Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) infrastructure is the underpinning of a well integrated POCUS program. In order to achieve its full potential and fully integrate into the health care system, a POCUS program requires a robust and resilient infrastructure. The essential components of POCUS infrastructure are hardware, software, and an informed, well-integrated governance structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is little to no data evaluating long term usage of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) after a training intervention for medical students. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an intensive POCUS training program on medical student's usage at 9-months post-program.
Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of rising second year medical students who participated in a 2-week summer POCUS training program.
Objective: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a core component of emergency medicine (EM) residency training. No standardized competency-based tool has gained widespread acceptance. The ultrasound competency assessment tool (UCAT) was recently derived and validated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is the leading cause of cardiovascular hospitalizations in the United States. Detecting B-lines through lung ultrasound (LUS) can enhance clinicians' prognostic and diagnostic capabilities. Artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-based automated guidance systems may allow novice users to apply LUS to clinical care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess family physicians' change in knowledge and ability to perform abdominal aorta ultrasound after implementation of a novel teleultrasound curriculum.
Methods: This was a prospective, observational study conducted at a single academic institution. Family physicians completed a preassessment, test, and objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE).
Introduction: While gamification of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is well received by learners, little is known about the knowledge gained from material taught during these events. We set out to determine whether a POCUS gamification event improved knowledge of interpretation and clinical integration of POCUS.
Methods: This was a prospective observational study of fourth-year medical students who participated in a 2.
Introduction: While a large amount of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) undergraduate medical education research exists, very little assesses the effectiveness of teaching on the student's ability to utilize POCUS within a clinical context. We set out to assess the ability of pre-clinical (second year) medical students to perform and interpret a parasternal long axis (PSLA) cardiac ultrasound view, and to diagnose a pericardial effusion on POCUS in a simulated patient with hypotension.
Methods: This was a prospective study assessing second-year medical students before and after focused cardiac POCUS instruction.
Objective As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use grows, training in graduate medical education (GME) is increasingly needed. We piloted a multispecialty GME POCUS curriculum and assessed feasibility, knowledge, and comfort with performing POCUS exams. Methods Residents were selected from the following residency programs: internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and a combined internal medicine/pediatrics program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), traditionally, requires the proximity of learners and educators, making POCUS education challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. We set out to evaluate three alternate approaches to teaching POCUS in UME. Sessions progressed from an online seminar to a remote, interactive simulation to a "progressive dinner" style session, as precautions evolved throughout the pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely used in the emergency department (ED). Not all practicing emergency physicians received POCUS training during residency, leaving a training gap that is reflected in POCUS privileging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success of meeting privileging criteria as well as associated factors, following implementation of a basic POCUS training and privileging program within a large emergency medicine department.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoint of care ultrasound (POCUS) use in the emergency department is associated with improved patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction. When used for procedural guidance, it has been shown to increase first pass success and decrease complications. As of 2012, ultrasound has been identified as a core skill required for graduating emergency medicine (EM) residents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBuilding and maintaining a successful point-of-care ultrasound program is a complex process that involves establishing an ecosystem between three unique but overlapping domains: ultrasound equipment, ultrasound users, and the health care system. By highlighting the different areas of focus and each of the key stakeholders and components, a group can ensure adequate attention is paid to all aspects of point-of-care ultrasound program development in nephrology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the current state of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) integration in undergraduate medical education (UME) at MD-granting medical schools in the United States.
Method: In 2020, 154 clinical ultrasound directors and curricular deans at MD-granting medical schools were surveyed. The 25-question survey collected data about school characteristics, barriers to POCUS training implementation, and POCUS curriculum details.
Purpose: To analyze the application of a lung ultrasound (LUS)-based diagnostic approach to patients suspected of COVID-19, combining the LUS likelihood of COVID-19 pneumonia with patient's symptoms and clinical history.
Methods: This is an international multicenter observational study in 20 US and European hospitals. Patients suspected of COVID-19 were tested with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab test and had an LUS examination.
In 2014, over 60% of medical schools were incorporating point of care ultrasound (POCUS) into their curriculum. Today, over 6 years later, many more schools are teaching POCUS or are in the planning stages of implementing a POCUS curriculum. In 2019, the AAMC reported that 53 schools or over one-third of US medical schools have multi-site campuses for undergraduate medical education.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives Lack of faculty skill and confidence in performing and teaching point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) remains a significant barrier to implementation of a longitudinal ultrasound curriculum in undergraduate medical education. Our objective was to assess faculty comfort, knowledge and skill with performing and teaching POCUS before and after a focused workshop. Methods This was a prospective study assessing faculty from multiple specialties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Systematic Sonography Looking for Occult Wounds (SSLOW) in trauma is a novel technique for the evaluation of intra-abdominal wounds in penetrating trauma. No data exist regarding the effectiveness. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the SSLOW exam.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The timely evaluation of ocular conditions in the emergency department (ED) can be difficult due to a general lack of specialized equipment, trained personnel, and the time-sensitive nature of emergent ocular conditions. Recently, the use of ocular point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been shown to be particularly useful in the ED. POCUS can be used to promptly diagnose various ocular pathologies, which include ocular trauma, vitreous hemorrhage, central retinal artery occlusion, and retinal detachment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: The goal of this study was to determine the number of scans needed for novice learners to attain proficiency in B-line quantification compared with expert interpretation.
Methods And Results: This was a prospective, multicentre observational study of novice learners, physicians and non-physicians from three academic institutions. Learners received a 2 h lung ultrasound (LUS) training session on B-line assessment, including lecture, video review to practice counting and hands-on patient scanning.
Point-of-care ultrasound has become an integral part of the evaluation of monocular vision loss. Most commonly, it has been used to evaluate retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and posterior vitreous detachment. Point-of-care ultrasound can also be used to evaluate central retinal arterial occlusion, whereby a retrobulbar spot sign is present.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltrasound has become an important skill for emergency physicians. Ultrasound is more crucial in resource-limited settings where diagnostic testing may not be as timely or available at all. In 2015, an emergency medicine ultrasound curriculum was implemented at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in Georgetown, Guyana.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Medical treatment for acute heart failure (AHF) has not changed substantially over the last four decades. Emergency department (ED)-based evidence for treatment is limited. Outcomes remain poor, with a 25% mortality or re-admission rate within 30days post discharge.
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