Pee Dee Echo Training Continues to Grow in North Carolina Via Videoconferencing

The Pee Dee Echo Society, under the leadership of McLeod Regional Medical Center chief echo sonographer Sherry Gibson, provides continuing professional development through case studies to registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers once a quarter. This training was initially provided in-house to staff and has expanded to other facilities via videoconferencing technology. Viewing sites include McLeod Seacoast (Little River, SC), McLeod Medical Center-Dillon (Dillon, SC), New Hanover Regional Medical Center (Wilmington, NC), and host site McLeod Regional Medical Center (Florence, SC). The newest facility to join the Pee Dee AHEC training is Boice Willis Clinic in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

This collaboration was coordinated by Kay Lambert, Pee Dee AHEC Allied Health Education Coordinator, with the assistance of Area L AHEC in Rocky Mount, NC, who provided the videoconferencing equipment and viewing site for training their area sonographers. The impetus for this collaboration originated with a sonographer, Njeri Mendenhall, RDCS, who moved to North Carolina from Florence and desired to be a part of the training again. Connections were established and the Boice Willis sonographers attended their first training session in March.

Ms. Mendenhall stated, “I missed the relaxed atmosphere and ease of learning that the Pee Dee Echo Society provided. Everyone learns from each other. After I graduated from the Sentara School of Health Professions in Chesapeake, Virginia, I shortly joined the staff at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence, SC. At this time, I attended continuing education programs as a part of my professional healthcare career and continued for 8 years there. I’m so glad to be a part of this training again with the use of videoconference technology and to receive professional continuing education credits.”

The next training for the Pee Dee Echo Society will be held on June 2 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Register to attend at www.peedeeahec.net.

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