Course Overview

Domain
Health and Social Sciences
Format
Modular Certification Course
Duration
3+ months
Fee Subsidy
Up to 90% SF Funding
Professional Development Units

CPD points (SSR) - Pending approval

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Updated: 14 July 2023

Due to recent changes in the Modular Certification Pathway in Sonography, we have temporarily paused the acceptance of new candidate applications for this module. This decision has been made to ensure that we can provide the best possible experience for our current learners and make necessary adjustments to improve the programme.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team here.


Ultrasound plays a crucial role in the evaluation and management of patients with hepatobiliary and kidney diseases.

The module is introduced in response to the industry demand and government healthcare policy in expanding capacity in skills upgrading of the current healthcare workforce.

The module is designed for ultrasound practitioners such as radiographers or sonographers who wish to pursue a formal postgraduate qualification in ultrasound. Hybrid instruction mode will be employed which combines online lectures, case-based/problem-based tutorials, forum discussion sessions, and practical hands-on demonstrations. The module is offered concurrently with supervised clinical practice to develop competency in abdominal ultrasound.

The module will focus on core principles and applications in abdominal ultrasound. Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) scan in trauma setting and various advanced imaging techniques such as transplant ultrasound, elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound will also be covered. Intensive hands-on practical sessions on healthy volunteers and simulators will be conducted to complete the knowledge and skillset acquisition in abdominal ultrasound.

At the end of this module, you will be able to recognise the normal and abnormal ultrasound findings and will be guided in the competent production, interpretation, and assessment of abdominal ultrasound images.

Topics will include gross anatomy and physiology, embryology, clinical indications, equipment and patient preparation, techniques and sonographic protocol in the evaluation of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary system; spleen, kidneys, pancreas, and great abdominal vessels; as well as their normal sonographic anatomy and abnormal imaging findings.

Who Should Attend

  • Radiographers practising ultrasound
  • Healthcare professionals (such as sonographers, A&E clinician, radiologist residents etc.) involved in ultrasound work
Prerequisites

Participants must have relevant ultrasound related experience (preferably at least 1 year of working experience as an independent sonographer).

Candidates must have the required access to a medical ultrasound facility to develop competency in the respective clinical applications. They must be actively engaged in supervised ultrasound clinical practice in the workplace for at least three days (or equivalent) per week. It is the candidate's responsibility to secure a supervised clinical arrangement in the workplace. At the end of the trimester, candidates must satisfy the clinical requirements (i.e., compulsory logging of the required number of ultrasound examinations in the clinical portfolio and pass the clinical skills assessment).

Documents and information you would need to complete this application:

Please upload documents under Online Applications - Supporting Documents section.

  • Employment support letter (Includes applicant's area of work)*
  • Registration of practice, AHPC
  • Transcript of highest relevant qualification*
  • Professional certification
  • English proficiency test, IELTS 7.0 or equivalent^
  • Answers to the following questions:
    • Your reasons for pursuing the module (100 - 150 words)
    • Why did you select SIT over other academic institutions? (100 - 150 words)
    • What do you hope to achieve at the completion of the module? (100 - 150 words)

* Mandatory Documents
^ If applicant's basic professional qualification was not obtained from Singapore, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States of America)

Haja Mydin
"This course was very helpful in reinforcing my knowledge of abdominal ultrasound concepts - A&P structure/function/normal vs abnormal sonographic appearance and pathologies. The hands-on practical sessions were useful in improving my scanning techniques."
Chen Zheng Xiang
Radiographer, Raffles Hospital
Avatar Female
"This course is not only for the beginners but it is good chance for the experimental sonographers to refresh their knowledge. Very capsular modules, just adequate! Organisers did a great job."
Betty Mathew
Principal Radiographer, SATA CommHealth
Avatar Female
"This course enabled me to learn basics in sonography scanning techniques for the abdomen. Anatomy and physiology were also refreshed pre-scan so as to better correlate the image and actual anatomy."
Vanessa Lam
Radiographer, Gleneagles Hospital

What You Will Learn

  • Critically evaluate the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of abdominal pathology

  • Acquire hands-on ultrasound scanning skills of the abdomen include Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examinations and perform ultrasound examination proficiently and competently

  • Discuss the normal and abnormal imaging characteristics of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary system, kidneys, adrenals, spleen, pancreas, and peritoneal cavity

  • Explain the significance of clinical presentation and laboratory tests as well as complimentary imaging modalities relevant to hepato-biliary and kidney systems for refinement of differential diagnosis

  • Critically discuss the limitation of ultrasound in regards to abdominal ultrasound imaging and recognise when modifications to routine scanning approaches are required

Teaching Team

Ooi Chin Chin
Ooi Chin Chin

Associate Professor, Health and Social Sciences, Singapore Institute of Technology

View profile

Schedule

Week Topics External Speakers
Week 1 Introduction to Abdominal Ultrasound
  1. Rajneesh Kumar
    Senior Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital

  2. Paul Weng Wan
    Consultant, Singapore General Hospital

  3. Lee Fang Jann
    Senior Consultant, Farrer Park Hospital

  4. Denise Lau Simin
    Senior Principal Radiographer, Singapore General Hospital

  5. Azizah Bte Mohamed Afif
    Senior Principal Radiographer, Singapore General Hospital

  6. Denise Choong
    Principal Radiographer, National University Hospital

  7. Melati Dewi Ali
    Principal Radiographer, National University Hospital, Singapore

  8. Khoo Pei Jia
    Senior Sonographer, Gleneagles Hospital Singapore

  9. Kho Ying Ying
    Senior Principal Radiographer, Singapore General Hospital

  10. Lim Sze Ying
    Senior Consultant Radiologist, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital

  11.  
Week 2 Anatomy of the upper abdomen (aorta, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, CBD, portal vein, kidneys & adrenal, and spleen)
Week 3 The liver: Indication, patient preparation, scanning technique, protocol, and image documentation
Week 4 The gallbladder and biliary system
Week 5

The renal tracts (kidneys, ureters, bladders) and adrenals
Case-based Tutorial 1

Week 6 - 7 Workshop: Abdominal Ultrasound
Week 8

The spleen: Indication, patient preparation, scanning technique, protocol, and image documentation
Case assignment (20%)

Week 9 The pancreas: Indication, patient preparation, scanning technique, protocol, and image documentation
Week 10 The peritoneum and retroperitoneum
Week 11

FAST in trauma
Case-based Tutorial 2
Ergonomics awareness for sonographers/ultrasound practitioners

Week 12 Review/Revision
Week 13 VIVA/OSCE (30%)
Week 14 - 15 Quiz
Week 16 Processing of Results/Announcement

Certificate and Assessment

A Certificate of Participation will be issued to participants who

  • Attend at least 75% of the module
  • Undertake non-credit bearing assessment during the module
     

A Certificate of Attainment will be issued to participants who

  • Attend at least 75% of the module, and
  • Candidates who pass the Assessment criteria of the respective module will earn 6 credits, which are stackable for Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma qualifications
  • Candidates who pass 4 modules (totalling 24 credits) with a CGPA of 2.5 or more will be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Sonography by Singapore Institute of Technology
  • Candidates who pass 8 modules (totalling 48 credits) with a CGPA of 2.5 or more will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Sonography by Singapore Institute of Technology

Fee Structure

The full fee for this course is S$4,251.00.

Category After SF Funding
Singapore Citizen (Below 40) S$1,275.30
Singapore Citizen (40 & Above) S$495.30
Singapore PR / LTVP+ Holder S$1,275.30
Non-Singapore Citizen S$4,251.00 (No Funding)


Note: All fees above include GST. GST applies to individuals and Singapore-registered companies.

Course Runs

There are no upcoming course runs at the moment.

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Learning Pathway

postgradsonography

Earn a Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma

The Postgraduate Qualifications in Sonography is designed with a clinical focus to deepen and broaden the skills of allied health professionals, enabling them to apply scientific learning, specialist knowledge and advanced practical skills to the clinical applications of ultrasound specialisation.

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