Abstract
The ability of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to provide rapid and accurate bedside assessment of both the heart and lungs allows it to be a powerful tool in the management of patients presenting with dyspnea. However, while ultrasound equipment is readily available even in remote healthcare settings in Canada, physicians lack effective training opportunities to develop expertise in this potentially life-saving skill. To answer this critical call to action, we have developed the Accelerated Remote Consultation Tele-POCUS in Cardiopulmonary Assessment (ARCTICA) program to innovate POCUS training for today’s physician leaders. This article outlines the background, research methods, and progress-to-date of ARCTICA.
Highlights
The ability of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to provide rapid and accurate bedside assessment of both the heart and lungs allows it to be a powerful tool in the management of patients presenting with dyspnea
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, POCUS has a beneficial role in risk stratification
Given the cardiopulmonary nature of this infection, application of POCUS enhances the outcomes of patients in COVID-19 [2]
Summary
The ability of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to provide rapid and accurate bedside assessment of both the heart and lungs allows it to be a powerful tool in the management of patients presenting with dyspnea. Most currently available POCUS training programs for practicing physicians are limited to one-time or single-day workshops [9], which poses significant barriers to continued skill development This problem highlights the need for longitudinal training opportunities that integrate high-quality feedback into a physician’s everyday practice. Telehealth services show early promise to enhance access to care in remote Northern Canadian and rural communities [12,13], there remains a significant gap in access to diagnostic services, especially ultrasonography [14] To these ends, we have proposed developing an entirely virtual POCUS training program for physicians that utilizes e-learning modules and remotely supervised Tele-POCUS to provide real-time feedback
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