Dr Brian O'Connell discusses the results of the EMUGs Survey

1. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
The EMUGs Survey
2015
Brian O’Connell
EM Fellow, RPA Hospital
MICGP, UTEC (eFAST, AAA)

2. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
Why conduct a Survey?
• To gauge current local emergency
ultrasound experience, practice and
training
• To assess level of interest in an EM US
specialist interest group
• To look at the challenges and possible
solutions of progressing US practice

3. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
The Survey: Distribution
• Emailed via the ECI database
to all ED Directors & DEMTs
from Newcastle to Wollongong
• Follow up emails and local EMUGs
enthusiast’s influence

4. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
Survey open & Respondents
• From 7th April for 4 weeks
• 234 Responses
• 133 FACEMs
• 71 Registrars
• 20 Others

5. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
The Hospitals
• 41 separate sites
• Maximum 33
• Minimum 1 respondents
• Average 5.7

6. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
Hospitals
• Highest number
• RPA 33
• John Hunter/Liverpool 29ea
• Bankstown 21
• St.Vincents 15
• St George 14

7. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

8. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

9. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
Ultrasound Qualifications

10. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

11. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

12. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

13. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
• Sexy picture!!!!

14. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

15. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

16. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
Comments:
• Don't see the need; I'm not officially
qualified to read radiographs or ECGs,
but it's part of the practice of EM!!
• Very dubious about value of accreditation
• Credentialing process would need to be
relevant

17. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
“What would you like to be done to help
improve EM US education and training?”
• Lobby ACEM to make credentialing
mandatory in basic modalities for trainees
• Affordability of courses
• A curriculum and trainers who deliver
teaching as per curriculum
• We really need a credentialing program
that is easy to access and fits in with work
on the floor

18. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
• Each Department needs a champion of US
• Formal assessment, feedback
• CCPU already exists work with ASUM
rather than competing course
• Revive UTEC
• Scans to be uploaded on hospital imaging

19. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
What obstacles are there for improving EM US?
How would you recommend addressing them?
• Time. Have half a day a month off the floor
scanning
• Time / work pressures mean US becomes
a discretional extra, rather than a core part
of daily practice
• Money! Getting funding to train people in
ED is difficult

20. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
• ACEM Commitment
• Access to ultrasonographers and ECHO
teachers
• Finding supervisor for CCPU modules
• Inertia, lack of vision by old guard
• Practice practice practice
• No established forum (yet)

21. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
Role for EMUGs?
• Form a collaborative peer group for EM US
discussion
• Encourage appropriate use of EMUS
• Restart ED U/S credentialing
• Advocate for more US positions, time for
training, pathway

22. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
• Increase awareness of need to be
credentialled,
store images for easy reference,
establish standards for image storage and
access/review
• Work with ASUM
• To provide frequent low cost courses which will
give us accreditation
• I'm not a complete luddite, but I think the role of
US needs to be kept in perspective.

23. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
• Get ACEM to recognise EMUS as a core
skill and get US incorporated into ACEM
exams, DOPS, OSCEs, etc.

24. The EMUGs Survey - 2015
Summary
• Education is key
• Credentialing is wanted and will increase
quality and quantity of US use
• Local ‘UTEC’ credentialing process will
take a little more time
• CCPU is great for those motivated
• In house training similar to ECG/CXR
interpretation is essential

25. The EMUGs Survey - 2015

26. The Re-launch of ‘UTEC’
The Re-launch of
‘UTEC’
Brian O’Connell
EM Fellow, RPA Hospital
MICGP, UTEC (eFAST, AAA)

27. The Re-launch of ‘UTEC’
UTEC Governance chart

28. The Re-launch of ‘UTEC’
My understanding
• Participant 2012/13
• Active 2009 until 2013
• Funding ceased
• Cost
• Completed trainees

29. The Re-launch of ‘UTEC’
• Meetings in 2013 to reestablish the
program
• Online platform transfer from GemWorkstar
to ‘HETIonline’
• Discussions with HETI last week
• Awaiting external vendor to deliver
reformated program in 3-4 weeks

30. The Re-launch of ‘UTEC’
Issues with ‘UTEC’ relaunch
• Minor content changes FAST to eFAST
• Ownership and responsibility of running the
program when Online component ready
• Qualified persons to review scans online

31. The Re-launch of ‘UTEC’
• …and now for something completely different!

32. The Re-launch of ‘UTEC’
• Thank you