A senior sonographer who has played a key role in Monash Health’s pioneering work in training doctors in the use of ultrasound has been recognised for her work.
Carolynne Cormack was last week named the Victorian Sonographer of the Year for her achievements in publication and teaching, particularly through the Point of Care Ultrasound Program (POCUS).
Monash Health Sonographer-in-Charge Peter Coombs said Carolynne had nurtured, grown, and published evidence about the program, which is now a model used by other health services across Australia.
“Carolynne is innovative and collaborative in this medical education space, helping to establish new skills and clinical standards in the workplace,” Peter said. “Under her leadership, this program has grown significantly, and hundreds of doctors and clinicians have been trained.”
Joining Monash Health nearly 20 years ago, Carolynne became interested in educating other clinicians as portable and handheld devices began revolutionising clinical assessment at the patient ‘point of care’.
“Ultrasound is a complex skill that requires dedicated training, and our POCUS program provides training and credentialing for doctors using portable ultrasound in their clinical practice,” Carolynne explained.
Hundreds of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in Emergency, Intensive Care, Gastroenterology, and other departments have engaged with the program over the past decade. This has been an important quality and safety initiative.
“We have lots of situations where there is a need for quick assessments that will help doctors rule diagnoses in and out, such as fluid in bellies, or around the heart, so knowing how to properly use and understand ultrasound can be life-saving,” Carolynne said.
Monash Health employs about 70 sonographers across different sites. Essentially, sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to capture, interpret and selectively record anatomical images based on requests from doctors.
Sonographers perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations across a range of areas including abdomen, chest, breast, cardiac, musculoskeletal, obstetrics and gynaecological, paediatric, small parts, and vascular.
“Sonographers can come from a range of backgrounds – many have degrees in medical imaging and radiology, others come from nursing, paramedicine, and allied health, and some from biomedicine,” Carolynne said. “It’s a great career in a really stimulating area.”
