Clinical Ultrasound Training in Emergency Medicine Advanced Practice Provider Residencies

Abstract

Introduction Clinical ultrasound training is essential to any emergency medicine (EM) clinician's skill set. We aim to understand the current training patterns of clinical ultrasound training within Advanced Practice Provider (APP) residencies. Methods In a survey sent electronically to 17 active EM APP residencies, data were obtained from 21 responses to questions about structure of ultrasound faculty, quality assessment, feedback, and competency evaluation. Results We had a response rate of 88%. Of programs surveyed, 93% were associated with EM physician residencies with 87% led by an ultrasound fellowship-trained EM physician. Ninety-three percent of programs required proctored scanning. Sixty percent of programs do not have any required number of scans to graduate. Conclusion We found that most EM APP residencies share clinical ultrasound faculty, structures, and processes with associated EM physician residencies. We believe that quality training within clinical ultrasound is attainable; however, proficiency guidelines across EM APP residency programs are lacking.