The “Golden Hour” is one of the pillars of emergency medicine. Capitalize on the speed and accuracy of ultrasound to take advantage of every minute. Having the skills to evaluate the abdomen (the FAST procedure), first trimester pregnancy and cardiac ultrasound may make the difference between life and death. Participants in this course will benefit from “hands-on scan labs” where you will practice the essential skills and techniques to acquire an ultrasound image for quick and accurate diagnosis.
AHEC has taught this course for physicians in the US, China, and South America. This course begins with lecture where faculty will review the basics such as: ultrasound physics and instrumentation, anatomy, and procedures and protocols. Following lecture, participants will benefit from our on-site scanning lab with live models for extensive hands-on practice. The course content is based on ACEP guidelines for the performance of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound.
The two-day ultrasound program is a systematic presentation using an integrated teaching approach of lecture, assigned reading, testing, demonstration, and clinical scanning of models. Didactic training is reinforced through clinical laboratory experience.
Faculty: Shawn Shanmuganathan - No relevant financial relationships to disclose
Tuition
- Advanced Registration $1420 = more than 60 days before the course
- Regular Registration $1620 = 30-60 days before the course
- Late Registration $1820 = 30 days or less before the course
Target Audience
Emergency medicine physicians, trauma surgeons, critical care physicians, intensivists, internal medicine and family practice physicians who will be performing and interpreting emergency ultrasound examinations on adults or pediatric patients.
CME Credits
- “The Advanced Health Education Center, Ltd. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.”
- “The Advanced Health Education Center, Ltd. designates this educational activity for maximum of 16 hours AMA PRA Category 1™. Physicians should claim commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.”
Recommended Material
Sound Advice: Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Protocols by Thomas Whelan, RT(R), RDMS, RDCS, RVT, FASE
Private Ultrasound Tutorials
We understand that you may want/need to practice your new skill set more than the regularly scheduled courses allow. You can add an extra day of scanning in addition to this course by calling AHEC and speaking to a faculty member about our private tutorial option. Additionally, this tutorial is a one on one session with our expert faculty and can be designed to enhance your already developed skills. Call AHEC at 1-800-239-1361 for more information or click here for more details. Private Ultrasound Tutorials
Course Objectives
Introduction to Emergency Medicine
- Identify the appropriate equipment settings and transducer selection for different ultrasound applications
- Identify and display appropriate normal and abnormal anatomy and orientation in the ultrasound field of view
- Understand variations in scanning protocols for demonstration of pathologies in emergency medicine examinations
- Successfully perform a focused abdomen exam
- Successfully perform a trauma FAST exam
- Successfully perform the protocol for a bedside cardiac evaluation of pericardial effusion
- Successfully perform a venous system exam
- Discuss scanning techniques for the performance of the female patient and first trimester OB with transabdominal and endovaginal approaches (lecture and phantoms)
Advanced Emergency Medicine
- Identify and display appropriate normal anatomy and orientation in the ultrasound field of view for selected topics to include abdominal and chest cavities, the heart, and peripheral veins.
- Successfully complete emergency medicine ultrasound examinations following correct patient preparation and procedure protocols to include simulated line placements and ultrasound guided needle placements.
- Understand variations in scanning protocols for demonstration of abnormalities and pathologies in emergency medicine exams to include abdominal and chest cavities, the heart, and peripheral veins.
- Identify sources and research reference materials for additional information in critical care ultrasound.
- Explain the importance of self-credentialing in critical care ultrasound, and discuss the importance of record keeping, peer review and quality assurance.
Course Topics
Introduction to Emergency Medicine
- Ultrasound physics and instrumentation
- Anatomy of the abdominal and retroperitoneal structures
- Abdominal scan protocols, image orientation, and pathology
- Aorta, Inferior Vena Cava, Spleen
- Kidneys and Bladder
- Right Upper Quadrant, Morison’s pouch
- Focused Assessment by Sonography in Trauma (FAST) procedure protocol
- Cardiac 2D imaging – Subxyphoid, PSLA, PSSA, Apical 4 chamber
- Evaluation of pericardial and pleural effusion
- OB/GYN ultrasound anatomy and procedures
- First trimester pregnancy with endovaginal imaging (phantom only)
- Early gestation and ectopic pregnancy (lecture only)
- Ultrasound appearance of pathology in case studies
Advanced Emergency Medicine
- Determining patency of vascular structures
- Introduction to Ultrasound-Guided procedures
- Ultrasound guided venous and arterial access techniques
- Ultrasound guided central line placement techniques
- Evaluation for draining:
- Abscesses
- Pericardial and pleural effusions
- Peritoneal and joint fluid
- Lumbar puncture
- Soft tissue foreign bodies
- Pearls and pitfalls
The Advanced Health Education Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 16 hours AMA PRA Category I™. Physician should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity."
Shawn Shanmuganathan BS, RDMS, RVT
Shawn has been a Nuclear Medicine Technologist and Ultrasound Technologist for over 40 years. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Loyola College in Madra, India, a post graduate diploma in Nuclear Medicine Technology from John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, and a post graduate diploma in Diagnostic Ultrasound from the State University of New York in New York City. The majority of his career has been in Texas as a Sonographer, Chief Sonographer and Program Director. Shawn also was the Program Director for an ultrasound training program for five years. Shawn is a very experienced and knowledgeable instructor. His passion for teaching is obvious in the classroom.
