After a successful first iteration in 2018, we are pleased to announce the return of the Clinical Ultrasonography Elective in Clerkship.

This elective is open to 4th year students (2nd year of clerkship) and will run from Feb 4th – 17th, 2019.

Details to register can be found here: CUSEC Feb 4-17 2019

Check out the abstract below (presented at Medical Education Scholarship and Research Day)

The Clinical Ultrasonography Elective in Clerkship (CU/SEC): A Pilot for Senior Clerkship Students at the University of Saskatchewan

Zafrina Poonja, Ali Turnquist, Paul Olszynski

PURPOSE: The objective of the clinical ultrasonography elective was for senior clerkship students to acquire the skills and knowledge to safely integrate into patient care the following  clinical ultrasound applications: pneumothorax, interstitial lung syndrome, pleural effusion/hemothorax, free fluid in the abdomen, pericardial effusion, abdominal aortic aneurysm, hydronephrosis, and bladder volume. The elective was deliberately designed to be relevant to a range of trainees including those pursuing residency training in internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, neurology, family medicine and anesthesia.

METHODS: The trainees spent the first week of the elective scanning several standardized patients (12 hours in total) under the supervision of myself, another EM clinician, and a PGY4 EM resident who is completing a fellowship in POCUS. Each afternoon, the trainees participated in group discussion as well as lead a short presentation on the limits of POCUS in our core set of applications. The trainee’s skills and knowledge were evaluated at the end of the first week through a practical exam (scanning 4 patients across 3 scenarios) and MCQ exam. During the second week (clinical rotations in EM, IM, GSx and Neurology) trainees were evaluated by the clinical supervisors with in regards to clinical integration of POCUS into overall patient care. Programmatic evaluation was completed by all participants.

RESULTS: The trainee’s MCQ marks ranged from 80-95% (pass was set at 80%) and using an entrustment score on the practical exams, each was deemed “able to perform all of the scans with minimal or no prompting or supervision”. During the second week (a clinical rotation with the service of their choice/interest) the trainees were deemed to meet and/or exceed expectations as follows: 1) knowledge of the indications for clinical ultrasonography, 2) ability to reliably generate adequate images on a variety of patients, 3) demonstrate the ability to integrate clinical ultrasonography findings into the patients overall clinical assessment, 4) ability to describe the limitations of clinical ultrasound as well as impact on patient work up. The program was evaluated as very valuable with suggestions offered for improving the second (clinical) week of the elective.