The Echo Triangle

Echocardiography is an essential investigation for cardiology services, with its activity directly correlated to cardiothoracic activity, morbidity, and mortality. Much research has been undertaken show that most New Zealand echo departments are under performing. Three key areas highlighted in this presentation: training, allocated scan times, sonographer call duties. proposals make the three arms of “The Echo Triangle”: 1.All sites must train sonographers. Seventeen 20 sites/hospitals should be regardless perceived need.2.Echo times standardised 45 minutes. Consider Parkinson’s Law as applied “time taken perform a task”. There direct correlation between 60-minute time poor output/efficiencies.3.Sonographers relinquish Cardiology Registrars out hours; sonographers vulnerable workforce, not RMOs/Registrars. The Triangle considered by all within Zealand. workforce. Paying attention will help succession planning, department efficiencies, general health.