It is time for the second part of our collaborative series with the Society of Point of Care Ultrasound (SPOCUS) and Practical POCUS.  We are again joined by our guests Janelle Bludorn and Laura Blesse-Hampton.  This time we discuss how to integrate ultrasound into an educational program. 

If you missed Part I, no fear!  Check out Podcast #129.  As a recap, in our last post we talked about the many benefits of ultrasound and its inevitably to become a standard of care and requirement for training.   In this portion, we explain integration into your program.  Just as we mentioned last time, this is something that any type of program can get beneficial information.

Get the full details of our discussion by listening to the podcast, but here are some of the highlights:

• ​Full integration initially is difficult if not impossible.
  
  
  
  • Start with basic scans and build over time.
  
  
  • Easy initial exams include ultrasound guided vascular access, evaluation for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and aorta/inferior vena cava (IVC).
  
  
  
  


• The earlier you can integrate it into your program, the more benefits for your students.
  
  
  
  • Many times, anatomy can be the first class to implement ultrasound.
  
  
  • These can be broken into sections to allow learning in a classroom, followed by gross anatomy  dissection, and finally observing under ultrasound.
  
  
  • Ultrasound can also be integrated in other courses such history and physical exams on standardized patients.
  
  
  
  


• Integration does not have to be constant.
  
  
  
  • Have a schedule such as training every month, semester, or year.
  
  
  • The key is to have a routine that allows for better training at regular intervals.
  
  
  
  


• You do not have to learn or teach everything at once.
  
  
  
  • Learning ultrasound takes a long time and techniques are being frequently updated.
  
  
  • Ultrasound, like any other skill, requires lifelong learning.
  
  
  • Implement what you can and gain more skills over time.
  
  
  
  

Let us know what you think by giving us feedback here in the comments section or contacting us on Twitter or Facebook.  Remember to look us up on Libsyn and on iTunes.  If you have any questions you can also comment below, email at thetotalem@gmail.com, or send a message from the page.  We hope to talk to everyone again soon.  Until then, continue to provide total care everywhere.