The Canadian journal of cardiology
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Interventional cardiology is a subspecialty of adult cardiology dedicated to the use and application of imaging-based diagnostic techniques and minimally invasive modalities for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Currently, interventional cardiologists must demonstrate expert knowledge of cardiac imaging, along with cardiovascular anatomy and the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. ⋯ The 2010 Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiologists Guidelines for Training and Maintenance of Competency in Adult Interventional Cardiology are the first such guidelines to be published in Canada. These guidelines should allow for more-fluid provision of high-quality interventional cardiology education, along with less geographic variation, resulting in more-widespread high-level services to the population.
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Guidelines for the provision of echocardiography in Canada were jointly developed and published by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography in 2005. Since their publication, recognition of the importance of echocardiography to patient care has increased, along with the use of focused, point-of-care echocardiography by physicians of diverse clinical backgrounds and variable training. New guidelines for physician training and maintenance of competence in adult echocardiography were required to ensure that physicians providing either focused, point-of-care echocardiography or comprehensive echocardiography are appropriately trained and proficient in their use of echocardiography. ⋯ These guidelines provide a blueprint for physician training despite different clinical backgrounds and help standardize physician training and training programs across the country. Adherence to the guidelines will ensure that physicians providing echocardiography have acquired sufficient expertise required for their specific practice. The document will also provide a framework for other national societies to standardize their training programs in echocardiography and will provide a benchmark by which competency in adult echocardiography may be measured.