SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Building Ultrasound-Ready Clinicians: Implementing a Structured Pocus Training Curriculum in an Internal Medicine Residency

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This project evaluated a structured cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum for 65 internal medicine residents at the University of Maryland between March and September 2025. The curriculum was designed in response to a needs assessment showing cardiac POCUS as the highest training priority. It consisted of a 20-minute didactic session plus 1 hour of small-group hands-on teaching, held every other month during outpatient rotations and led by chief residents and pulmonary/critical care fellows.<br /><br />Pre- and post-curriculum surveys used a 5-point Likert scale to measure confidence in cardiac POCUS skills, perceived value, and clinical use. Generalized linear mixed models compared responses before and after training.<br /><br />Residents strongly supported POCUS training: 97% wanted competency and 84.6% felt it would be valuable in their careers. After the curriculum, confidence improved significantly in adjusting basic ultrasound controls (50.8% to 75.0%) and identifying cardiac tamponade (30.8% to 55.6%). Confidence also increased for identifying pericardial effusion and measuring IVC diameter, though these did not reach statistical significance. Clinical use increased as well: residents reported scanning more patients, and the proportion of non-users dropped from 29.0% to 2.1%, while those using POCUS 3 or more times rose from 29.1% to 47.9%.<br /><br />Overall, the study shows that a structured, faculty-supported cardiac POCUS curriculum is feasible within a residency schedule, improves resident confidence, and increases real-world use. It may help standardize ultrasound training and reduce variability across programs, with potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

Asset Subtitle

Pranaya Terse

Meta Tag

Author List Bunnarack Kuch, Danielle Baek, Elizabeth Eden, Hyuk Joon Kwon, Kendall Klein, Pranaya Terse

Category Research

Concept Cardiac POCUS Curriculum

Concept Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Concept Hands-on Instruction

Concept Resident Training Variability

Concept Competency

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Maryland Medical Center

Presenting Author Pranaya Terse

Track Education

Keywords

cardiac POCUS

point-of-care ultrasound

internal medicine residents

ultrasound curriculum

resident training

hands-on teaching

confidence improvement

tamponade diagnosis

clinical ultrasound use

University of Maryland

Cardiac POCUS Curriculum

Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Hands-on Instruction

Resident Training Variability

Competency