A consensus list of ultrasound competencies for graduating emergency medicine residents

Abstract

Objectives Emergency ultrasound (EUS) is a critical component of emergency medicine (EM) resident education. Currently, there is no consensus list of competencies for EUS training, and graduating residents have varying levels of skill and comfort. The objective of this study was to define a widely accepted comprehensive list of EUS competencies for graduating EM residents through a modified Delphi method. Methods We developed a list of EUS applications through a comprehensive literature search, the American College of Emergency Physicians list of core EUS benchmarks, and the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency‐Academy of Emergency Ultrasound consensus document. We assembled a multi‐institutional expert panel including 15 faculty members from diverse practice environments and geographical regions. The panel voted on the list of competencies through two rounds of a modified Delphi process using a modified Likert scale (1 = not at all important, 5 = very important) to determine levels of agreement for each application—with revisions occurring between the two rounds. High agreement for consensus was set at >80%. Results Fifteen of 15 panelists completed the first‐round survey (100%) that included 359 topics related to EUS. After the first round, 195 applications achieved high agreement, four applications achieved medium agreement, and 164 applications achieved low agreement. After the discussion, we removed three questions and added 13 questions. Fifteen of 15 panelists completed the second round of the survey (100%) with 209 of the 369 applications achieving consensus. Conclusion Our final list represents expert opinion on EUS competencies for graduating EM residents. We hope to use this consensus list to implement a more consistent EUS curriculum for graduating EM residents and to standardize EUS training across EM residency programs.

Peritonsillar Abscess and Post-aspiration Bleed Identified with Point-of-care Ultrasound Using Endocavitary Probe: A Case Report

“…The skill of using ultrasound to detect peritonsillar abscess is acknowledged as a key competency for emergency medicine residents. 3 This case study demonstrates the utility of point-of-care ultrasound in both identifying peritonsillar abscesses and providing guidance during the aspiration procedure. Gaining a visual diagnosis when complications arise can prove to be exceptionally valuable.…”

“… 7 This case highlights an interesting complication of acute bleed demonstrated by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) during peritonsillar drainage. Ultrasound identification of peritonsillar abscess is on the consensus list for competencies in emergency medicine residency 3 ; proficiency in ultrasound is increasingly expected in trainees, and this particular scenario exemplifies its utility.…”

Best Practices for Point of Care Ultrasound: An Interdisciplinary Expert Consensus

“…These statements (Table 4) address the means by which clinicians, either during or after their foundational training, can develop competence using POCUS. This section was limited by generalizability (#6), as POCUS training is often heavily molded by its context, such as when occurring during undergraduate education, initial clinical training, residency programs, on-job training, or via self-directed learning 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 .…”