Accreditation in the 11-13+6 week scan


Introduction

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

Once the certificate of training in the 11-13+6 weeks scan has been obtained, the doctor/sonographer will be entitled to receive the FMF software for the calculation of risk of Down syndrome by a combination of maternal age, nuchal translucency (NT) measurement. Additional first trimester ultrasound markers can be used to further refine the risk of Down syndrome in the FMF software, once the NT-credentialed person has earned a Certificate of Competence (for nasal bone and/or tricuspid flow and/or ductus venosus flow and/or facial angles).

The accredited individual will be included in the FMF USA weblist of Accredited Sonographers. Insurance companies, laboratories, and potential employers can check this list by entering a person's last name or FMF ID number.

The only condition for ongoing accreditation and use of the software is annual provision of NT data and images by the credentialed person for the purposes of quality assurance.

The Accreditation Process

Nuchal translucency scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online theory course and payment of the one-time $100 administrative fee.
    • Click here to register for the free online theory course (choose the "Medical Practitioner" option)
    • Click here to pay the one-time $100 fee online
  • Uploading or submission of three images of NT measurements.
  • If all of the images are acceptable, a certificate of NT accreditation will be sent. If the technique is not consistently correct, feedback will be given and three more BRAND NEW images, taken after reading the most recent report, will be requested. Once consistent mastery of the technique is demonstrated the certificate will be sent
  • Click here for film submission form for those mailing images.
    Click here for nuchal translucency protocol.

Nasal bone scan requirements for accreditation:

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

Tricuspid flow scan requirements for accreditation:

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

Ductus venosus scan requirements for accreditation:

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

Fronto-maxillary facial angle scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online theory course.
  • Current Fetal Medicine Foundation NT certificate
  • Uploading or submission of three images, all showing the angle drawn.
  • If all of the images are acceptable, a certificate of facial angle accreditation will be sent. If the technique is not consistently correct, feedback will be given and three more images requested. Once consistent mastery of the technique is demonstrated the certificate will be sent.
  • Click here for fronto-maxillary facial angle protocol.

Uterine Artery Doppler scan requirements for accreditation:

  • Completion of the official Fetal Medicine Foundation free online theory course.
  • Current Fetal Medicine Foundation NT certificate
  • Uploading or submission of three images, all showing measurement of uterine artery blood flow..
  • If all of the images are acceptable, a certificate of uterine artery assessment accreditation will be sent. If the technique is not consistently correct, feedback will be given and three more images requested. Once consistent mastery of the technique is demonstrated the certificate will be sent.

Click here for uterine artery assessment protocol.