Echo Notebook

How is 8 different from 7?

Compared to 7, ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 8 is more up-to-date, contains a lot of new info, and has been refreshed & reorganized...but is still user-friendly!
New info in 8: cardiac equations page, instrumentation, right ventricular diastolic function, agitated saline study, ultrasound enhancement agent, blunt cardiac injury, cardiac devices, the current SE report recommendations, heart transplant, cardio-oncology, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, LV non-compaction cardiomyopathy, and more!
ECHO...THE WORKBOOK 8 has been completely reorganized with new multiple choice questions, matching, and coloring sections.

Who will benefit from ECHO…THE NOTEBOOK & THE WORKBOOK?

Cardiac sonography students.
Sonographers cross training into echocardiography.
Educators, DMS programs, CVT programs & OTJ training programs.
Registry-eligible cardiac sonographers.
Registered cardiac sonographers.

What are the steps to apply for the SDMS CME credits?

ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 8 & THE WORKBOOK 8 are approved by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Society (SDMS) as a self-instructional activity for 31 SDMS CME credits until 12/10/2025. In order to apply for CME credits:

Purchase ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 8 & THE WORKBOOK 8 (as a set).
Purchase the APPLICATION FOR 31 SDMS CME CREDITS.
Complete & submit the CME ANSWER SECTION 8 and evaluation form.
Score 75% or better and receive your CME certificate! If not, you get two more attempts.

Is SDMS membership required?

SDMS membership is not necessary.

Who accepts SDMS CME credits?

SDMS CME credits are accepted by ARDMS, CCI, ARRT, and Sonography Canada.

Are these good study guides for the ARDMS/CCI adult echo exam?

Yes! ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 8 contains a lot of the material on the adult echo exams, but not 100%. ECHO...THE WORKBOOK 8 has 1135 practice questions that coincide perfectly with ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 8 and improve retention of the material.

What makes ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK & THE WORKBOOK unique?

ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK & THE WORKBOOK are affordable, useful, and comprehensible by all. The outline format is packed with definitions, ASE/AHA updates, recommendations, sketches, diagrams, echo images, and summaries that bring a more simplistic & visual approach to learning. The questions include multiple choice, true/false, matching, and even coloring sections!

Does ECHO...THE WORKBOOK include an answer key?

ECHO...THE WORKBOOK is the post-test for the CME activity; therefore, it does not come with an answer key (even if you don't need CME credits). However, every single WORKBOOK question is answered in THE NOTEBOOK...you just need to read and you will find the answers! If you are a student, your instructor probably has the answer key and should be able to assist you in checking your answers.

What is ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK PowerPoint?

ECHO...THE NB 8 PowerPoint is a valuable teaching tool that corresponds with and supports ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 8. It comes on a flash drive and has 500+ colorful slides broken down into 21 chapters consisting of an outline of THE NOTEBOOK 8, every image & diagram, and 600+ interactive pop quiz questions with hidden answers. This is only for programs, schools, and approved OTJ programs!

What material is covered?

I. Normal Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology

II. Basic Embryology & Fetal Circulation

III. Intro to Transthoracic Echocardiogram

IVa/b. Transthoracic Echocardiogram/Diastology & More!

V. Transesophageal Echocardiogram

VI. Stress Echocardiogram

VII. Intro to Cardiac Catheterization

VIII. Valvular Heart Disease

IX. Prosthetic Heart Valves

X. Infective Endocarditis

XI. Ischemic Heart Disease

XII. Cardiomyopathy Disease States

XIII. Heart Failure

XIV. Myocarditis

XV. Pericarditis/Constrictive Pericarditis

XVI. Pericardial Effusion & Tamponade

XVII. Tumors, Thrombi, Missiles & More

XVIII. Disease of the Aorta

XIX. Intro to Congenital Heart Disease

XX. Intro to 3D Echocardiography & Real Time 3D (4DE)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In 1991, I earned a B.S. from Virginia Tech in Education, with a specialty in Exercise Science. I witnessed and fell in love with echo during my internship, so I enrolled in a CAAHEP CVT Program and specialized in Non-Invasive CVT.

Upon graduation in 1993, I worked full-time in a large, fast paced, very challenging lab with some amazing mentors! While there, I taught a CME course for a local community college (1995-1996) and published ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY...From a Technologist's Perspective (1st & 2nd Edition).

Next, I was the Non-Invasive Clinical Instructor for a CAAHEP CVT School (1998-1999) and published ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY...From a Sonographer's Perspective (3rd & 4th Edition). Following that, I was the Non-Invasive Educator/Technical Director for a large healthcare system where I prepared the application and helped achieve their first ICAEL accreditation.

After being exposed to many different aspects within the field of echocardiography, I believe I truly understood the importance and need for reliable, easy to understand educational tools. In the early 2000s, I published ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK (5th Edition) and started reaching out to programs, when they adopted my material - I just kept going! Luckily, I found my printer & shipping manager in 2006 and have been working with him ever since!

In 2011, I published ECHO…From a Sonographer's Perspective: THE NOTEBOOK 6 (& later 6.5) and the first ECHO...THE WORKBOOK. In 2012, I released ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 6.5 PowerPoint.

In January 2018, after years of research, writing, and editing, I published ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 7, THE WORKBOOK 7 & THE WORKBOOK 7 (Instructor Edition). Then in July 2018, ECHO…THE NB 7 PowerPoint was released.

In September 2022, after more research, writing, and editing, I published ECHO...THE NOTEBOOK 8, THE WORKBOOK 8, THE WORKBOOK 8 (Instructor Edition) & THE NB 8 PowerPoint.

FAQ