Preceptor: Jacqueline Gomberg, MD
Contact: Jacqueline.Gomberg@NYULangone.org
Telephone: 914-426-9149

Prerequisite: 4-week Emergency Medicine selective or Advanced Emergency Medicine elective rotation

Who should enroll in this elective?

Students who are considering Emergency Medicine as a career. Students who are interested in point-of-care ultrasound. 

Clinical sites

The primary clinical site will be the Bellevue Emergency Department. Occasionally, there will be scan shifts scheduled at NYU Tisch and NYU Brooklyn.

Description

The emergency ultrasound elective is a four-week elective designed to introduce medical students to the use of point-of-care ultrasound in the NYU Department of Emergency Medicine. Students will receive hands-on training, as well as a variety of didactics to learn the basics of emergency ultrasound. Students will be given required readings and lectures to help develop background knowledge of core and advanced emergency ultrasound applications. Students will attend a weekly four-hour didactic conference with the ultrasound division. Further, they will be given autonomy to practice and develop their ultrasound skills, scanning patients both with real-time supervision and independently. Scans will be saved electronically for later review at weekly Thursday conference.

Objectives of the Elective

Upon completion of the ultrasound elective, you are expected to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of basic ultrasound physics and instrumentation
2. Demonstrate understanding of which transducers and settings are most appropriate for common emergency ultrasound applications
3. Demonstrate understanding of indications for performing a focused, bedside ultrasound
4. Demonstrate the ability to perform core emergency ultrasound scans in the appropriate clinical context: eFAST, Pelvic (Transabdominal and transvaginal), AAA, Cardiac, Biliary, Renal, DVT, RUSH exam
5. Become exposed to advanced emergency ultrasound applications: Soft Tissue, Musculoskeletal, Ocular, Procedures
6. Describe the limitations and pitfalls associated with bedside ultrasound applications

Key Responsibilities of the student while on Elective

By enrolling in this elective, you have agreed to:

1. Attend 4-hour orientation/scanning shift.
2. Participate in 15 4-hour supervised and independent scanning shifts
3. Complete required readings and videos.
4. Attend weekly Thursday ultrasound conferences
5. Complete and archive 75 acceptable scans during independent or supervised ultrasound shifts
6. Document all scans performed by filling out a Q-path worksheet for each scan performed
7. Follow-up and confirm all bedside ultrasound scans with results from comprehensive radiographic studies or the patient’s chart and reflect on the accuracy of their findings and what could be done differently
8. Review all completed and QA’d scans for evaluation and feedback.
9. Submit an “Interesting US Case” complete with a representative image, description of the sonographic findings, and summary of the clinical scenario during the last week of the rotation

Key Responsibilities of the preceptor/residents/faculty while you are on Elective

By accepting your enrollment in this elective, the department has agreed to:

1. Clearly communicate their expectations of you
2. Maintain a supportive clinical learning environment 
3. Ensure that you have access to a broad case mix and clinical experience  
4. Provide the education necessary for you to gain an understanding of the patients and pathology reflective of this specialty
5. Provide feedback on your clinical skills

Didactic program

You will have daily assigned lectures on core ultrasound topics, ensuring comprehensive knowledge in areas such as eFAST, RUSH, obstetrics, aorta, echo, biliary, renal, and DVT scans. Additionally, every Thursday, you will participate in a 4-hour department US QA review session covering these core EM POCUS scans. You will also receive rotating lectures on advanced ultrasound topics, including right heart strain, advanced OBGYN ultrasound, advanced cardiac ultrasound, and nerve blocks.

Weekly Schedule

Weeks 1-3

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
AM: Self-Guided Didactics  PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US Team	AM: Self-Guided Didactics  PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US Team	AM: Self-Guided Didactics  PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US Team	Ultrasound QA Conference PM: Didactic Lecture	AM: Self-Guided Didactics PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US team

Week 4

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
AM: Self-Guided Didactics  PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US Team	AM: Self-Guided Didactics  PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US Team	AM: Self-Guided Didactics  PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US Team	Ultrasound QA Conference PM: 15-minute lecture delivered by rotator on any US Topic  US OSCE at NYSIM	AM: Self-Guided Didactics  PM: Ultrasound Scan Shift with US team

Method of Evaluation

You will be assessed through direct observation of technical skills (performing bedside ultrasound, obtaining standard "windows," and acquiring a library of acceptable scans), as well as interpretive skills (reading bedside ultrasound scans and integrating into patient care).  Your final grade will also take into account your attendance, your case presentation, and US faculty evaluations of your performance.

Scheduling Information

Duration: 4 Weeks 

Months Offered: January-June

Student point of contact before start of elective: Email Jacqueline.Gomberg@NYULangone.org at least 2 weeks prior to starting

On day 1, students report to: You will receive an introduction email one week prior to starting your rotation with detailed instructions on where to report 

Students per elective block: 1