Developing a Longitudinal Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents.

Jenny Y Chen, Megan Trieu, Adam Custer, Patrick Holman, Rachel Sarnoff, Lindsey Ward, Beda Cha, Daniel Kahn

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Point of Care Ultrasound Curriculum in an Internal Medicine Residency Program: 9 Years of Experience From a Teaching Hospital in the United States.Journal of medical education and curricular development
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jenny Y ChenInternal Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

Megan TrieuPulmonary and Critical Care, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA.

Adam CusterPulmonary and Critical Care, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA.

Patrick HolmanPulmonary and Critical Care, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

Rachel SarnoffInternal Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

Lindsey WardPulmonary and Critical Care, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

Beda ChaCardiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

Daniel KahnInternal Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing complications. Despite these benefits, barriers such as limited faculty training, equipment access, and time constraints hinder POCUS integration into internal medicine programs. We evaluated the feasibility of a multimodal, longitudinal ultrasound curriculum designed for internal medicine residents. Methods The POCUS Training Program (PTP) was implemented in an internal medicine residency program at a quaternary care center. This longitudinal curriculum comprised self-directed online modules, faculty-led didactic and scanning sessions, and the compilation of a portfolio. Program effectiveness was assessed through pre- and post-program surveys with five-point Likert scales measuring confidence with image acquisition and interpretation. Results Among the 50 initial program enrollees for the 2021-2022 academic year, only nine completed the curriculum, with two meeting full requirements including completing the image portfolio. Post-program surveys responses (derived from 11 respondents among 96 total program participants at the end of 2023, 11% response rate) indicated significant improvements in confidence with the cardiac and volume assessments. In-person didactics and independent scanning were rated as the most effective learning modalities. Time constraints, inconsistent equipment access, and POCUS experience variability among supervising senior residents and attendings were the most commonly cited barriers. Suggestions for improvement included more supervised image reviews, patient scanning sessions, and streamlined image-saving workflows. Discussion We demonstrated that implementing a longitudinal POCUS curriculum can be challenging with low completion rates for the full program, but such a curriculum has the potential to improve confidence with POCUS exams. Addressing barriers, including equipment accessibility and faculty training, is paramount. Integrating POCUS into core residency curricula and increasing faculty development may also improve efficacy. This pilot program serves as a scaffold for future iterations.

Indexed as

medical educationmedical residencypocus (point of care ultrasound)residencyultrasoundultrasound education

Identifiers

PMID40704229

DOI10.7759/cureus.86598

PMCPMC12285688

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.