EMERGENCY ULTRASOUND SECTION
Regional Hands-On Ultrasound Course Allison Zanaboni, MD FAAEM
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oint-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an invaluable tool for the emergency physician, aiding in workup and diagnosis, intervention guidance, and re-evaluations in patients presenting with a vast array of complaints. POCUS improves diagnostic accuracy,1,2,3 reduces length of stay,4,5 and increases patient satisfaction.6 Additionally, point-ofcare ultrasound is considered standard of care in the management of hypotensive traumatically injured patients and for the insertion of central lines. As a reflection of the ever-expanding role of POCUS in the emergency department, ultrasound has been recognized as a core skill in emergency medicine residency training. First included in the Emergency Medicine Milestones in 2012, the current milestone framework puts POCUS on par with EKG in terms of achievement level, further highlighting the essential role POCUS plays in emergency care. As Dr. Myers discussed in the May/June 2022 issue of Common Sense, many practicing emergency physicians did not have POCUS training during residency, while others may have experienced skill decay since training. Performing an ultrasound exam without sufficient training increases the chance of missing an important finding or misinterpretation of the findings.7 Obtaining further POCUS education, particularly affordable, high quality, hands-on training, can be limited by time constraints and lack of access to skilled educators.8 Opportunities for comprehensive, hands-on, directed POCUS education exists through AAEM and the pre-conference ultrasound courses. However, the Emergency Ultrasound Section (EUS) recognizes that attending AAEM Scientific Assembly may not be feasible for certain individuals who are interested in incorporating more ultrasound into their practice. For these individuals and groups who are eager for education and hands-on training, the Emergency Ultrasound Section is now offering a portable course structured to bring ultrasound education close to home. The EUS-AAEM Regional Hands-On Ultrasound Course has been designed to be the ultimate customizable training, tailored to the needs of the participants. Through a combination of didactic education and ample time for scanning in small groups led by skilled faculty, participants will learn core ultrasound modalities with an emphasis on clinical implementation. For additional information and to inquire about setting up a Regional Course, please visit the EUS webpage by scanning the code below.
References 1. Buhumaid, Rasha E., et al. “Integrating Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the ED Evaluation of Patients Presenting with Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath.” The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 37, no. 2, 2019, pp. 298–303., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2018.10.059. 2. Russell, Frances M., et al. “Diagnosing Acute Heart Failure in Patients with Undifferentiated Dyspnea: A Lung and Cardiac Ultrasound (Lucus) Protocol.” Academic Emergency Medicine, vol. 22, no. 2, 2015, pp. 182–191., https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.12570. 3. Barbic, David, et al. “In Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Skin and Soft Tissue Infections What Is the Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Abscess Compared to the Current Standard of Care? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” BMJ Open, vol. 7, no. 1, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1136/ bmjopen-2016-013688. 4. Beals, Tyler, et al. “Point of Care Ultrasound Is Associated with Decreased Ed Length of Stay for Symptomatic Early Pregnancy.” The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 37, no. 6, 2019, pp. 1165–1168., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2019.03.025. 5. Blaivas, Michael, et al. “Decreasing Length of Stay with Emergency Ultrasound Examination of the Gallbladder.” Academic Emergency Medicine, vol. 6, no. 10, 1999, pp. 1020–1023., https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.1999.tb01186.x. 6. Howard, Zoe D., et al. “Bedside Ultrasound Maximizes Patient Satisfaction.” The Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 46, no. 1, 2014, pp. 46–53., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2013.05.044. 7. Myers, M. “Education in Point of Care Ultrasound.” Common Sense, vol. 29, no 3, 2022, pp 29. 8. Russell, Frances M., et al. “Design and Implementation of a Basic and Global Point of Care Ultrasound (Pocus) Certification Curriculum for Emergency Medicine Faculty.” The Ultrasound Journal, vol. 14, no. 1, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13089-022-00260-y.
REGIONAL HANDS-ON ULTRASOUND COURSE Request Course: aaem.org/get-involved/sections/eus/events/regional-us-course
COMMON SENSE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
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