Student Ultrasound Interest Groups

[FiNorman]

​Student Ultrasound Interest Groups (SUIG)

 

Point of care ultrasound improves patient care and your medical education. It’s inexpensive, fast, portable, improves patient care and safety, and provides real time information during physical exams and procedures. Because of this, ultrasound is being used in medical schools to enhance medical student education. Ultrasound education in medical school ranges from a four year integrated curriculum to none at all. Physician assistant education varies by institution, but there are currently no PA programs integrating ultrasound into "Integrated US on Day One Teaching".

 

Integrated US on Day One Teaching allows the student to see normal anatomy, pathology, physiology, and appreciate spacial relationships. It also affords students the opportunity to integrate procedural, sonographic, and gross anatomy.

 

Ultrasound within the physical exam course improves student’s physical exam skills set which not only apply to patient care, but also provides students with real time feedback on their physical exam skills. Ultrasound protocols like the RUSH exam teach students how to differentiate patients who are experiencing shock, FAST exams differentiate trauma injuries, and The Blue Protocol will identify the source of a patients dyspnea.

 

Ultrasound also improves anatomy and physiology education. In one study, students who received ultrasound education sessions in addition to their tradition anatomy curriculum scored 9% higher on their exams than their control (dissection without ultrasound) counterparts.

 

While there are currently no Integrated US Day One Teaching PA programs, SUIG can help by providing extra curricular education to interested and motivated students.

 

Students are the drivers of SUIGs, and the process starts when students leaders from a single (or within the same proximity) PA program form a SUIG. The students will work with SPACUS to have ultrasound education pushed to them via web based content, then through periodic workshops and meetings with a SPACUS mentor, the students will have the opportunity to scan patients and apply what they have learned. The education is provided free of charge, with the understanding that each graduating class will be expected to help the incoming class integrate into the SUIG. Once the SUIG is well established they will reach out to other PA programs to collegially assist new programs to develop.

 

The ultrasound machines will be obtained with the help of SPACUS, and the PA program will only be asked to provide the physical meeting space for the group to meet.

 

If you are interested in starting a SUIG at your institution please contact SPACUS.org

[SHU-CH]

Great idea! We are working on the construction of a new facility and US machines are definitely on the equipment list. I will pass this along to our students.

 

If you are a student, get your hands on an ultrasound machine and use it every chance you get. It will soon be an expected skill in most specialties.

[FiNorman]

Great observation, as medical schools are moving to the ultrasound on day on model.  If we expect to be in the conversation we need to evolve our curriculum to the time.  We would be happy to help, get you set up with a curriculum and have the students drive the material they desire.  Mentorship and hands on time scanning time is key.