Red Dot X-Ray Interpretation Course

Red Dot X-Ray Interpretation Course

Course Focus

This Red Dot Course is designed specifically for Current Advanced Practice Practitioners including Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioners (or individuals working towards these roles) who are seeking to enhance confidence and improve their diagnostic assessment and accuracy. The course focuses on developing the skills needed to identify a range of acute pathologies on x-rays, including fractures, dislocations, chest abnormalities and more. Participants will build robust knowledge and improve their ability to flag potentially critical findings.

Learning Outcomes

The course will improve patient safety by reducing missed urgent findings, especially whilst waiting for report completion.

On successful completion, delegates will be able to:

• Explain the principles and purpose of the red dot system in Radiology, including it's role in the early identification of acute abnormalities.
• Identify key radiographic features of common acute pathologies, eg fractures, dislocations, pneumothorax.
• Use structured approaches (such as ABCs for trauma images) to review radiographic images systematically and minimise diagnostic oversight.
• Distinguish between normal anatomical variants and common pathological findings on Radiographs.
• Demonstrate clear and timely communication of urgent findings to the appropriate clinical teams, adhering to best practices in documentation and escalation.
• Recognise the limitations of the red dot system and understand when to seek further radiological or clinical input.
• Appreciate the impact of early abnormality detection on patient outcomes, workflow efficiency and overall quality of care.
• Critically evaluate personal performance in image interpretation.

Course Delivery

This course is delivered live and online via Zoom over two days. Delivery includes practical interactive image review sessions backed up with the theory of pattern recognition and the red dot system. Polling sessions and discussion plus breakout areas will also be utilised. There will be an assessment on day two of the course. More information on the course leads can be found here:

Edward Proctor

Alexandros Leontaritis

Course Suitability

Suitable for Current Advanced Practice Practitioners including Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioners or individuals working towards these roles. The delegate will need to have access to urgent/trauma cases and be rotating through an urgent care setup, for example A/E or a minor injuries unit.

Requirements for Course Access and Completion

Course access will require a PC/Mac desktop or laptop - minimum 14 inch screen, suitable for viewing and assessing images. Delegates will need to access the course from a quiet, lone working location without interruption due to the assessment on day two. A working webcam and microphone is also essential. Delegates will be unable to undertake the assessment if the above requirements are unable to be met.

Delivery

The course is split into:

a) Theoretical Study (Ongoing evidenced theoretical knowledge - continual micro assessments).

b) Logbook (independent reflective practice in the delegate's department.

c) Assessment (evidenced application of theoretical knowledge and evidenced pattern recognition skills).

d) Reflective Writing (awareness of application and impact)

Course Programme

Day 1 (six hours contact time)

• Theory of Pattern Recognition and the Red Dot System.
• Application in the Axial Skeleton.
• Application in the Appendicular Skeleton.

Between Day 1 and Day 2: Completion of a 15 case logbook in delegate's department (15 cases). This will include:

• Basic clinical history of the case.
• Whether or not a red dot was applied to the case (delegate makes the decision without colleague input).
• Review by senior colleague.
• Whether senior colleague agreed or disagreed with delegate's initial choice of positive (red dot application) or negative finding and initialling/signature obtained.
• Perceived difficulty level 1-5 (by delegate) of the case.
• Comments by senior colleague and delegate, identifying any areas for improvement.

Day 2 (six hours contact time)

• Logbook Reviews.
• Image Theory Recap - Quiz.
• Red Flag and Incidental Findings.
• Image Viewing Preparation for Assessment (Variety of Axial and Appendicular Skeleton).
• Image Viewing Assessment (10 Axial, 10 Appendicular Cases).