Echo Boards in 3rd year

[Angioplasty]

I am planning to take Echo boards at the end of 3rd year. Can you please advise whether it is a good idea to take echo boards and CV boards in the same year? Should I only focus on getting the CV boards first and think about Echo boards later?

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[dragonfly99]

I would like to hear opinions on this too.
I would like to take an informal poll. Do fellows @your program usually take echo boards? Do some take it but not most? Do most take it?
Also, I'd like to hear people's opinions about the necessity of taking echo boards if one is NOT going into academics. Will it be expected and/or help with getting a noninvasive cardiology job? Or is it just something to do if you are an academic sub-subspecialist (cardiovascular imaging).

Personally, I've only seen 1 person take it @my program and this was one of the interventional fellows. He's going into private practice and felt like it would help him.

 

[Misterpeppers]

at my program, only people taking echo boards are ones going into academics with imaging focus. On the other hand, almost everyone going into private practice seems to take nuclear boards-not sure if thats a necessity either

 

[inspirationmd]

On my Cards Sub I during my 4th year, the 3rd year fellow was studying for and took Echo boards during my month on. He was staying on to do an EP fellowship and so I asked why he cared about it. His opinion was while it was pretty useless for him from a practice standpoint: 1) he thought it wouldn't be that hard and 2) it was an additional feather in his hat for when he applies for a job so why not. Can't remember if he was planning to do academia or private practice.

Purely anecdotal but thought I would offer it up.

 

[supp-2]

At my program, the majority of non-academic imaging types are not taking echo boards though its shifting a little bit.

I'm torn on the issue. Private practice traditionally hasn't required it, but IMO, the direction of medicine seems to dictate that that may change..

Some local private practice groups (as imaging reimbursements are getting squeezed) are only having boarded imagers in their group read. They say its for liability reasons (which may be somewhat true) but moreso because the old-timers in the group can use that to control the imaging money.

Also, as the hospital employed trend goes forward it will only take one random committee of our nurse bosses to be like "only echo boarded physicians should read echos." To our nurse bosses that makes sense, right?

Then there is the tightening job market where being echo/nuc boarded can only help in getting a job.

So it's a hassle, it's extra money and time, but I'm starting to try and prep myself into the idea that maybe it's best to get it done and over with my third year.

Going forward, private practice will be much more regulated by nurse bosses, medicare/mediciad reimbursements or even the governing bodies.. Wouldn't surprise me if the ASE states that they "recommend" only echo boarded readers can read which may influence reimbursement.

 

[Trifling Jester]

About half the fellows at my program take the echo boards in the beginning of 3rd year. Not sure how many take it after graduation. Considerably fewer take the nuc boards.

-The Trifling Jester

 

[EPADHA]

Hey, At my program almost half of the third year fellows take the echo boards. This year we had 2/4 third years and 3/4 of graduating fellows take boards. With board certification in echo being mandated by 2015 or so, and that its easier to read as a fellow than as an attending it might be a good idea to take the boards during fellowship.
Fellows in the EP track in my institution don't take the boards.
I will be a third year next year and will take the boards.

 

[punk]

One of my friends took it at end of second year. I am planning on taking it at the end of third year. Exams are an opportunity to read more about in a systematic way. Plus to me it makes sense as I want to be a noninvasive cardiologist with focus on imaging

 

[NDESTRUKT]

Private practice often want cardiologists to be nuclear certified because it reimburses a lot.

 

[Aaron Earles]

The third year fellows in my program took the ECHO boards at the beginning of their third year. They just took the nuclear boards last week as well. One of them is going to do EP and the other is going into practice at the end of the year. The ECHO boards are really tough.