Night vision: a new blueprint for bedside ultrasound training in medical residency

Abstract

Background: Faculty expertise and support, resident scheduling, and cost of ultrasound machines are common barriers encountered when attempting to implement a new point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum. Integration of a POCUS curriculum into existing night medicine rotations helps bypass these barriers by minimizing the amount of trained faculty required and harnessing clinical opportunities within a pre-existing curriculum. Methods: 37 PGY-1 residents participated in this pilot study within the inpatient setting of VCU Health hospital, primarily during their night medicine rotations. Faculty included four full-time nocturnists. Residents received didactics on pulmonary and abdominal imaging and completed online modules. Practice opportunities occurred primarily during night medicine rotations under the supervision of the nocturnists. Results: Residents underwent pre- and post-curriculum surveys and knowledge/skills assessments. Comfort, knowledge, and skills significantly increased pre- to post-curriculum. Mean skills assessment scores increased from 13.4 to 23.6 points out of 34 (p < 0.001). Mean knowledge assessment scores increased from 54 to 61% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Integration of a POCUS curriculum into the existing night medicine rotation bypassed common barriers and resulted in statistically significant increases in resident comfort, knowledge, and skills.