Emergency Medicine Residency

Division of Ultrasound

Emergency ultrasound has been embedded in our curriculum since 1998, and has become integral to the way we practice emergency medicine. The program that not only prepares our residents for the use of ultrasound in clinical medicine but also explores new and novel ways in which ultrasound can be incorporated into the emergency department. The majority of the faculty are credentialed in the use of ultrasound

CIRRICULUM
We have a comprehensive ultrasound curriculum that includes all the primary applications of emergency sonography, and a number of the secondary applications including DVT, GU, musculoskeletal and procedural ultrasound. These topics are covered in detailed didactic sessions and extensive hands-on time that are embedded into the core content lecture series and repeated twice throughout the three year residency. The educational and clinical program has been modeled after the ACEP ultrasound credentialing guidelines and our residents are proficient is the performance and interpretation of bedside sonography at the completion of their training.

ROTATION
All interns have a four week ultrasound rotation in which they can gain the skills and knowledge to perform ultrasound in emergency medicine. The rotation includes intense bedside scanning, as well as evaluation of current emergency medicine ultrasound literature, QA experience, and case presentations.

INTEREST GROUP
Our emergency medicine ultrasound interest group meets monthly. In it, we discuss on going research projects, QA, current ultrasound literature, and many other topics. This meeting serves as the forum for our ultrasound residents to discuss their work, as well as a place for the residents in the ultrasound track to meet regularly.

ULTRASOUND TRACK
Residents in emergency medicine at Cooper have the opportunity to expand their academic knowledge and experience through our “track” system. Early in their training, residents pick a track that suites their interests. In these tracks, residents gain a greater depth of knowledge about their area of interest. One such track is our ultrasound track. In it, residents get to spend extra time learning ultrasound, participating in research, teaching, and going to regional and national ultrasound events.

ELECTIVE
Seniors who wish additional ultrasound experience can opt for our ultrasound elective. In this elective, participants not only solidify their bedside skills, they also spend time learning more advanced ultrasound techniques. The elective is designed to give residents some of the experience they need to run an ultrasound program. To this end, technology, QA, credentialing, billing, and documentation issues figure heavily in the curriculum.

RESEARCH
The division of ultrasound is actively involved in research. Currently we have active projects in first trimester pelvic ultrasound, and pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound. Future projects will include working with our institutions on-going sepsis research to incorporate ultrasound into the evaluation of the hypotensive patient. Also, we are beginning to work with a major ultrasound manufacturer to help develop emergency medicine bedside documentation tools.

Thank you for your interest in ultrasound education here at Cooper. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me:

Lisa Filippone, M.D.
Director, Division of Ultrasound
Department of Emergency Medicine
Cooper University Hospital
filippone-lisa@cooperhealth.edu