Point-of-care Ultrasound

Department
Emergency Medicine
Course Number
EMED 517
Course Title Point-of-care Ultrasound
Course Director
Makoto Tanigawa, MD
Length (Weeks)

2

When Offered

All year except weeks 2-5, 22-23, 26-27, 36-39

Prerequisites

MED 305, SURG 303

Availability Notes

Two week elective is open to all students on a first come, first served basis.

Contact Name
Julia Plant
Contact Phone
Contact Fax
Contact Email
jplant@mfa.gwu.edu
Other Contacts

Dr. Tanigawa (mtanigawa@mfa.gwu.edu)

Location

George Washington University Hospital, Emergency Department

Limit
2
Report

Contact course coordinator

Evaluation

Objective Standardized Clinical Exam (OSCE); participation in Journal Club and QA sessions; preparedness for scanning shifts; oral presentation (see details below)

Grading: Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail

  • Pass: Present for the required scan shifts, QA sessions, Journal Clubs. Demonstrates technical improvement throughout rotation. Professional, team-oriented behavior, considerate patient interactions.
  • High Pass: Meets “Pass” standards. Consistently demonstrates evidence of outside reading and preparation. Actively adds to discussion at QA and Journal Club. Asks thoughtful questions to advance knowledge base. Demonstrates proficiency in cardiac, thoracic, and FAST exams at the end-of-rotation OSCE*. Exceptional professionalism and patient rapport.
  • Honors: Meets “High Pass” standards. Also demonstrates a dedication to mastery of POCUS theory and technical skill through additional time outside of required shifts and assignments. Integrates POCUS concepts into clinical care at level of resident. Seeks instruction in advanced applications.

*In the event that the student cannot perform a listed technical objective on the OSCE, they will be coached to success during the OSCE. Knowledge-based insufficiencies during the OSCE will prompt a review at the bedside and written summary of learning points by the student.

Description

An introduction to point-of-care, or bedside, ultrasound (POCUS) where students will learn the basics of emergency ultrasound assessment, including FAST, echocardiogram, lung, gallbladder, aorta, renal, pelvic, soft tissue, and vascular modalities.

Students will achieve this through hands-on scanning with faculty and/or residents, reading of assigned materials, and Journal Club/conference participation. The elective is two weeks for all rotators.

Two week rotation will require:

  • Assigned reading from our text and FOAMed resources
  • 10 hours of quality assurance review and education regarding the prior week's ultrasounds
  • 56 hours of bedside scanning (with attending supervision, fellow supervision, and solo scan sessions)
  • +/- Journal Club (if it falls within the dates of your rotation)
  • 75 scans which meet credentialing criteria
  • Evaluation with OSCE including knobology, FAST, cardiac, thoracic exams and related artifacts
  • 20 minute presentation on an ultrasound topic of your choice to be delivered on the second Monday of your rotation

Feedback will be given in real time at the bedside by the ultrasound faculty, ultrasound fellows, and other attending and residents facile with the use of emergency ultrasound. Digital still and video images will be reviewed for technique, image acquisition and interpretation. Evaluation will be based on completion of above expectations, evidence of completion of required readings, and overall engagement on the rotation. 

Students will be admitted on a first come, first served basis, with secondary preference to those pursuing emergency medicine or critical care-related specialties.

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Describe indications and limitations of POCUS.
  2. Identify relevant ultrasound anatomy.
  3. Perform standard POCUS protocols.
  4. Recognize pathologic findings and pitfalls.
Additional Notes

Applications:

  • Physics & Knobology
  • Trauma
  • Cardiac
  • Thoracic
  • Aorta
  • Biliary
  • Renal
  • Bowel
  • First Trimester Pregnancy
  • Soft Tissue & MSK
  • DVT
  • Ocular
  • Vascular Access

Required/Recommended Materials:

  • Required: N95 and eye protection
  • Recommended: scrubs, comfortable shoes