Preceptor: Jacqueline Paulis, MD
Contact: Jacqueline.Paulis@nyulangone.org

Prerequisite: The student must have completed a prior one-month Emergency Medicine selective or Advanced Emergency Medicine elective rotation.

Description

The emergency ultrasound elective is a four-week elective designed to introduce students to the use of point-of-care ultrasound in the Emergency Department. 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. 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 Tuesday conference.

Objectives of the Elective

Upon completion of the ultrasound elective, the student is 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:
   1. eFAST
   2. Pelvic (Transabdominal and transvaginal)
   3. AAA
   4. Cardiac
   5. Biliary
   6. Renal
   7. DVT
5. Become familiar with advanced emergency ultrasound applications:
   1. Soft Tissue
   2. Musculoskeletal
   3. Testicular
   4. Ocular
   5. Procedures
6. Demonstrate how to obtain classic sonographic views and windows of the above core applications in a timely fashion.
7. Demonstrate proficiency in reading and interpreting focused bedside ultrasounds.
8. Integrate ultrasound findings into the care and management of emergency department patients.
9. Describe the limitations and pitfalls associated with bedside ultrasound applications.
10. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal skills and professionalism at all times.

Key Responsibilities of the student while on Elective

1. Attendance at a 4-hour orientation/scanning shift.
2. 14 8-hour supervised and independent scanning shifts.
3. Completion of the required readings and videos.
4. Attendance at weekly Tuesday ultrasound conference to review the scans and to discuss assigned journal club articles.
5. Attendance at weekly Wednesday Emergency Medicine resident conference.
6. Complete and archive 75 acceptable scans during independent or supervised ultrasound shifts.
7. Document all scans performed by filling out a Q-path worksheet for each scan performed.
8. 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.
9. Review all completed and QA’d scans for evaluation and feedback.
10. 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.

Method of Evaluation

Students will be assessed through direct observation of technical skills (performing bedside ultrasound, obtaining standard "windows" and acquiring a library of acceptable scans) and interpretive skills through reading bedside ultrasound scans and integrating this into patient care. Attendance is required and will be factored into the final grade. The student's overall grade will be based upon Emergency Ultrasound faculty and fellow evaluations of the student's performance.

Scheduling Information

Months Offered: January-June
Students Per Period: 2
Duration: Four Weeks