Abstract
CONTEXT: New ACGME guidelines in Family Medicine Residency training newly encourage training in point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS). Prior studies focus on the perceived needs of learners rather than needs of the patients or communities in which these residents practice. In accordance with ACGME recommendations, we performed a community needs assessment to inform POCUS curriculum development within a Family Medicine residency. OBJECTIVE: 1) prioritize community needs by analyzing EHR metrics of the residency clinic site; 2) map AAFP curriculum topics to EHR results to identify training gaps; 3) triangulate EHR results with resident and faculty survey data. STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS: We conducted a multi-method study, incorporating both survey and EHR data. All variables were summarized using descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages. Ranking data were scored to allow the calculation of mean ranks. SETTING OR DATASET: Survey data include level of training, prior experience with POCUS, and perceived importance and familiarity with 35 different POCUS modalities. EHR data includes all imaging studies (n=1237) ordered in 2023 at the FMP clinic and their associated ICD-10 codes and imaging priority (STAT vs. Routine). POPULATION STUDIED: Survey respondents include n=17 Family Medicine residents and faculty. INTERVENTION/INSTRUMENT: The survey was developed de novo. OUTCOME MEASURES: POCUS topics ranked most and least important for use in Family Medicine; frequency counts of ICD-10 codes associated with imaging orders and associated percentages of total imaging orders. RESULTS: 29% of FMP imaging orders could be fulfilled with POCUS modalities from the AAFP guidelines. The most common POCUS modalities that could be employed were classified as OB/GYN (34%), Hepatobiliary/Abdominal (22%), Vascular (15%) and Renal/Genitourinary (13%). Obstetrics (placental location, fetal presentation, AFI, heartbeat) and 2 musculoskeletal topics (assessment for joint effusion; ultrasound-guided joint injection) were ranked most important by residents and faculty. Full results to be reviewed at presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Given the benefits and novelty of POCUS in the primary care setting, Family Medicine residencies should use both learner and community needs assessments to prioritize POCUS curriculum design to satisfy the new ACGME Family Medicine training recommendations and improve the outcomes of the communities they serve.