturation, systemic perfusion, and myocardial work.
      
   4. The physiology of the patient with a fixed restriction of pulmonary blood flow, including determinants of, and means of influencing, systemic arterial oxygen saturation, systemic perfusion, and myocardial work.
      
   5. The physiology associated with d-transposition of the great arteries.
      
   6. The physiology of cardiopulmonary interaction, including how mechanical ventilation affects cardiac output.
      
   
   
2. Cardiovascular pharmacology.
   The trainee should learn the actions, mechanisms of action, side effects, and clinical use of:
   1. Inotropic agents (e.g., digoxin, adrenergic agonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors).
      
   2. Vasodilators/antihypertensive agents (e.g., alpha adrenergic antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel antagonists, beta adrenergic antagonists).
      
   3. Commonly used antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g., digoxin, procainamide, lidocaine, amiodarone).
      
   4. Inhaled nitric oxide.
      
   5. Prostaglandin E₁.
      
   6. Neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g., pancuronium, succinylcholine).
      
   7. Analgesics and sedatives (e.g., morphine, fentanyl, ketamine, benzodiazepines).
      
   8. Anticoagulants (unfractionated and low molecular weight heparin, warfarin).
      
   9. Diuretics (e.g., furosemide, chlorothiazide).
      
   10. Prostacyclin and other pulmonary vasodilators.
       
   
   
3. The relationship between cardiac structure, function, and clinical state.
   The trainee should learn:
   1. How cardiac structural abnormalities (e.g., obstruction of the atrial septum in hypoplastic left heart syndrome) affect cardiopulmonary function, physiology, and hence the clinical state of the patient.
      
   2. Methods (e.g., echocardiography, invasive pressure measurements, arterial blood gas analysis, magnetic resonance imaging) to determine and measure cardiac structure, function, and physiology in the ICU patient, and the limitations of these techniques.
      
   3. Indications for remedy of structural lesions (in both unoperated and operated patients), and appropriate means of therapy (surgical, catheter-based intervention).
      
   
   
4. Diagnosis and therapy of arrhythmias, especially those occurring in ICU patients.
   In particular, the trainee should be familiar with the use of atrial and ventricular pacing leads or transesophageal electrocardiography for diagnosing and treating arrhythmias, and the diagnosis and therapy of junctional ectopic tachycardia.
   
5. Airway management skills.
   
6. Provision of analgesia and sedation.
   
7. Conduct of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
   
8. Commonly used modes of mechanical ventilation and their application in patients with heart disease.
   
9. Common complications that occur in cardiac patients in the ICU, and how they may be prevented and treated.
   The trainee should be familiar with factors that predispose to common postoperative complications (e.g., catheter-related sepsis, pathological thrombosis, surgically-induced heart block), appropriate diagnostic techniques, and therapy for these complications.
   
10. Familiarity with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and other cardiac support systems.
    
11. Indications for, and general principles, for providing "end-of-life" or "palliative" care.
    

	REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR CORE TRAINING

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
In training programs where pediatric cardiology fellows provide primary care of pediatric cardiac patients in the ICU (generally programs that have a separate cardiac ICU), a minimum of two months’ full-time experience in the ICU is recommended. For programs where pediatric cardiology fellows act as consultants for cardiac patients in the intensive care setting, at least four months’ experience providing such consultation is recommended.

Trainees will be evaluated by the appropriate supervising faculty, and both written and oral feedback will be provided to the trainee. Written evaluations, addressing specific areas of competence, will be developed at each training site.

	ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND METHODS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Advanced training in pediatric cardiac intensive care is intended to prepare practitioners who will undertake primary responsibility for the comprehensive management of critically ill patients with congenital or acquired heart disease. Because this discipline stands at the nexus of pediatric cardiology and pediatric critical care, some physicians with primary training in fields other than pediatric cardiology work in this area. This document describes an appropriate advanced practitioner training program only for physicians board eligible or board certified in pediatric cardiology; it does not specify what an appropriate training program should be for those trained in other disciplines (e.g., critical care medicine [CCM] or pediatric anesthesiology).

	GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 

1. The advanced practitioner must be board certified/board eligible in pediatric cardiology.
   
2. Advanced practitioners must have (at least) nine months of clinical training beyond the core training as outlined in the previous text. (This excludes practitioners doubly boarded in pediatric cardiology and pediatric CCM.) Practitioners with training in (only) pediatric cardiology are therefore expected, in addition to having three years of pediatric cardiology training, to have one month of training in anesthesia, four months’ experience predominantly in general pediatric CCM, and at least four months’ experience caring for pediatric cardiac patients in the ICU setting (a total of 9 months).
   

The practitioner must have sufficient experience in managing term and pre-term neonates both preoperatively and postoperatively.

	SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Specific requirements for advanced training include all of those for core training (listed in the previous text), as well as the following:

1. Mechanical ventilation.
   
   1. Indications for and utilization of commonly employed modes of mechanical ventilation, as well as more advanced modes of ventilation (e.g., high-frequency oscillatory ventilation).
      
   2. Optimal ways of providing gas exchange for patients with congenital heart disease, taking into account factors such as the effect of airway pressure on venous return, the impact of fiO₂ on pulmonary vascular resistance, arterial O₂ saturation, and systemic perfusion.
      
   3. Pulmonary toxicity related to barotrauma, volutrauma, and high levels of inspired oxygen, and how to minimize such toxicity.
      
   
   
2. Indications for, application of, and complications related to mechanical support for the failing cardiopulmonary system. Current systems that provide such support include extracorporeal life support, ventricular support devices, and intra-aortic balloon pumps. Expertise in at least one form of mechanical support should result from advanced-level training.
   
3. Performance of invasive procedures often required in managing critically ill cardiac patients. These procedures include advanced techniques for intravascular access (e.g., subclavian vein and internal jugular venous cannulation), insertion of chest tubes, pericardiocentesis, and so on.
   
4. Utilization of more advanced cardiovascular pharmacologic therapy (e.g., esmolol for therapy of hypertension, vasopressin for therapy of hypotension).
   
5. Advanced skills in evaluation and treatment of arrhythmias (e.g., utilization of epicardial electrodes and transesophageal leads for diagnosis and treatment of rhythm abnormalities, use of pharmacologic agents to treat arrhythmias, and so on).
   
6. Advanced management of pulmonary hypertension.
   
7. Diagnosis and treatment of less frequently encountered/more complex postoperative complications, including lesion-specific complications. Such complications include significant residual cardiac lesions, paralyzed hemi-diaphragm(s), large airway obstruction, compartment syndrome following femoral arterial cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass, prolonged chest tube drainage, and so on. The practitioner should be familiar with indications for invasive evaluation (e.g., heart catheterization or bronchoscopy) and invasive therapy (e.g., additional cardiac surgery, interventional catheterization, tracheostomy).
   
8. Evaluation and management of multisystem organ failure.
   
9. Postoperative management of orthotopic heart transplant patients, and management of acute rejection.
   
10. Diagnosis and management of renal failure, including indications for renal replacement therapy.
    
11. Diagnosis and management of forms of neurological dysfunction, sometimes seen in patients with critical heart disease (seizures, stroke, global ischemia, increased intracranial pressure).
    
12. Available means of providing nutritional support, and the most appropriate means for a given patient.
    
13. Transfusion management, and recognition and treatment of common transfusion-related complications.
    

	APPENDIX

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Dr. David L. Wessel declared that he had the following relationships with industry relevant to this topic—Pfizer (consultant and research grant); INO Therapeutics (consultant and scientific advisory board). The other authors of this report declared that they have no relationships with industry pertinent to this topic.

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Task Force 6: Training in Transition of Adolescent Care and Care of the Adult With Congenital Heart Disease

Daniel J. Murphy, Jr, MD, FACC, FAAP Chair and Elyse Foster, MD, FACC, FAHA

	INTRODUCTION

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The number of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased significantly over the past 20 years. Palliative surgery and, more recently, non-surgical and medical interventions have permitted even those with the most complex lesions to reach adulthood. The recent Bethesda Conference estimated that there are approximately 420,000 CHD patients in the U.S., based on models that exclude simple congenital lesions such as bicuspid aortic valve, small atrial or ventricular septal defect, and mild pulmonary stenosis. Of those patients, approximately three-fourths have lesions that are moderately complex and one-fourth have lesions of great complexity.

Establishing an adequate system for the care of these individuals is a challenging task that can best be accomplished through an integrative approach that draws on the skills and knowledge base of both pediatric and medical (adult) cardiologists within an adult CHD center. Many adults with CHD continue to be cared for by pediatric cardiologists, who are well trained to deal with the often complex problems associated with CHD, but are generally unprepared to manage unique problems of adults with CHD, including long-term complications and adult health care issues such as pregnancy and overlay of acquired disease. Thus, basic knowledge of issues unique to adults with CHD as well as knowledge of the indications for referral to a specialized adult CHD (ACHD) center is required of all pediatric cardiologists.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has published training guidelines for Adult Cardiovascular Medicine Core Cardiology Training II (COCATS 2) which include recommendations regarding care of adult patients with CHD. These recommendations were developed with the recognition that appropriate training and education for adult cardiologists is currently deficient in CHD, but that eventually the numbers and complexity of such adult patients will demand that many be cared for in adult settings by cardiologists with an internal medicine-adult cardiology background.¹ It will be at least a decade or more before the graduates of adult cardiology training programs are sufficiently numerous and adequately trained to staff specialized adult congenital centers as recommended in the 32nd Bethesda Conference.² Medical/pediatric residents with double boards in adult and pediatric cardiology would provide excellent training to care for these patients. Meanwhile, for the foreseeable future, significant numbers of adults will need to receive all or a part of their cardiac care from pediatric cardiologists with training in adult issues.

Even if in the future the majority of adults with CHD are cared for in specialized ACHD centers, staffed primarily by specially trained adult cardiologists, there are compelling reasons for the pediatric cardiology training curriculum to address issues relating to ACHD. The Bethesda Conference recommended that such centers maintain a liaison with pediatric cardiology programs for purposes of patient care, education, and support. For example, as surgical treatments evolve, the postoperative course changes, requiring new forms of surveillance and follow-up; the lessons learned from adolescents will shape the care of adults with CHD, and only close coordination between pediatric cardiologists and specialists in ACHD will optimize that care.

This report suggests an approach to the training of pediatric cardiologists. These guidelines will emphasize the importance of preparing young patients with CHD for transition to adult care, the need for pediatric cardiologists to understand the outcomes of CHD in the adult patient, and will serve as a guide for pediatric cardiologists who will participate directly in the care of adults with CHD.

	LEVELS OF TRAINING

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
Core Training (Level 1)
We differentiate three levels of training and expected expertise in the care of adults with CHD. Core training represents the level of knowledge appropriate for all trainees in pediatric cardiology and indicates the knowledge content that each graduate of such a program should acquire. This level of knowledge should be tested in the Subspecialty Certification Examination in Pediatric Cardiology and will provide the graduate with sufficient expertise to care for adolescents with CHD and prepare them for transition to ACHD care. In addition to the basic science and clinical knowledge included in every pediatric cardiology curriculum, certain additional knowledge areas should be included:

• general knowledge
  
• natural history of cardiac defects
  
• postoperative residua, long-term issues
  
• understanding care in the adult setting
  
• transition issues
  
• adolescent medicine
  
• outpatient experience
  
• lectures as part of core curriculum
  
• indications for and access to local/regional expert consultation
  
• adolescent and young adult medical care issues
  
• contraception, gynecologic issues, pregnancy
  
• physical activity, sports, and activity counseling
  
• education, health and general
  
• insurability
  
• employment
  
• psychosocial issues
  

Advanced Training (Level 2): Special Expertise in Adults With CHD
The COCATS 2 guidelines for adult cardiology fellows suggest at least one year of concentrated exposure for those trainees who wish to care independently for adult patients with CHD. Certain knowledge areas should be included:

Basic Science
Pathophysiology of acquired heart disease with a strong emphasis on heart failure, arrhythmias, and coronary atherosclerosis.

Adult Medical Care Issues

• coronary artery disease, hypertension, lipid management, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  
• contraception, gynecologic issues, management during pregnancy and delivery
  
• physical activity, sports, and activity counseling
  
• education, health and general
  
• insurability
  
• employment
  
• psychosocial issues
  
• palliative care
  

In addition to didactic materials, training should include the following activities and aims:

• Participation in a regular (at least weekly) clinic organized for the care of adults with CHD—at least 10 patients per week; and participation in the perioperative care of adult patients with CHD including direct observation of surgical repair.
  
• Program requirements.
  

To train effectively at level 2, a pediatric cardiology program should include at least one faculty member with a career commitment to the care of adult patients with CHD.

Advanced Training (Level 3): Advanced Expertise in Adults With CHD
The COCATS 2 guidelines recommend an additional year of continued participation in clinical practice relating to ACHD to achieve advanced level 3 training. In addition to the guidelines for advanced level 2 training, level 3 should include active participation in clinical and/or laboratory research inconjunction with clinical activities and direct participation in additional cardiac catheterization and echocardiographic procedures in adults with CHD.¹

	APPENDIX

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The authors of this section declare they have no relationships with industry pertinent to this topic.

	REFERENCES

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 

1. Skorton DJ, Garson A. Training in the care of adult patients with congenital heart disease. Cardiol Clin 1993;11 :717 –720[Medline]
2. Child JS, Collins-Nakai RL, Alpert JS. Task force 3: workforce description and educational requirements for the care of adults with congenital heart disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001;37 :1183 –1187[Free Full Text]

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Task Force 7: Training Guidelines for Research in Pediatric Cardiology

D. Woodrow Benson, Jr, MD, PhD, Chair, H. Scott Baldwin, MD, FACC, FAHA, Larry T. Mahoney, MD, FACC, FAHA and Tim C. McQuinn, MD, FAAP

Historically, pediatric cardiology has been a dynamic clinical field where a rapid transfer of knowledge from the research laboratory to the bedside occurred regularly. Conversely, many problems on which laboratory effort was focused were first identified at the bedside. This pattern continues today, and there is every reason to believe it will accelerate in the future. Research in pediatric cardiology is defined in broad terms because it is anticipated that future advances in the care of pediatric patients with cardiovascular disease will go beyond current practice and come from diverse areas of biomedical science. If the pediatric cardiologist is to maintain clinical competence and improve clinical knowledge in step with the progress of biomedical science, it is crucial that he or she thoroughly understands the concepts, methods, and pitfalls of the research process. It is important that every pediatric cardiology trainee participate directly in research as training that is limited to practical experience can teach only the status quo, and the status quo cannot improve patient care. The guidelines that follow are based in part on recommendations published in 1995 and revised in 2002^1,2 and a Task Force Report on Pediatric Cardiovascular Diseases.³

In addition to direct involvement in research, every trainee should gain practical experience in review of published data, research design, data analysis, and logical deduction. The research experience plays a unique role in developing the skills in continuing self-education essential to all pediatric cardiologists. Trainees contemplating a career in investigative cardiology bear a special responsibility to prepare effectively to advance understanding in the broad area of clinical, translational, and basic cardiovascular science as well as population science, behavioral science, quality of care, and outcomes research.

Because the research experience is such an integral component, pediatric cardiology training should be carried out in institutions in which the opportunity to participate in research is available. The training site should be one that provides an atmosphere of intellectual inquiry and support of the investigational process.

	GENERAL STANDARDS

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
The training institution must have staff and facilities for research. Opportunities for research for the trainees should be available not only within the clinical cardiology division, but also within biomedical science, epidemiological, or other clinical programs of the institution. Availability of expertise in cardiac development, cardiovascular genetics, epidemiology, outcome evaluation, biostatistics, population science, behavioral science, quality of care, outcomes research, and biomedical ethics should be readily available. There should be a critical mass of investigators, and it is expected that cardiovascular investigation be well represented. Not all investigators need to be clinical cardiologists, but at least one full-time faculty member from each training program should have demonstrated skill and research productivity as an investigator.

	DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES     GENERAL STANDARDS DURATION OF RESEARCH TRAINING CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM EVALUATION FLEXIBILITY SUMMARY APPENDIX REFERENCES

 
For trainees planning careers in education and patient care, the core research training should include substantial research time devoted to a specific research project or projects. In most cases, this will encompass a full 12 months of the training period. For those planning a career with a major emphasis on investigation, an additional one to two years beyond the core research training, working directly with an experienced funded mentor, is needed in most cases.

	CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAM

TOP INTRODUCTION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX REFERENCE INTRODUCTION CLINICAL TRAINING DIDACTIC CONTENT TEACHING AND EVALUATION SKILLS APPENDIX INTRODUCTION PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION LEVELS OF EXPERTISE TRAINING GUIDELINES TRAINING GOALS TRAINING METHODS EVALUATION APPENDIX REFERENCES  INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE REFERENCES   INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF... REFERENCES    INTRODUCTION FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE CORE TRAINING: GOALS AND... SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... REQUIRED TRAINING PERIOD FOR... ADVANCED TRAINING: GOALS AND... GENERAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE... APPENDIX INTRODUCTION LEVELS OF TRAINING APPENDIX REFERENCES