A coaching model for sonographers: enhancing skill competency in transcranial Doppler examinations

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Medical Imaging
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is vital for stroke prevention in pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD).
• Low compliance with annual TCD screening is linked to limited access and insufficient technologist training.
• Addressing these barriers is crucial for effective SCD management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the number of ultrasound technologists proficient in TCD for SCD care.
• To improve adherence to recommended annual TCD screening protocols.
• To reduce reliance on a limited number of expert sonographers.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement initiative at a children's hospital utilized a structured coaching model.
• Training involved one-on-one sessions, competency assessments, and hematology collaboration.
• Progress was tracked via surveys and control charts over 32 months.

Main Results:

• The percentage of TCD-competent sonographers increased from 21% to 58%.
• Reliance on a single expert technologist decreased from 42% to 3%.
• SCD patient TCD screening rates improved from 87% to 91%.

Conclusions:

• A coaching model effectively increased TCD-proficient technologists.
• The initiative significantly improved TCD screening rates for pediatric SCD patients.
• Enhanced technologist capacity supports better stroke risk management in SCD.