Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) selective

In this rotation residents will perform daily ultrasound and procedural support to the MTU and/or GIM consult service. Up to two residents will be accepted per block. Approximately 4-6 blocks are offered yearly. It is expected that the residents will perform scans and procedures initially under direct supervision and teach under direct supervision.

Trainees are expected to perform and log a minimum of 150 scans during the elective and all educational scans performed must be reviewed within 2 weeks by the ultrasound director/co-director. Independent scan time will also be expected in order to meet scanning requirements.  Thursday afternoons are POCUS academic half day and attendance is mandatory.

There is no evening call/night call but Calgary residents may be asked to cover one MTU weekend (8 am-8 pm).  Trainees are expected to present a minimum of one landmark article and participate in at least one MTU noon round teaching. Trainees will also be expected to participate in scanning and specialty clinics off-site (RGH, SHC, PLC). Trainees may also have an opportunity to rotate through the pulmonary dyspnea clinic, lumbar puncture clinic, interventional radiology, and gastroenterology clinic for point-of-care bowel ultrasound, where available.

Successful completion of the rotation must include a successful performance in a formal end-of-rotation assessment.  Those who successfully pass this rotation are expected to assist with teaching other residents in scan shifts at select academic half days or other educational settings subsequent to the rotation. 

Typical non-elective POCUS training

In addition to the POCUS rotation, additional opportunities include training as a superuser (approximately 6 trainees per year are accepted into the super user program) and our program works with three sonographers who provide didactic training as well as 24 hours of hands-on small group scanning sessions.