Point-of-care Ultrasound

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.