Search

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a relatively new but versatile, safe, and fast diagnostic tool increasingly finding its way into primary care. Incorporation of POCUS curricula into postgraduate primary care training has been limited but is expanding nationally, in part due to recent ACGME recommendations. In preparation for implementing a POCUS curriculum at our family medicine (FM) residency program in Rochester, NY, we surveyed residents and faculty on their experience with and views of POCUS. Our objective was to evaluate resident and faculty use of POCUS, interest in starting a formal training curriculum, and planned future use of POCUS. In 2019 and 2020, a suivev was administered to assess the above topics at our large, urban FM residency program. Of the 72 participants, 23 of 36 residents (63.9%) and 22 of 36 faculty (61.1%) completed the survey for a response rate of 62.5%. Most (82.61%) residents had "no" or "minimal" prior POCUS training but a nearly equal majority (73.9%) thought it important for our program to expand our curriculum. Similarly, 86.4% of faculty had "no" or "minimal" POCUS training but 77.3% said it was important to add to our program. Residents have an interest in using POCUS now and in the future and faculty are interested in learning enough to teach it. Our findings demonstrate a training gap at our program that likely exists at many other family medicine programs around the state and country. Our study will help us develop our POCUS curriculum and offer insights that may benefit other similar programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]