Neonatal Perinatal Medicine Fellow University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Background: POCUS enhances procedural safety and enables rapid intervention in critically ill neonates. Despite endorsement from the AAP and ASE (American Society of Echocardiography), POCUS is used in only 30% of NICU fellowships due to a shortage of trained staff, absence of a structured curriculum, and limited on-site training. Through cross-departmental collaboration, we established a sustainable POCUS training curriculum aligned with ESPNIC (European Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care) guidelines. Objective: 1. To develop a longitudinal neonatal POCUS curriculum for NICU faculty and fellows focusing on both diagnostic and procedural applications. 2. To evaluate the progression of competency levels in six core and advanced applications over a 12-month period following curriculum implementation. Design/Methods: Following a needs assessment conducted after an introductory workshop, six core and advanced competencies related to diagnostic and procedural applications of POCUS were identified. A 12-month longitudinal neonatal POCUS curriculum was developed through multi-departmental collaboration and integrated into the fellowship program. Training encompassed a blended approach, combining in-person and virtual lectures, web-based tools, mini-workshops, supervised and unsupervised hands-on experience, and use of high-fidelity simulators. Participation was open to all neonatology fellows and faculty at a large academic training center. Proficiency in each competency domain was assessed using the validated Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) scale, with competency levels tracked progressively using three-tier milestones-based approach. Training is expected to conclude by March 1, 2024, with results anticipated by March 31, 2024.