Maintaining the Cardiac Sonographer Pipeline: A Regional Approach to Trainee Cardiac Sonographer Recruitment and Training that Rationalises use of Resource and Mitigates Impact on Echo Department Productivity

ABSTRACT

Background: It is historically difficult to recruit trained cardiac sonographers within New Zealand (NZ) and internationally. In NZ, the Northern Region DHBs have significant and on-going workforce shortages. Auckland metro DHBs have consistently used vacant qualified FTE to employ trainees and support them to obtain cardiac sonographer qualifications. The first few months of training require intensive one-on-one supervision. This reduces throughput as the supervisor is removed from the workforce. We sought to investigate how a combined approach to training, in the initial 6 weeks, would impact on trainees, trainers, and departments in terms of throughput. Method: Auckland Metro DHBs worked together, with NRA support, to plan and prepare a 6-week introduction program for trainees. Each DHB took responsibility for preparing and providing teaching materials for a 2-week block and planned to undertake the hands-on training for that period. They recruited and started 1 trainee each, concurrently. Results: COVID lockdown prevented trainees leaving their home DHB. They attended presentations by Zoom and provided constructive and generally positive feedback. The time commitment for each DHB and impact on throughput was reduced. Relationships between the DHBs and the trainees was enhanced. Conclusion: It is workable and advantageous for regional DHBs to work collaboratively when recruiting and training cardiac sonographers. This leads to economical use of time and resource, develops collegial relationships, and support networks for the trainees. With new technology, the reach of the teaching sessions could be expanded to include participants outside the region.