Bedside Ultrasound Education in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Programs in the United States

Abstract

As the use of bedside ultrasound becomes more prevalent in pediatric emergency departments, the need for a national curriculum for fellows' training in pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) has increased. The objectives of this study were to describe the current state of bedside ultrasound education among existing PEM fellowship programs and to explore the interest in a national curriculum. A 20-question survey was sent to all 57 PEM fellowship directors in the United States in February 2011. Weekly reminders were sent for 4 weeks. The response rate was 58% (33/57). Although 91% of respondents reported having an ultrasound machine available, only 16% reported an ultrasound curriculum designed specifically for PEM. Another 25% reported no curriculum, and 28% use a curriculum designed for general emergency medicine physicians. Most (>83%) directors thought an ultrasound curriculum for PEM fellows should include the focused assessment with sonography for trauma, bladder size assessment, soft tissue foreign body localization, skin and soft tissue infection evaluation, guidance for central and peripheral line insertion, and arthrocentesis. Some directors (40%-68%) thought that cardiac ultrasound, thoracic ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, lumbar puncture guidance, fracture reduction, nerve blocks, and testicular ultrasounds should also be included. Forty-two percent plan to create a bedside ultrasound curriculum in the next 5 years, and 40% reported the lack of a national curriculum as a barrier to creating a curriculum. Bedside ultrasound use in pediatric emergency departments is very common, and PEM fellowship directors would welcome the development of a standard curriculum.