Taking the Pulse of POCUS: The State of Point-of-Care Ultrasound at a Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatric Ultrasound
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly vital in clinical practice.
• Formal POCUS training integration in pediatric residency and fellowship programs is currently inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify current POCUS usage among pediatric practitioners and trainees.
• To assess interest in formal POCUS training within pediatric residency and fellowship programs.
• To evaluate perceptions of POCUS importance for future pediatric practice.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to pediatric program directors/assistant program directors (PD/APDs), fellows, and residents at a tertiary care center.
• The survey assessed current POCUS use, desire for formal training, and perceived importance for future practice.
• Data was collected from 14 PD/APDs, 30 fellows, and 32 residents across various pediatric programs.

Main Results:

• Only 2 out of 15 programs reported active POCUS use for clinical decision-making by PD/APDs, contrasting with 13 fellows and 9 residents.
• Significant interest in formal POCUS programs was reported: 30.8% of PD/APDs, 43.8% of fellows, and 87.5% of residents.
• Residents overwhelmingly expressed a desire to learn POCUS, with half believing it crucial for future practice, though subspecialty views varied.

Conclusions:

• A substantial gap exists between POCUS utilization and trainee interest in pediatric programs.
• Pediatric residency and fellowship programs should prioritize integrating POCUS education into their curricula.
• Addressing medicolegal aspects and the evolving landscape of patient care necessitates formal POCUS training.