CARDIAC | Improving everyday practice
Tracks
209 | Cardiac GE Healthcare
| Friday, June 13, 2025 |
| 3:00 PM - 4:50 PM |
| 209 | Cardiac GE Healthcare |
Speaker
Mr Nikolas Jin Wang
Cardiac physiologist
Independent
Live scanning - How to perform an accurate assessment in a timely manner
4:10 PM - 4:50 PMAbstract
The increasing demand on cardiac sonographers to scan more patients often leads to stress and burnout, with speed prioritized over accuracy. This live scan session focuses on creating space to breathe and reflect by building a foundation of precision in scanning. By mastering accuracy first, efficiency and speed will naturally develop over time.
The session will cover three essential topics:
"Pause to Thrive: Building Breathing Space in Sonography"
Explore how a reflective, deliberate approach to scanning can reduce stress and improve workflow. This segment emphasizes prioritizing quality over quantity to create mental and physical space for sustainable practice.
"Reflections Perfected: The Role of Beam Perpendicularity in Ultrasound"
Learn how aligning the ultrasound beam perpendicularly to structures enhances image quality, reduces repeat scans, and saves time. This topic highlights the importance of beam positioning for achieving diagnostic precision.
"Landmark Your Way to Precision: The Echo Golden Rule"
Understand how systematic use of anatomical landmarks ensures accurate on-axis imaging. Practical techniques for tilt and rotation will be demonstrated to refine practice and improve outcomes.
Attendees will gain actionable insights into improving diagnostic accuracy while fostering balance and well-being. By reflecting on and perfecting their craft, sonographers can create the space they need to thrive professionally and personally.
The session will cover three essential topics:
"Pause to Thrive: Building Breathing Space in Sonography"
Explore how a reflective, deliberate approach to scanning can reduce stress and improve workflow. This segment emphasizes prioritizing quality over quantity to create mental and physical space for sustainable practice.
"Reflections Perfected: The Role of Beam Perpendicularity in Ultrasound"
Learn how aligning the ultrasound beam perpendicularly to structures enhances image quality, reduces repeat scans, and saves time. This topic highlights the importance of beam positioning for achieving diagnostic precision.
"Landmark Your Way to Precision: The Echo Golden Rule"
Understand how systematic use of anatomical landmarks ensures accurate on-axis imaging. Practical techniques for tilt and rotation will be demonstrated to refine practice and improve outcomes.
Attendees will gain actionable insights into improving diagnostic accuracy while fostering balance and well-being. By reflecting on and perfecting their craft, sonographers can create the space they need to thrive professionally and personally.
Biography
Mr Nikolas Jin Wang |
Cardiac physiologist Contractor
Nikolas Jin Wang is an accredited cardiac sonographer with over a decade of experience in the field. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound from Queensland University of Technology and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science. Currently working as a Cardiac Physiologist across Melbourne, Geelong, and Warrnambool. Nikolas provides high-standard care for cardiac patients. His expertise spans various aspects of cardiac care, including echocardiography, stress echocardiography, catheterization lab procedures, and cardiac device management. Nikolas has experience in mentoring and training registrars and junior staff. Previous active member of the Australian Sonographer Association's Cardiac Special Interest Group (SIG) committee. Nikolas has published in the Sonography Journal and serves as a POCUS enthusiast teaching in Barwon Health ICU. Nikolas is distinguished by his growth mindset and commitment to delivering optimal patient care. He continuously develops his professional skills and optimizes his workflow, making him a valuable contributor to the field of cardiac sonography.
Ms Kimberley Prince
Professional Development Manager
ASA-Australasian Sonographers Association
Image optimisation
3:00 PM - 3:20 PMAbstract
This is a fundamentals presentation on all things optimisation. This lecture is not just for new graduates and students, as experienced sonographers can always review tips on maintaining high image quality and it is not always easy. You will gain some tips on how to quickly adjust the image to hopefully improve qualities like, axis, gains, alignment in 2D, colour and Doppler. This presentation will demonstrate why image optimisation is so important.
Biography
Ms Kimberley Prince |
Australasian Sonographers Association & QUT
Kim is a lecturer for the Echocardiography degree at Central Queensland Cardiology. After working clinically for almost 20 years in cardiac sonography, Kim recently accepted a part time position with ASA on the professional development team. You could say Kim is passionate about education and now educating both students and qualified sonographers she is living the dream. Kim has experienced clinical work overseas and in both the public and private sectors in Australia. Kim had also been an examiner for the DMU for many years and a tutor for the QUT post graduate Echocardiography course.
Mr Nikolas Jin Wang
Cardiac physiologist
Independent
Speed vs. accuracy: mastering performance
3:20 PM - 3:40 PMAbstract
Mastering echo examination performance: How?
First, we have to address the "hasty" inner attitude itch. Can speed be the key to achieving your best practice? What is the trade-off against accuracy? We must take the time to "stop and think."
There is an increasing demand on cardiac sonographers, often due to advancements in technical requirements (measurements and imaging modalities) and a growing number of patients to be seen. Additionally, there has been a continuous need for improved performance by cardiac sonographers. So, how can we create space?
We need to evaluate whether our foundation has been solid or not. I will share pivotal points for contemplation that will guide you toward a rewarding and dynamic career.
First, we have to address the "hasty" inner attitude itch. Can speed be the key to achieving your best practice? What is the trade-off against accuracy? We must take the time to "stop and think."
There is an increasing demand on cardiac sonographers, often due to advancements in technical requirements (measurements and imaging modalities) and a growing number of patients to be seen. Additionally, there has been a continuous need for improved performance by cardiac sonographers. So, how can we create space?
We need to evaluate whether our foundation has been solid or not. I will share pivotal points for contemplation that will guide you toward a rewarding and dynamic career.
Biography
Mr Nikolas Jin Wang |
Cardiac physiologist Contractor
Nikolas Jin Wang is an accredited cardiac sonographer with over a decade of experience in the field. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound from Queensland University of Technology and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science. Currently working as a Cardiac Physiologist across Melbourne, Geelong, and Warrnambool. Nikolas provides high-standard care for cardiac patients. His expertise spans various aspects of cardiac care, including echocardiography, stress echocardiography, catheterization lab procedures, and cardiac device management. Nikolas has experience in mentoring and training registrars and junior staff. Previous active member of the Australian Sonographer Association's Cardiac Special Interest Group (SIG) committee. Nikolas has published in the Sonography Journal and serves as a POCUS enthusiast teaching in Barwon Health ICU. Nikolas is distinguished by his growth mindset and commitment to delivering optimal patient care. He continuously develops his professional skills and optimizes his workflow, making him a valuable contributor to the field of cardiac sonography.
Mr Chris Thomas
Director of QLD echocardiography
QLD Echocardiography
The cardiac sonographer – A deep dive. What makes us tick?
3:40 PM - 4:10 PMAbstract
Chris will delve into the concepts of what we do as a profession, and where it fits in in the grand scheme of cardiac healthcare. Are we clinicians? Do we have a clinical purpose greater than simply imaging the heart? Topics such as job satisfaction and being accountable for your work will be explored.
Biography
Mr Christopher Thomas |
Qld Echocardiography
Mr Christopher Thomas graduated from The University of Queensland in 1997 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement Studies. A Master of Scientific Studies was completed specialising in cardiac physiology and rehabilitation.
Mr Thomas made an 18-year contribution to the The Prince Charles Hospital’s Echocardiography Department, where he was considered an educational resource for the hospital’s staff and has vast experience in emergency and critical care scenarios. Mr Thomas has trained many specialist echocardiologists working in Australia and abroad.
Chris manages and is the senior cardiac sonographer at Queensland Echocardiography, a stand-alone and fully accredited echocardiography imaging service, the first of its kind in Queensland.
Chris pioneered locum cardiac sonography services in Queensland from 2002, and currently is still in wide demand over 2 states to provide expert level echocardiography services to a discerning cardiology customer base.
In addition to presenting his original research at the World Congress of Cardiology in 2002, Mr Thomas has been involved in countless research initiatives as new technologies arrived on to the market, such as ASD/VSD closure devices, ventricular assist devices and trans-catheter heart valve replacements/interventions.
