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Ultrasound in Medical School

Ultrasound technology has outpaced the education of future operators. As ultrasound continues to grow, I hope this forum can connect people and ideas on how educational institutions and champions can keep up with the advances in technology. Ultrasound is safe and reliable in trained hands. How can we best train the future clinicians to use this tool? I believe it needs to be integrated into medical education at the earliest level as these "stem cell" students will turn into every type of clinician; many of which could use ultrasound to help their patients. With the onset of simulation centers and the decreased costs of equipment, it can be incorporated into medical curriculum to benefit these future clinicians.

At Ohio State we have integrated supplemental ultrasound training into all 4 years of the medical school and continue trying to build core and enriched exposures to ultrasound for the 21st century clinician. I would like to know what other institutions are doing with medical student ultrasound education. We have multiple courses that we teach to the students culminated by a longitudinal elective in their fourth year where they learn about 9 different focused applications of ultrasound. Please share any ideas or questions about medical student ultrasound education as this is just starting to take hold.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jorge Han, MD, RDMS,RDCS,RVT on July 14, 2011 at 7:38pm

The fast development of Ultrasound requires of highly skilled sonographers who must understand ultrasound principles and instrumentation, as well as to integrate knowledge of basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, and pathology) with clinical thinking in order to perform accurately and obtain the best out of this imaging modality.

Schools offering Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound and the different specialties are moving up in offering higher degrees and deeper knowledge and clinical thinking training for future professionals. Medical schools need to reinforce the instruction in this regard as physicians are more oftely compelled to perform focused screening exams in emergency situations and trauma patients. In trained hands (assuming a minimum number of exams per application has been achieved) this approach helps to get a faster assessment and turnaround in the management of these patients. Even in a non urgent or emergency situation, a better understanding by physicians of the appropiate uses and requirements for ultrasound exams contributes to a more rationale use of this fast growing, non invasive resource.

Developing high standards and excellent skills to perform in the different specialties require full dedication and that is left to Sonologists, Sonographers, and -in the future- to Ultrasound practtitiones, too. However, there is a role for the physician performing in some outpatient centers, urgent care centers, and emergency rooms. And this is the focused screening ultrasound, as well as the FAST exams in trained hands.

Ultrasound will keep evolving and more applications will develop. Better understanding of this is needed at every level of the health care team.

Jorge Han MD, RDMS, RDCS, RVT

Permalink Reply by Syed Amir Gilani on September 4, 2011 at 11:47am