Retention and Usage of Point-of-Care Ultrasound by Emergency Medicine Residency Graduates

Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an integral tool in clinical practice, particularly in Emergency Medicine (EM). However, prior research of practicing physicians shortly after residency graduation suggests a gap between POCUS training in residency and its consistent utilization post-graduation. This study aimed to assess post-training POCUS usage among EM residency graduates and identify barriers to its consistent use. The objectives were to quantify POCUS usage based on years post-training and number of scans performed during residency, identify barriers to consistent POCUS usage, and propose interventions to increase POCUS utilization in clinical practice.MethodsParticipants included graduates from a specific EM residency program in New York. A survey, conducted in March 2024, was performed assessing POCUS usage, comfort levels with various applications, barriers to use, and potential interventions to increase usage. Statistical analysis was performed to compare usage based on years since training and the number of scans performed during training.ResultsRecent graduates exhibited higher daily or weekly POCUS usage compared to those further from training (p = 0.0042). Higher scan volumes during training correlated with increased post-training usage (p <0.0364). Comfort performing particular POCUS applications varied with years since training and number of scans during training for only a few of the 10 applications assessed (eg, aorta, obstetric (OB)); for the remainder of applications, there was no association between comfort performing and years of practice or number of scans during training. Common barriers to increased use included lack of time, skill maintenance, and reimbursement issues.Conclusion POCUS usage among EM physicians post-residency is inversely associated with time since training and scan volume during residency. Training programs may benefit from emphasizing hands-on experience and higher scan volumes. Continued education and addressing barriers such as time constraints and reimbursement could enhance POCUS utilization post-training, improving patient care and outcomes in EM.