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MED STUDENT ROTATION

A warm welcome to the Medical Student Emergency Ultrasound Rotation at LA General Medical Center. Below you will find information about your rotation:

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Rotation requirements:

  1. Complete ten 6-hour scanning shifts during the course of the 2-week rotation, where you scan with attending physicians/residents. 

  2. Complete online self study. Please read the following sections in Sonoguide prior to the first Wednesday of the rotation: Introduction, Physics, FAST, Aortic Aneurysm, Cardiac, Gall Bladder, Renal, Early Pregnancy, Soft Tissue, and Vascular Access, at a minimum. You are welcome to read additional sections of interest. If you are interested in additional online self-study, we can direct you to numerous excellent online resources.

  3. Attend ultrasound education day every Wednesday 9am-12pm 

  4. Attend DEM grand rounds every Thursday 9am-1pm.

  5. Prepare a case presentation. Choose an interesting case that you saw during your rotation and prepare a 5-8 minute powerpoint/keynote to present the clinical case (history and physical, labs/studies), the ultrasound images, and relevant teaching points. You can ask any US faculty how to obtain US images.

  6. Read and present assigned journal club articles during Wednesday conference (these will be emailed to you in advance.)

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Scanning shift details:

  • One of the ultrasound team members will meet you on your first Monday at 7am in the ED West doctors’ room.  One of them will orient you to how the ultrasound machines work, where the machines are located, how to scan, and how save and interpret your studies.

  • During your scanning shifts, you should scan independently as well as with residents and faculty. Scanning independently will allow you to become more comfortable holding the probe and operating the machine, but is likely to be more useful after you have had some proctored time with faculty. If you are scanning independently, be sure to introduce yourself to the attending and resident caring for the patient you plan to scan AND inform the patient that you are learning and the results of the ultrasound will be reviewed by someone with more experience and will not impact his or her immediate care.  Your goal is to scan at least 5 patients per day (scans where you are actually holding the probe, not observing.) You will find this easiest to accomplish by wheeling a machine around the department and scanning whatever seems interesting. Ask residents working clinically if they have interesting cases to ultrasound. Alternatively, any patient with chest pain, abdominal pain, or dyspnea may be appropriate to ultrasound.

  • While we expect you to scan during the days Monday through Friday, you are welcome to scan on weekends or overnights if you prefer.

  • Ultrasound faculty are available to scan with you during their scanning shifts, but you need to email them in advance to set up a time. You can view the scanning shift schedule by clicking “Calendar & Events” at the top of this page. Try to scan with a different faculty member each week so you are exposed to different teaching styles. Please email faculty members directly to reserve a time to scan

  • Ultrasound Faculty can be reached on the Ultrasound VoIP x91646 (from a department phone) during their scanning shifts.

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Saving your ultrasound studies:

  • Save all of your scans on the machine by entering M4A or M4B (whichever you are assigned) under reading doctor and enter the c-number (or e-number) of the person scanning with you under referring doctor. Also make sure to input the medical record number for each scan. Your QPATH password will be emailed to you.

  • Enter your interpretation in Qpath. We will review your scans each week. We will orient you on how to submit worksheets in QPATH on the first day of your rotation.

  • Try to submit worksheets on the day that you perform the scans, to aid you in remembering the scan and to allow adequate time for US Faculty QA. Feel free to call attention to interesting scans during Wednesday didactics.

Letters of recommendation:

  • We will consider writing letters of recommendation for students who complete a 4 week rotation.

  • Please contact me if you are interested in a letter from the Emergency Ultrasound Division.

Rotation Contact:

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Alex Lee, MD

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