Leading the way in ultrasound credentialing

Ultrasound is a crucial tool for timely and accurate diagnosis of endometriosis, yet variability in scanning capability, techniques and interpretation has led to inconsistent patient outcomes.

The University of Adelaide's endometriosis study group, led by Professor Louise Hull and Dr Jodie Avery and supported by the Robinson Research Institute, are establishing a credentialing program to standardise and recognise competency in endometriosis ultrasound.

Under Professor Hull, the team has been developing a diagnostic tool using machine learning called IMAGENDO^TM to enable more accurate diagnosis and reporting on the signs of endometriosis during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Transvaginal Ultrasound scans.

This new credentialing tool, named AIMEE (which stands for AI Mentoring for Endometriosis Ultrasound Education) will complement and improve the quality of scans fed into IMAGENDO^TM by providing structured training and certification for healthcare professionals performing endometriosis ultrasounds.

"A standardised credentialing system, like AIMEE, is essential for ensuring best patient outcomes and maximising the effectiveness of MBS funding," said Professor Hull.

"It provides a structured training pathway tailored to different experience levels, staged learning modules to support beginners without overwhelming them and milestone-based assessment and accreditation, with certification at key stages.

"It will also give assisted real-time feedback, acting as a virtual mentor when expert supervision is unavailable."

Endometriosis, where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb, affects at least one in seven women or people assigned female at birth.

AIMEE has been co-designed with global healthcare experts and is in its final prototype stage, with the study group expecting it to be market-ready later this year.

PhD student and specialist sonographer Alison Deslandes said recent research by the group had identified the need to improve diagnostic consistency.

"AIMEE will enhance patient care by reducing the risk of misdiagnosed or missed endometriosis cases and ensuring all publicly funded ultrasound services meet the highest standards," she said.

"It will allow GPs, gynaecologists, and fertility specialists to confidently rely on ultrasound reports for clinical decision-making and establish clear career pathways for imaging professionals specialising in endometriosis."

This comes as the Federal Government announced a new Medicare Benefits Schedule item specific to endometriosis ultrasounds.

"This is a significant step forward for people with endometriosis, many of whom face high out-of-pocket medical costs," said Professor Hull.

“This announcement also underscores the urgent need for a robust credentialing framework to ensure the highest standards of imaging practice.

"Our work has also focused on reviewing imaging tools for diagnosis, outlining strengths and weaknesses and identifying key challenges in diagnosis faced by GPs and primary healthcare providers," said Dr Avery.

"This work is ongoing as we launch a large-scale study on adolescent endometriosis."