Ultrasound
Director: Diku Mandavia, MD
The DEM continues to be national leader in the field of emergency ultrasonography.
• The DEM started one of the original EM ultrasound programs in 1993. Bedside ultrasound has now been fully integrated into all clinical care at USC with eight ultrasound machines dedicated for emergency department use.
• All residents receive formal ultrasound training as part of the core emergency medicine training program. Incoming PGY2 residents receive a basic 16 hour course each fall and each spring, the senior residents are given an advanced course in which they learn developing techniques in emergency ultrasound. Residents learn focused ultrasound in the following applications: trauma (FAST exam), biliary tract aorta, renal, pelvic, echocardiography, procedural ultrasound, DVT, lung and ocular ultrasound.
• Graduating residents are expected to achieve the national EM training guideline of 40 hours and 150 examinations. All graduates exceed this credential with some residents having completed >1100 ultrasound examinations. Senior residents with special interest in ultrasound have also been successful in passing the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (RDMS) exam during their residency.
• Departmental expertise has helped develop other ultrasound programs. The DEM has assisted other hospitals nationally and internationally in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. In addition, the department is consistently represented at state, national & international ultrasound training courses and meetings.
• Research in emergency ultrasound continues to grow. The DEM is actively involved in ultrasound research and some recent projects have addressed emergency applications of: renal ultrasound, foreign body ultrasound, pediatric and adult trauma ultrasound, central line insertion, ultrasound in hypotensive patients, ultrasound training requirements and the use of ultrasound in diverticulitis. New projects include ocular ultrasound, mid-level provider performed ultrasound and pneumothorax detection.