1: Why is training important?

The importance of training in fetal heart rate monitoring interpretation has long been recognised by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Royal College of Midwives as well as all the leading colleges overseas, but routine training has been difficult to implement on an individual basis.

The 7th annual CESDI report recommended that interactive computer based training should be available to staff involved in the management of labour.

The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) now insists that all maternity units in England verify that their clinical staff receive training in the management of high risk labours and CTG interpretation every 6 months.

2: What is the K2 Fetal Monitoring Training System?

The K2 Fetal Monitoring Training System is a computer based training system that can be accessed over the internet, anywhere, anytime, from within your own hospital or from home. It is a cost effective option compared to the high cost and inconvenience associated with traditional 'lecture based' training courses.

3: Buy the Training On-Line

The training can be purchased on an individual basis immediately online or it can be purchased on behalf of an entire hospital's perinatal staff. The cost of a site license is proportional to the number of deliveries in your hospital. More information can be found on our Buy Training page. Please contact our Sales Office for further information

4: Clinical Trial of the Training System

The training system has been proven to impart knowledge in a randomised controlled trial. Download a copy of the Clinical Trial Research Paper. This study has been published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, entitled 'The development and evaluation of computer-assisted teaching program for intrapartum monitoring'. September 2000, Vol 107: pp1138 - 1144.

5: Training System in 90% of UK Hospitals

The K2MS Fetal Monitoring Training System has become the de facto standard for teaching. Over 90% of UK hospitals are established users (UK map). The training system has also been well received in other countries around the world (World map) including Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

We have also launched the training system in America. (US FMTS Launch)

6a: 3 Components - Teaching

The K2 Fetal Monitoring Training System comprises of 3 separate components; two software applications and a certification service.

Achieved through an interactive computer package, the teaching material is broad and deep. It took over 5 years to produce and is extremely comprehensive. As well as CTG interpretation and labour management, it also covers the physiology underlying intrapartum fetal monitoring and perinatal asphyxia. Examples from real cases are presented to teach by example.

6b: 3 Components - Simulation

Achieved through presentation of real cases. The first time that you see an abnormal case should not be as it unfolds in front of you on the labour ward. We have built up a comprehensive database of over a thousand cases with normal CTG patterns with normal and very abnormal outcomes. These cases are presented to you in their entirety and you decide, blind to outcome, how they should be managed. When the case review is over you can compare your management with 3 independent experts and the actual clinical outcome. Ten cases are provided initially and every 6 months an additional 5 cases are sent so that over a period of time you are able to compile a significant database of interesting cases.

6bi: 3 Components - Simulation - NEW K2 Simulator 2.0

The K2MS Simulator 2.0 is now fully upgraded to embrace NICE guidelines and features exciting new functionality and management options. Classification of individual CTG features can be selected and an overall classification, in accordance with the NICE guidelines, is then automatically determined. INFANT® (link to INFANT page) technology is also embedded within the simulator providing its own interpretation for comparison which, together with expert analysis from independent clinicians and specialists, provides segment by segment feedback. Individuals can score and rate their own interpretations against the experts, and challenge them directly by being able to send comments and queries straight from Simulator 2.0. Queries are answered personally allowing each user to benefit from one to one support. Finally, an assessment mode allows the user to review cases with no feedback from either the experts, or INFANT®, thereby testing their own skill. Results can then be compared with those of the experts to assess how they got on. All scores and comparisons are stored for future reference.

Want to know more about the new simulator?

Want to know more about INFANT®?

6c: 3 Components - Certification

Each clinician that completes the training will receive a certificate of completion at each 6 monthly download of data. Each maternity unit receives a breakdown of their staff's progress. This conforms to the CNST standard 12.1.6.
Sample Report
Sample Certificate

7: Who will Benefit?

Everyone. There are currently over 100,000 registered clinicians using the package from the most junior to the most experienced. It has been rigorously tested in clinical trials and has been shown to improve core knowledge for all grades of doctors and midwives.

8: How long does it take?

The training is equivalent to 2 full days training at a lecture based course. However, unlike lecture courses, with the K2 training system you are free to learn at your own pace, in privacy, at a time that suits you. You can do as much or as little as you wish at each session and you do it in your hospital or at home, removing the need for travel.

9: What will I learn - Chapter 1

The physiology underlying intrapartum fetal monitoring and perinatal asphyxia.

Topics include: basic physiology, fetal responses to hypoxia, normal acid-based balance, disturbed acid-base balance, rationale and techniques for cord blood gas analysis.

10: What will I learn - Chapter 2

CTG interpretation and labour management.

Topics include: the purpose of monitoring, recognising the basic features of the CTG, abnormal CTG's and what to do, appropriate fetal blood sampling, labour management.

Chapter 2 also includes additional guidance on clarification of decelerations in accordance with the NICE guidelines. An additional section has also been included to demonstrate NICE guidelines on CTG interpretation covering categorisation of fetal heart rate traces.

11. New Chapters Coming Soon!

As well as the exciting new features of the training simulator, the training system itself will now also offers new teaching material covering an additional six topics.  These will include:

Errors & Limitations in Fetal Monitoring ....Coming Soon
Shoulder Dystocia ....Coming Soon
Breech....Coming Soon
Cord Presentation..... Coming Soon
Maternal Collapse.... Coming Soon
Human Factors.... Coming Soon

We will keep you posted with the launch dates of these new online learning chapters.