Background: Venous excess ultrasound score (VExUS) is an emerging point-of-care volume assessment tool that utilizes inferior vena cava diameter and doppler waveforms within the hepatic, portal, and renal veins to predict venous congestion. High VExUS grades have previously been validated against elevated filling pressures during right heart catheterization in patients with steady-state fluid balance; however, [...]

Background: The Lumbar puncture (LP) success rate for graduating pediatric residents is around 54%, and residents often feel uncomfortable performing Lumbar punctures(LPs). An UALP(ultrasound-assisted lumbar Puncture) uses POCUS (point of care ultrasound) to visualize key anatomical landmarks for optimal and safe cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection. Evidence has shown improved LP success rates in pediatric [...]

Background: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable tool in the assessment of acutely ill hospitalized patients. Although hospitalists frequently wish to use POCUS in their clinical practice, many have never received formal training. The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) offers a robust certificate of completion (COC) program in POCUS incorporating online learning modules, in-person courses, [...]

Background: For the past 4 years, we have taught PGY-2 residents basic skills in lung, cardiac, abdominal, and vascular POCUS based on national courses. Current methods of assessing POCUS skills focus on image acquisition and image interpretation without clinical context, however using POCUS for patient care requires the clinician to integrate their findings to a [...]

Background: Point-of-care-ultrasound is increasingly used as a diagnostic tool in a variety of specialties. Multiple studies have shown that POCUS may reduce time to diagnosis with similar accuracy to radiology scans (Healey, Fischer), may improve procedural safety (Cho, Rodrigues), and may reduce the need for additional studies and ionizing radiation (Soni). As such there is [...]