Overview

The Vascular Interpretation & RPVI Registry Review Online Course is a comprehensive review for those planning to take The Alliance for Physician Certification and Advancement (APCA) Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) Certification Exam, a credential required to be eligible for the American Board of Surgery’s Vascular Surgery Qualifying Examination. This online course is in a modular, interactive format and includes comprehensive lectures presented by expert faculty covering a variety of concepts that will improve vascular imaging interpretation and deepen understanding of diagnostic criteria. Concepts covered include Physics, Carotid Imaging, TCD Exams, Abdominal Aorta & Endograft Imaging, Abdominal Visceral Duplex, Peripheral Arterial Testing (Direct & Indirect), Peripheral Venous Testing (including insufficiency), QA, Safety & Bioeffects. The online course integrates 135 interactive case presentations, and provides a log of completed cases of which 100 can be used to meet the APCA Clinical Vascular Ultrasound Experience prerequisite. Additionally, the online course includes four mock examinations to simulate the certification exam experience.

Enrollment is valid for 12 months (365 days) unlimited access and begins the moment the participant is enrolled. All participants are also invited to join our exclusive GCUS Registry Review Facebook Group, a benefit unique to GCUS. This private group provides daily guidance, support & motivation as you prepare for this rigorous exam.

The GCUS Registry Review PASS Guarantee offers you extended access (90 days) to the online review course if you do not pass your registry exam after completing the online review course. Just send us a copy of your exam score (registry exam must be taken within six months of our review) and we’ll grant you the 90-day access extension to the online course review.

Important information for didactic case interpretation log: The APCA requires the applicant to document vascular interpretation experience in a clinical diagnostic setting with a minimum of 500 cases interpreted (see APCA website for full description of requirement). No more than 100 of these 500 cases may be didactic or simulated cases. During this online course, you will have the opportunity to participate in the didactic interpretation of over 100 cases. If you wish to receive a signed log of these cases, you must participate in the cases using the Slido link within each module that contains interactive cases and questions. Slido will record your responses and allow us to verify your participation in order to provide you with this signed case log. You MUST provide a response to every question in order to submit your responses and document your participation for the case log.

Before launching any module that contains case studies, please click on the Slido link to open in a separate browser.

In addition to the case log, the APCA also requires you submit a letter from Gulfcoast Ultrasound ensuring the case interpretation criteria as listed on the APCA website have been met.

To receive both your signed case log and the interpretation criteria letter, please email us at learn@gcus.com once you have fully completed this online course. In the email, please include your full name as it will appear on your APCA application, the email address used to register for this online course, and the date you completed this online course. We will email you the completed case log and letter within 3 business days.

Date of Original Release: 7/17/2023

This edition valid for credit through: 7/17/2026

1 year/365 days of Unlimited Access from date of purchase. Expires on 4/19/2025 if purchased today.

Code: OC-RPVI231
ID: 6905

Topics

Hemodynamic Principles and Doppler Fundamentals
Instrumentation: Transducers, Imaging Modes, and Artifacts
Normal Carotid Anatomy, Waveforms, and Scan Protocol
Abnormal Carotid Waveform: Characteristics & Diagnostic Criteria
Abnormalities of the Vertebrobasilar System & TCD
Integration of Data: Carotid Interpretation and Reporting
Abdominal Aorta and Aortic Endografts
Peripheral Arterial: Indirect Physiologic Exams and Arterial Duplex/Color Flow Imaging
Arterial Grafts and Intraoperative Duplex/Color Flow Imaging
Arterial Assessment: Upper Extremities
Abdominal Visceral Duplex: Renal, Mesenteric & Hepatic
Peripheral Venous: Protocols and Methods to Detect DVT
Venous Insufficiency and Physiologic Testing
Venous Imaging: Upper Extremities
Quality Assurance, Safety and Bioeffects
Interactive Mock Exams
135 Interactive Carotid, Peripheral Arterial, Peripheral Venous, and Abdominal Aorta & Visceral Case Studies (log of case studies provided upon completion)

Objectives

Increase the participants’ knowledge and competence to perform/ interpret vascular ultrasound examinations and/or successfully take the RPVI certification exam.
Analyze Doppler/Color physics factors that affect optimal Doppler examinations and commonly seen Doppler/Color artifacts, which may affect diagnostic accuracy.
Recognize normal/abnormal imaging, spectral Doppler and Color Doppler findings seen with carotid, peripheral arterial, and venous disease.
Cite the role of indirect testing in the evaluation of lower extremity arterial disease.
Apply diagnostic criteria for evaluation of carotid, peripheral venous and arterial disease.
Interpret complex carotid and peripheral vascular case studies in an interactive interpretation session format.
Recognize normal/abnormal imaging, spectral Doppler and Color Doppler findings seen with abdominal visceral (renal, mesenteric, and hepatic) evaluations.
Recognize ultrasound findings associated with aortic endograft leaks.
Differentiate normal and abnormal spectral Doppler characteristics associated with dialysis access graft evaluations.
Integrate the key diagnostic elements into a structured report.
Increase confidence to incorporate protocols, techniques, and diagnostic criteria to improve diagnosis/treatment accuracy.

Tuition

Registration: $525.00

(12 Months Unlimited Access)

Audience

Physicians, nurse practitioners, PA’s, sonographers, or other medical professional involved with performing/interpreting vascular ultrasound examinations, and/or preparing to take their RPVI certification examination. Sonographers and other medical professionals may also attend to improve vascular ultrasound diagnostic skills. Physician participants may include (but is not limited to): radiology, internal medicine, primary care, vascular surgery, general surgery, neurology, and cardiology.

Faculty

Marsha M. Neumyer BS, RVT, FSDMS, FSVU, FAIUM

Assistant Professor of Surgery at Penn State’s College of Medicine.
Former Director of the Vascular Lab Section of the Penn State Vascular Institute, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
International Director of Vascular Diagnostic Educational Services
Director and CEO of Vascular Resource Associates.
Past President of the Society of Vascular Technology and a founding member of the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL)
Fellow of the Society of Vascular Technology
Fellow and member of the Board of Governors of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
1997 recipient of the Joan Baker Pioneer Award given by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Ultrasound Consultant for Unetixs Vascular Inc.
Hershey, Pennsylvania.
GUI QI Task Force Subcommittee
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Robert Atnip MD, RVT, RPVI

Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery and Radiology
Division of Vascular Surgery
The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
The College of Medicine
The Pennsylvania State University
GUI QI Task Force Subcommittee
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Faculty Disclosure
Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute, Inc.adheres to ACCME Essential Areas, Standards, and Policies regarding industry support of CME. Speakers will disclose any relevant commercial relationships prior to the start of the educational activity.

Content Validation
All presentations for this CME activity were reviewed and approved by members of the GUI CME Review Committee to determine content validity and to ensure that no conflicts of interest exist prior to the activity commencement or material compilation.

Disclosure of Individuals in Control of Content
In addition to the faculty listed the following individuals are recognized by GUI as being in control of content of this program:

James Mateer, MD, RDMS (Medical Director-planner, QI Task Force Subcommittee)
Medical Director, Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute
Milwaukee, WI
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Charlotte Derr, MD, RDMS, FACEP, FPD-AEMUS (Co-Medical Director-planner & QI Task Force Subcommittee)
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Fellowship Director of Advanced Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellowship Program
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Tampa, FL
No relevant financial relationships to disclose

Andreas Dewitz, MD, RDMS (Member of Advisory Board & QI Task Force Subcommittee)
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Vice Chair of Ultrasound Education
Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA.
No relevant financial relationships to disclose

Lori Green, BA, RDMS, RDCS, RVT (Program Director - planner, Content Reviewer, QI Task Force Subcommittee)
Program Director and President,
Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute, Inc.
St Petersburg, FL.
No relevant financial relationships to disclose

Trisha Reo, AAS, RDMS, RVT (Program Coordinator - planner, Content Reviewer, QI Task Force Subcommittee)
Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute, Inc.
St Petersburg, FL.
No relevant financial relationships to disclose

Disclosure of Commercial Support
There was no commercial support involved in the planning, development/implementation of this activity.

Credits (Optional with additional purchase)

The Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute designates this internet activity enduring material for a maximum of 20.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This course also meets CME/CEU requirements for ARDMS. Note: While offering the CME credit hours noted above, activities are not intended to provide extensive training or certification for exam performance or interpretation.