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Ultrasound QA Quiz 2023 – Win a FitBit

The Multi-Medix Ultrasound QA Quiz is back!

With less than a month to go before the BMUS Annual Scientific meeting, we have recreated our quick quiz on Ultrasound Quality Assurance.

There is no need to do any revision in advance – scroll to the bottom of the page to have a go at the ultrasound QA quiz or click here

It takes less that one minute and every entry, no matter what you score, is submitted into a prize draw for a Fitbit Inspire 3

(Though you may find some of the answers to the quiz on the Multi-Medix Online Knowledge Portal) 

The winner will be drawn at the BMUS Conference on December 7th at our stand (17).

Here is the happy winner of the Hotel Chocolate Velvetiser, that we gave away as part of the quiz last year.

Multi-Medix Ultrasound QA Quiz

Quiz Winner 2022, Michelle Ambat, who won a Hotel Chocolate Velvetiser

ultrasound quiz prize

Fitbit Inspire 3

Good luck everyone!

Who are Multi-Medix?

Multi-Medix was formed with one principal aim – to increase the uptake of Ultrasound Quality Assurance (QA) for the safety of patients.

We offer a range of services that enable your organisation to implement robust ultrasound quality assurance (QA) programmes, to ensure optimum image quality and patient safety. We are independent and objective, with friendly staff who will see you onsite & continue to support you offsite with ultrasound QA advice and help.

Our ever popular Probe Care Essentials course, is now taking bookings for January 2024.  It presents a great way to kick start your QA programme at the start of a new year. The course is only one hour, is CPD accredited course and costs £25 per delegate. Click here to find out more and for our booking form. Alternatively, contact [email protected] to enquire about dates and further information.

If you would like to find out more about us, please click here for our www.multi-medix.com

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Where do you fit into your QA Programme?

Ultrasound Quality Assurance is a mandatory activity. It relies on the combined efforts of different people and disciplines, that come together like pieces in a jigsaw.

Your Ultrasound QA Programme: Who should be doing what?

Multi-Medix was formed with a principal aim – to increase the uptake of Ultrasound Quality Assurance (QA) for the safety of patients. As part of our training courses, we like to ask our delegates what they think QA is what part they think they have to play to implementing and maintaining a QA Programme. There are some common myths that are heard. For instance

“Don’t Biomedical Engineers look after all of ultrasound QA?”

“QA is a user activity”

“I have heard of IPEM 102 and this means that Medical Physics should be running the ultrasound QA programme. It is a physics test”

“We have an annual maintenance check. This means we have a QA programme”

“I can tell whilst scanning picture when there is something wrong with the probe or system”

None of these statements are true. All the parties mentioned above and more have role to play in QA Programme. It cannot be given to one person or department, It relies on coordination between various departments.

Your Ultrasound QA Programme: Where do you fit in?

Ultrasound QA Programme is made of four activities, all done by different parties, all important to create a robust QA Programme.

The top of the “jigsaw” shows the role of ultrasound users and assistants.

  • Only around 7% of faults with ultrasound equipment are found during clinical use i.e. it is not possible to tell, simply from scanning, that your probe is working correctly
  • There are daily and monthly checks – most of them only taking minutes to do. The specific tasks are described in the Diagnostic Ultrasound QA Manual and videos that can be found on the Multi-Medix Online Knowledge Portal.  Or you can book onto one our QA courses such as Probe Care Essentials.
  • These checks must be recorded and any anomalies reported & followed up Waiting for the annual planned maintenance checks may mean using faulty equipment for months.  All Multi-Medix clients have a helpline they can call if they spot anything that does not look right in their regular checks.

The bottom of the “jigsaw” demonstrates the role of specialist testing done by Biomedical Engineers, Medical Physicists or Independent Providers such as Multi-Medix.

  • “Baselining” the system. This provides the benchmark that all the user checks above measure against and future annual testing will measure against.
  • All new systems need to be acceptance tested.
  • Annually the QA system should be reviewed by an independent party to assess its effectiveness and suggest improvements.

Multi-Medix has helped many hospitals and clinics set up effective QA Programmes either by providing training that helps to fill knowledge gaps in an organisation’s “jigsaw”. Or providing independent specialist testing and audit services.

We will be at stand 14 at BMUS Conference from December 6th – 9th 2022. Please drop by and ask us any questions on QA – we look forward to seeing you.

Alternatively please email  [email protected] or  [email protected] for advice on ultrasound QA and information about our training courses.

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Multi-Medix at BMUS Conference 2022

Multi-Medix will be exhibiting at BMUS conference 2022, at stand 14, from December 6th – 8th  in Cardiff.

Make 2023 a Quality Year. Improve patient safety through implementing an Ultrasound Quality Assurance Programme
Come to stand 14 and chat with our friendly staff for more information on “QA Everyday” – the beginning of your route to compliance.

Our staff will be participating in the BMUS conference 2022 Scientific Programme presentations:

  • Dr Nick Dudley will be giving a talk on “Transducer Care” at the Veterinary Session 1 on the morning of  Day 3 and “Quality and Accuracy of Vascular Ultrasound Equipment” also on the morning of Day 3.
  • Daniel Wyatt will be presenting “Ultrasound QA: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” on Day 1 at 2pm as part of the Ultrasound Safety Session.

A full programme of events can be found here.

We will also be running bitesize training sessions via “Education at the Stand” at 1.30pm on Day 1

Ultrasound QA tests – A practical introduction

See how quick and easy user Quality Assurance tests really are;  a few minutes is really all it takes.  Join Multi-Medix for our demonstration on how to check your probes & systems are defect free, safe, and compliant. Includes a free Multi-Medix test tool too!

Enter this year’s QA quiz and win a “Velvetiser”

Following the popularity of our quiz last year, we are running another QA quiz this year. It takes less that one minute to do, and  every entry submitted also is submitted into a prize draw has a chance of winning a Hotel Chocolat “Velvetiser” . The draw will take place on the final day of BMUS. To take the quiz, click here. Good luck!

 

We look forward to meeting with you,

The Multi-Medix Team

 

 

 

 

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Probe Care Essentials Course Information & Booking Form

Research shows one in three ultrasound probes in UK hospitals are faulty?*

Our hands-on, 60 minute training session teaches probe care
best practise – an essential part of Ultrasound Quality Assurance

Probe Care Essentials Course – Key learning Outcomes

      • Improve patient safety by learning how to check probes for defects
      • Reduce equipment costs due to probe damage through our probe handling technique demonstrations
      • Become legally compliant with the Health & Social Care Act: we explain how
        Health & Social Care Act: we explain how
      • Receive ongoing help and guidance through the Multi-Medix QA Helpline
      • Access to QA Guidance & videos via the Multi-Medix Ultrasound QA Portal

Course Details:

      • Duration: 45-60 minutes
      • Location: on-site in your department
      • Suitable for Sonographers, Radiographers and Imaging Assistants
      • Complies with guidance from BMUS and the Multi-Medix Diagnostic Quality Assurance Manual
      • Download our leaflet here for more details: Probe Care Essentials Leaflet

The course supports CPD Now Outcomes 1,2,3,4,9,11.

Click here to fill in your booking form

Diagnostic Ultrasound QA Manual from Multi-Medix

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Ultrasound QA Quiz 2022 – This year with added chocolate sprinkles!

Our QA Quick Quiz is back!

To celebrate Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month & the BMUS conference we have recreated our quick QA quiz on Ultrasound Quality Assurance.

There is no need to do any revision in advance – scroll to the bottom of the page to have a go or click here

It takes less that one minute and every entry, no matter what you score, is submitted into a prize draw for a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. 

(Though you may find some of the answers to the quiz on the Multi-Medix Online Knowledge Portal) 

The winner will be drawn at the BMUS Conference on December 8th at our stand (14), so there is plenty of time for your prize to arrive in time for Christmas.

Here is the happy winner of the Apple ipad that we gave away as part of the quiz last year.

Winner of QA Quiz prize 2021 – Alison McGuiness

Good luck everyone!

 

 

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Multi-Medix at UKIO conference – Research presentation & free ultrasound user QA training

QA Checks take Minutes – Let Multi-Medix should you how at the UKIO conference

We know many ultrasound departments plan to implement a QA programme. Come and have a chat with the Multi-Medix team at the UKIO conference,  who will be happy to demonstrate how to start doing “QA Everyday”.
Email [email protected] to your register interest.

Key research findings – are you one of the 10%?

In the summer of 2019, Multi-Medix conducted a survey to find out the current level of Ultrasound QA undertaken.

From this valuable input, we submitted a research paper and Multi-Medix will be presenting at the UKIO conference. A key finding was only 10% of NHS Trust have a complete QA programme.

Time pressure and lack of knowledge were cited as the main reasons why little or no ultrasound QA was being done on a regular basis. Let Multi-Medix show you how to start doing QA Everyday.

Not coming to UKIO? The Multi-Medix Ultrasound QA Knowledge Portal is still free to join

If you are thinking of setting up a QA Programme, the Multi-MedixQA Knowledge Portal has access to the our popular  “Diagnostic Ultrasound QA Manual”. This includes QR codes to videos that can get you started. Click HERE to access the Knowledge Portal.
Find out more about our QA Everyday programme here

UKIO conference July 2022

See us at stand B52

Come and find us on Stand B52 where you will also find Advance Ultrasound Electronics. AUE Ltd is the only company in the UK that has been trained to our high standard in ultrasound QA and offer this as part of their ultrasound services and maintenance. All QA performed by AUE Ltd  is signed off annually by Multi-Medix ensuring that an independent review is undertaken. Drop by our stand B52, to find out more.

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Ultrasound QA training “Face to Face” : Probe Care Essentials

Ultrasound QA Training Course : Probe Care Essentials

Multi-Medix will soon restart “face to face” ultrasound QA training courses, beginning with “Probe Care Essentials”.

When developing our courses we have started with what ultrasound users need and want. Our staff recently attended a BMUS study day and consulted with key individuals to ensure our QA course programmes achieve the desired outcomes:

  • Attendees will learn how to prevent probe damage, minimising bills for the department.
  • This bitesize course fits well into a lunchtime or clinical governance slot

What do I need to know about Probe Care?

The cornerstone to good quality assurance is effective probe care.  Our course “Probe Care Essentials” will cover the basics and demonstrate how it fits into the QA cycle.  This short hour course would take place either online or at your location.

Quality Assurance is not something that is just done by Medical Physics, Biomeds or your QA lead only. It is done by all these people and ultrasound users. QA requires a combined effort but it starts with the daily checks all sonographers and imaging assistants must attend to. The checks take minutes at the start of the day, but are critical to patient safety.

When did you last check your probes?

Yesterday? Last month? Can’t remember?

Quality Assurance is a core competency of ultrasound users.  Diagnostic Imaging Support Workers are expected to be

“Undertaking defined QA/QC checks on equipment, working to a set procedure/protocol (such as ultrasound equipment or image display monitors). Identify nonconformities, and record and report results appropriately”  AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework:)

The BMUS/S0R Professional Guidelines for Professional Ultrasound Practise state (Section 2.9: Ultrasound Equipment and Quality Assurance Testing)

“An ultrasound practitioner is expected to:

  1. Have detailed knowledge of ultrasound equipment in order to ensure that it is appropriate for purpose
  2. Manipulate the equipment correctly so that patient diagnosis and management are not compromised
  3. Take care when using the equipment in order to avoid damage
  4. Ensure that regular planned preventative maintenance is carried out by qualified personnel
  5. Ensure that an agreed quality assurance programme is in place that incorporates the regular inspection of ultrasound machines and ancillary equipment”

Ultrasound quality assurance is a legal activity so naturally requests for training and help did not stop because of the pandemic. The most common request was for a Probe Care course either because ultrasound users said they were looking for refresher training or considering developing an ultrasound QA programme in their department.

If you would like to request more information about Probe Care Essentials or our other training courses click here.