Emergency Medicine Ultrasound/ Point of Care Ultrasound

The “Golden Hour” is one of the pillars of emergency medicine. Capitalize on the speed and accuracy of ultrasound to take advantage of every minute. Having the skills to evaluate the abdomen (the FAST procedure), first trimester pregnancy and cardiac ultrasound may make the difference between life and death!  Participants in this course will benefit from “hands on scan labs” where you will practice the essential skills and techniques to acquire an ultrasound image for quick and accurate diagnosis.

AHEC has taught this course for physicians in the US, China, and South America. This two day course begins both days with lecture where faculty will review the basics such as: ultrasound physics and instrumentation, anatomy, and procedures and protocols. Following lecture, participants will benefit from our on-site scanning lab with live models for extensive hands-on practice. The course content is based on ACEP guidelines for the performance on Emergency Medicine Ultrasound.

Scan with the experts

Sometimes it takes an additional day or two of scanning to generate confidence in your new skill set.  If you would like to add a day or two, all our ultrasound skills courses can be scheduled with additional scan days in our state of the art interactive scan lab.  Give us a call and discuss your needs with our faculty so we can help you achieve your goals.

Objectives

At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Identify the appropriate equipment settings and transducer selection for different ultrasound applications
• Identify and display appropriate normal and abnormal anatomy and orientation in the ultrasound field of view
• Understand variations in scanning protocols for demonstration of pathologies in emergency medicine examinations.
• Successfully perform a focused abdomen exam
• Successfully perform a trauma FAST exam
• Successfully perform the protocol for a bedside evaluation of pericardial effusion
• Discuss and apply scanning techniques for the performance of the female patient and first trimester OB with transabdominal and endovaginal approaches

Course Topics

• Introduction to ultrasound physics and instrumentation
• Anatomy of the abdominal and retroperitoneal structures
• Abdominal scan protocols, image orientation, and pathology
• Abdominal trauma, the FAST exam procedure
• Cardiac 2D imaging in the ED
• Evaluation of pericardial effusion
• OB/GYN ultrasound anatomy and procedures
• First trimester pregnancy with endovaginal imaging
• Early gestation and ectopic pregnancy
• Ultrasound appearance of pathology in case studies
• Focused hands-on scan labs

Target Audience

Emergency medicine physicians, trauma surgeons, critical care physicians, intensivists, internal medicine and family practice physicians who will be performing and interpreting ultrasound examinations.