Emergency ultrasound credentialling for focused assessment sonography in trauma and abdominal aortic aneurysm: A practical approach for Australasia.
OBJECTIVE
Focused assessment with sonography for trauma and emergency ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm are now practiced widely by non-radiologists in emergency departments worldwide. Various credentialling programs have been proposed for novice sonographers; however, their feasibility has been questioned. We adopted the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) credentialling process for emergency ultrasound to determine whether it is feasible for emergency physicians in the Australasian environment.


METHODS
Three full-time emergency medicine specialists and a post-Fellowship Examination trainee at Auckland Hospital undertook the credentialling process.


RESULTS
All four participants had sufficient scans to complete the process after 16 months. Accuracy for focused assessment with sonography for trauma, 90% (95% CI 83-95%), and abdominal aortic aneurysm, 99% (95% CI 90-100%), is similar to that previously reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The ACEM credentialling process for focused assessment with sonography for trauma and abdominal aortic aneurysm is practical and achievable for emergency medicine specialists working in the Emergency Department at Auckland Hospital. Further studies are necessary to determine whether this holds true for other major trauma centres in Australasia.
Jones
Peter G
PG
Departments of Emergency Medicine, Radiology, Auckland Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Peterj@adhb.govt.nz
Peak
Stephen
S
McClelland
Andy
A
Holden
Andrew
A
Higginson
Ian
I
Gamble
Greg
G
D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003406:Credentialing; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D009520:New Zealand; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*