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Elhassan MG, Grewal S, Nezarat N. Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Internal Medicine: Limitations and Pitfalls for Novice Users. Cureus 2023; 15:e43655. [PMID: 37600433 PMCID: PMC10436027 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly being adopted in the field of internal medicine, leading to the development of POCUS curricula in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education programs. Prominent internal medicine societies and organizations worldwide recognize the expanding utilization of POCUS by internal medicine physicians, emphasizing the need for practitioners to be aware of both its benefits and limitations. Despite the growing enthusiasm for POCUS, clinicians, particularly those with limited clinical experience, must be cautious regarding its inherent limitations and the potential impact on their clinical practice. This review aims to outline the limitations and potential drawbacks of POCUS for medical students, residents, and internists who wish to stay abreast of the escalating use of POCUS in internal medicine and have a desire, or have already commenced, to incorporate POCUS into their practice. Additionally, it provides recommendations for enhancing POCUS proficiency to mitigate these limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarbjot Grewal
- Internal Medicine, Saint Agnes Medical Center, Fresno, USA
| | - Negin Nezarat
- Internal Medicine, Saint Agnes Medical Center, Fresno , USA
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van Hoving DJ, Alenyo AN, Komagum F, Lamprecht H. Current use and perceived barriers of emergency point-of-care ultrasound by African health care practitioners. Afr J Emerg Med 2022; 12:333-338. [PMID: 35967088 PMCID: PMC9363966 DOI: 10.1016/j.afjem.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The African Federation of Emergency Medicine (AFEM) recommends the use of emergency point-of-care ultrasound (ePOCUS) as a core skill for health care practitioners in Africa. The study explored the use of ePOCUS by health care practitioners among AFEM members who work across Africa. Methods An anonymous online survey was distributed to individual members of AFEM and affiliated organisations. The questionnaire was tested by the AFEM Scientific Committee for potential content modifications prior to distribution. Summary statistics are presented. Results Of the 220 participants that were analysed, 148 (67.3%) were using ePOCUS. The mean age was 36 years; 146 (66%) were male; and 198 (90%) obtained their primary medical qualification in Africa. In total, 168 (76%) were doctors, and most participants (n = 204, 93%) have worked in Africa during the last 5 years. Reasons for not using ePOCUS mainly related to lack of training and problems with ultrasound machines or consumables. Most ePOCUS users (116/148, 78%) attended courses with hands-on training, but only 65 (44%) participants were credentialed (by 18 different organizations). The median score for self-perceived level of ePOCUS skills was 75 in credentialed users versus 50 in those that were not credentialed. Ultrasound in trauma was the most frequently used module (n = 141, 99%), followed by focused cardiac assessment (n = 128, 90%) and thoracic (including lung) assessment (n = 128, 90.1%). The FASH-module (Focused Assessment with Sonography for HIV/TB) was the least used (n = 69, 49%). Conclusion Access barriers to ePOCUS training, mentorship, equipment and consumables are still relevant in Africa. The low credentialing rate and the potential discordance between local burden of disease and ePOCUS training requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Faith Komagum
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Hein Lamprecht
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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Russell FM, Kennedy SK, Rood LK, Nti B, Herbert A, Rutz MA, Palmer M, Ferre RM. Design and implementation of a basic and global point of care ultrasound (POCUS) certification curriculum for emergency medicine faculty. Ultrasound J 2022; 14:10. [PMID: 35182232 PMCID: PMC8858359 DOI: 10.1186/s13089-022-00260-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Point 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. Despite this, only a minority of EM faculty who trained prior to 2008 are credentialed in POCUS. Half of all EM training programs in the United States have less than 50% of their faculty credentialed to perform and teach POCUS to learners. As the use of POCUS continues to grow in medicine, it is especially important to have a pathway for faculty to attain competence and become credentialed in POCUS. The goal of this paper was to outline an implementation process of a curriculum designed to credential EM faculty in POCUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances M Russell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Sarah K Kennedy
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Loren K Rood
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Benjamin Nti
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Audrey Herbert
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Matt A Rutz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Megan Palmer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Robinson M Ferre
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 720 Eskenazi Ave, Fifth Third Faculty Office Building, 3rd Floor Emergency Medicine Office, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
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Kennedy SK, Duncan T, Herbert AG, Rood LK, Rutz MA, Zahn GS, Welch JL, Russell FM. Teaching Seasoned Doctors New Technology: An Intervention to Reduce Barriers and Improve Comfort With Clinical Ultrasound. Cureus 2021; 13:e17248. [PMID: 34540474 PMCID: PMC8445865 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Although clinical ultrasound (CUS) is a core skill that is a requirement for emergency medicine (EM) residency graduation, only a fraction of EM practitioners who trained prior to this requirement are certified in CUS. The objective of the study was to implement a CUS workshop for practicing EM physicians, identify barriers to utilization, and assess comfort with the machine, obtaining and interpreting images, and incorporating CUS into clinical practice. Methods This was a prospective descriptive cohort study of EM physician faculty who participated in an interactive 5-hour CUS workshop intervention that introduced four core CUS modalities via didactics and hands-on scanning stations. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to identify barriers to utilization and assess perceived comfort with CUS using a 5-point Likert scale. Results were analyzed using Fisher's exact and paired t-tests. Results Thirty-five EM physicians participated with a 100% survey response rate. Only five of the physicians were ultrasound certified at the time of the workshop. On average, physicians were 16 years post-residency. Prior to the workshop, 29% had minimal ultrasound experience and 43% had not performed more than 50 ultrasounds. In the pre-course survey, every physician expressed at least one barrier to CUS utilization. Post-workshop, physicians felt significantly more comfortable using the ultrasound machine (p=0.0008), obtaining and interpreting images (p=0.0009 and p=0.0004), and incorporating CUS into clinical practice (p=0.002). Conclusion This workshop is an effective tool to expose practicing physicians to core concepts of CUS, improve their comfort level, and reduce barriers to ultrasound utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Kennedy
- Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Taylor Duncan
- Emergency Department, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Edgewood, USA
| | - Audrey G Herbert
- Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Loren K Rood
- Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Matt A Rutz
- Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Gregory S Zahn
- Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Julie L Welch
- Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Frances M Russell
- Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
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Abstract
Purpose of the Review Point-of-care ultrasound using small ultrasound devices has expanded beyond emergency and critical care medicine to many other subspecialties. Awareness of the strengths and limitations of the technology and knowledge of the appropriate settings and common indications for point-of-care ultrasound is important. Recent Findings Point-of-care ultrasound is widely embraced as an extension of the physical exam and is employed in acute care and medical education settings. Echocardiography laboratories involved in education must individualize training to the intended scope of practice of the user. Advances in artificial intelligence may assist in image acquisition and interpretation by novice users. Summary Point-of-care ultrasound is widely available in a variety of clinical settings. The field has advanced substantially in the past 2 decades and will likely continue to expand with advancement in technology, reduced cost, and improved opportunities to assist new users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Lee
- Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago Medicine, 5758 S. Maryland Ave., MC 9067, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Jeanne M DeCara
- Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago Medicine, 5758 S. Maryland Ave., MC 9067, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
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