Night vision: a new blueprint for bedside ultrasound training in medical residency

Faculty expertise and support, resident scheduling, and cost of ultrasound machines are common barriers encountered when attempting to implement a new point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum. Integration of a POCUS curriculum into existing night medicine rotations helps bypass these barriers by minimizing the amount of trained faculty required and harnessing clinical opportunities within a pre-existing curriculum.

37 PGY-1 residents participated in this pilot study within the inpatient setting of VCU Health hospital, primarily during their night medicine rotations. Faculty included four full-time nocturnists. Residents received didactics on pulmonary and abdominal imaging and completed online modules. Practice opportunities occurred primarily during night medicine rotations under the supervision of the nocturnists.

Residents underwent pre- and post-curriculum surveys and knowledge/skills assessments. Comfort, knowledge, and skills significantly increased pre- to post-curriculum. Mean skills assessment scores increased from 13.4 to 23.6 points out of 34 (p < 0.001). Mean knowledge assessment scores increased from 54 to 61% (p < 0.001).

Integration of a POCUS curriculum into the existing night medicine rotation bypassed common barriers and resulted in statistically significant increases in resident comfort, knowledge, and skills.