ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND FOR PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES
This activity has been reviewed by the American Academy of Physician Associates Review Panel and is compliant with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 10.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits.
In today’s fast-paced world, women’s health providers are constantly seeking ways to enhance their skills and knowledge, particularly in the use of ultrasound technology. Recognizing this need, the A Comprehensive Overview of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Physician Associates has emerged as a vital resource for those looking to master full-scope obstetric ultrasound. This course is specifically tailored for women’s health providers who aim to integrate ultrasound into their clinical practice effectively, from understanding when to utilize this technology to interpreting ultrasound reports and making informed management decisions.
Ultrasound has become an indispensable tool in women’s health, offering real-time insights into the health and development of the fetus throughout pregnancy. The course starts off by addressing the basics: the scope of practice for women’s health providers related to Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) including current guidelines for practice and potential for certification.
First Trimester
It lays a solid foundation by covering essential aspects such as the assessment of gestational age throughout the first trimester and the identification of failed pregnancies. Identification of an ectopic pregnancy is also stressed. These initial steps are crucial for providers learning to navigate the complexities of ultrasound imaging and its implications for patient care. Next is an overview of normal female anatomy and common gynecologic findings. This includes location of a normal and abnormal IUD plaacement, ovarian cysts and fibroids. As the course progresses, learners delve deeper into the intricacies of obstetric ultrasound.
Second Trimester
The second trimester focuses on crucial skills such as anatomical assessments for gestational age, measuring amniotic fluid volume, understanding the significance of transvaginal cervical length screening, and evaluating fetal weight. These components are essential for the comprehensive monitoring and assessment of fetal development, ensuring that providers can offer the best care based on accurate ultrasound findings.
Third Trimester
The third trimester shifts the focus towards assessment of fetal well being withthe Biophysical Profile (BPP), teaching students how to conduct these scans, understand the indications for a BPP, and manage pregnancies based on the BPP score. This segment of the course is particularly vital, as it equips providers with the ability to make critical decisions regarding pregnancy management in the later stages, ensuring both maternal and fetal well-being.
In addition to clinical applications. The course covers physics of ultrasound, how to use the machine to improve images on the screen and bioeffects. Later in the course is a discussion of documentation of the ultrasound findings as well as potential areas for liability.
More Information
One of the standout benefits of this online ultrasound course is its flexibility and accessibility. Designed for busy professionals, it allows women’s health providers to learn at their own pace and convenience, without having to compromise their clinical responsibilities. This accessibility ensures that learning can be integrated seamlessly into their professional lives, making it possible to enhance their ultrasound capabilities while continuing to provide care.
Moreover, the course is comprehensive, covering the full spectrum of obstetric ultrasound, from the first trimester right through to the complexities of the third trimester. This breadth of content ensures that learners emerge with a thorough understanding of both the technical and clinical aspects of ultrasound, ready to apply this knowledge in their practice.
The Comprehensive Overview of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Physician Associates represents a significant advancement in the education of women’s health providers. By offering detailed, practical knowledge on the use of ultrasound across all stages of pregnancy, it empowers providers to improve their diagnostic skills, make informed management decisions, and ultimately, enhance the standard of care for their patients. For any provider looking to expand their expertise in obstetric ultrasound, this course is an invaluable resource, providing the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in the ever-evolving field of women’s health.
Who is the course for?
This online course is made specifically for Physician Associates
It's made for the women’s health provider who:
- does very limited scans (find the head, look for the heartbeat) but wants to learn to do more.
- has learned to scan “on the job” but wants to have more formal education.
- wants to take a certification exam, but does not feel prepared.
- Wants to be able to bill for performing and interpreting scans.
- any women’s health provider who wants to expand their scope of practice to include ultrasound.
What Does the Curriculum Look Like?
Designed with your professional growth in mind, this course encompasses a wide array of essential topics, including:
- Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and Scope of Practice
- Cross Sectional Anatomy, Basic Physics of Diagnostic Ultrasound, and Bioeffects
- Gynecologic POCUS Exams
- First Trimester POCUS Exams
- Second and Third Trimester POCUS Exams
- The Biophysical Profile
- Documentation and Liability
- How to Add POCUS to your Practice
By the End of the Course, Participants Should be Able to:
- Understand the scope of practice for Point of Care Ultrasound.
- Learn about the role as an ultrasound scanner and how to integrate ultrasound information into the management of cases.
- Understand how ultrasound works, including the role of physics in scanning and creating quality images.
- Describe and apply the bioeffects of ultrasound to clinical settings.
- Be able to interpret basic scanning images confidently.
- Understand the physiology behind and learn how to interpret the Biophysical Profile.
- Learn the importance of documentation and the potential risks for liability in ultrasound scanning.
This activity has been reviewed by the American Academy of Physician Associates Review Panel and is compliant with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 10.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits.
Comprehensive Overview of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Online Course Curriculum
- Introduction to POCUS (7:07)
- Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and Scope of Practice (44:27)
- Basic Physics of Diagnostic Ultrasound, and Bioeffects (113:39)
- Cross Sectional Anatomy (16:40)
- Gynecologic POCUS Exams (87:54)
- First Trimester POCUS Exams (98:17)
- Second and Third Trimester POCUS Exams (117:37)
- The Biophysical Profile (43:13)
- Documentation and Liability (55:59)
- Tips To Add POCUS To Your Practice (24:42)
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Carolyn L. Gegor, CNM, MS, FACNM, has had an extensive career in obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound. Carolyn is currently an ultrasound instructor at Ultrasound for Women’s Health Providers.
Carolyn Gegor began her career in ultrasound as an RN in 1972. She learned ultrasound from a physician on-the-job, as no courses were available that early in the development of ultrasound as a diagnostic test. Ms. Gegor then established several courses for new providers to be able to learn the new skills. Carolyn was one of the founders of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) and executed the first nation-wide exams in 1975.
She established the first affiliate of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine in Washington, DC and Maryland. For several years, she worked full time in ultrasound, the went back to her love of labor & birth, while continuing to teach ultrasound skills in obstetrics and gynecology.
Once she became a CNM, Carolyn was very active teaching nurses and midwives to do the Biophysical Profile, and full scope scanning. During that time, she was the Clinical Director of Fetal Assessment at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital. She lectured on ultrasound topics at the ACNM annual meeting for many years during her 25 years of clinical practice and as midwifery academic faculty.
Currently, Carolyn is a member of the ACNM Ultrasound Education Subcommittee. She also represents ACNM as a member of the Midwife Exam Group for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. “In 2021, Carolyn earned the Midwife Sonography Certificate from the ARDMS.
After retiring from clinical practice, Ms. Gegor created Ultrasound for Midwives, now Ultrasound for Women’s Health Providers, to be able to offer highly sought-after hands-on scanning and the necessary background knowledge for doing OB/Gyn Point of Care ultrasound. Now, there is an online course that shares basic information on clinical OB/Gyn ultrasound as well as Physics of ultrasound and varied business topics including practice development, billing and coding, documentation, and liability. She travels to individual practice sites to conduct hands-on scanning education for groups of 4 or more providers.
