Live Courses

Onsite/Custom Education: Critical Care Program

Designed for the intensivist in mind, this Critical Care Ultrasound program is structured with lectures using Microsoft® PowerPoint and interactive case studies during the morning sessions and hands-on workshops during the afternoon. Topics include imaging fundamentals, abdominal/FAST examination, focused cardiac exam, ultrasound-guided procedures, and evaluation of DVT.

The program is taught by critical care physicians and registered sonographers who are experienced performing and interpreting ultrasound examinations involving critical care applications. An important component of the program is the extensive amount of hands-on instruction provided with a low participant to instructor ratio, typically 3-4 participants per instructor. The two-day program provides an opportunity for extended hands-on scanning for cardiac applications.

The program features extensive hands-on instruction using live scanning models and phantoms. The 4-to-1 participant to instructor ratio expedites the learning process and maximizes the return on your investment.

The length of the programs and topics of discussion may be modified to best meet the participants' educational objectives.

Two-day Critical Care Ultrasound Program

The principle objective of this program is to educate critical care physicians and healthcare professionals on how to perform and interpret ultrasound exams in the critical care setting. Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute’s Critical Care Ultrasound course offers a comprehensive hands-on approach to evaluate conditions including AAA/dissection, thoracentesis, pericardiocentesis, pneumothorax and DVT among others. The program faculty will help the clinicians recognize imaging characteristics of commonly seen cases in critical care, and help guide treatment based on the ultrasound findings. The strong hands-on component of this course offers ample time scanning on a variety of live models.

Course Objectives

At the completion of the program the participant should be able to:

1. Discuss the basic fundamentals of ultrasound physics/instrumentation and recognize image artifacts.
   
2. Demonstrate the operation of the ultrasound system controls and transducer selection.
   
3. Perform routine scan protocols for evaluation of the abdomen, venous system of the lower and upper extremities, thorax and adult heart.
   
4. Recognize normal/abnormal image characteristics of the abdomen, thorax, upper and lower extremity venous system and adult heart.
   
5. Describe image orientation, transducer preparation, and scan protocols for performing use of ultrasound guidance in the placement of peripheral and central venous lines and arterial catheters.
   
6. Demonstrate ultrasound applications in the evaluation of the critically ill unstable patient.
   
7. Apply the information discussed in a clinical setting, under supervised conditions until an acceptable level of proficiency and appropriate hospital credentialing has been achieved.
   
8. Increase knowledge and confidence to perform and/or interpret examinations.

Course Topics

• Imaging fundamentals
• Abdominal scan fundamentals
• Live demonstration: Abdominal scanning (some system controls, probe mechanics and imaging windows and orientation)
• Abdominal pathology: Fluid evaluation, AAA/dissection, IVC
• Review of F.A.S.T. examination
• 2D cardiac exam (scan planes/anatomy/2D measurements)
• Live demonstration: Cardiac scanning
• Cardiac pathology: PE (pleural and pericardial), CHF, hypotension, LV function, limited TEE and qualitative assessment of valvular disease
• Echocardiography and shock in the CCU: Differential Diagnosis
• Ultrasound-guided procedures: Thoracentesis, pericardiocentesis, pneumothorax, lung/endotracheal tube placement
• Venous imaging for acute DVT
• Ultrasound-Guided vascular access
• “Putting it All Together”: Algorithms for evaluating the critical care patient based on symptoms — a case review approach
• Credentialing and reimbursement
• Hands-on sessions

Who Should Attend?

Critical care, intensivists, pulmonologists, trauma, & emergency medicine physicians who will be involved with performing & interpreting ultrasound exams. Also, internal medicine and family practice physicians may attend. Advanced sonographers and Physician Assistants also welcome.

Accreditation

The Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute designates this educational activity up to a maximum of 16.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

While offering CME credits this activity is not intended to provide extensive training or certification for performing or interpreting Emergency ultrasound procedures.

Contact Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute

Experience the difference in ultrasound education. Call Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute today U.S. toll free at 1.800.619.1900 or 727.363.4500 for more details on a customized onsite program or on one of our regularly scheduled courses. For a free Onsite Education quote, click here.