Implementation of a Longitudinal Critical Care Fellowship Ultrasound Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Critical Care Medicine
• Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Background:

• Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is integral to critical care medicine.
• Standardized training is essential for provider proficiency in POCUS.
• A need exists for structured curricula in critical care ultrasound (CCUS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a longitudinal CCUS curriculum for pulmonary critical care medicine (PCCM) fellows.
• To evaluate the curriculum's impact on fellows' knowledge, skills, and confidence.
• To assess the retention of CCUS knowledge, skills, and confidence over time.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of a single PCCM fellowship program.
• Assessed knowledge, skills, and confidence in 22 fellows at baseline, post-training, and at 6, 12, and 18 months.
• Compared formal training outcomes with informal training in second-year fellows.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in knowledge, skills, and confidence post-training, sustained up to 18 months.
• Longitudinal retention of knowledge, skills, and confidence observed.
• Formal training yielded higher knowledge and skills compared to informal training.

Conclusions:

• A formal, longitudinal CCUS curriculum enhances trainee knowledge, skills, and confidence.
• The curriculum promotes sustained retention of ultrasound proficiency.
• Longitudinal training appears more effective than informal methods, warranting further study.