Survey of Physician Assistant Curriculum in Ultrasound at Des Moines University
Location
E4110
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
30-11-2023 3:50 PM
End Date
30-11-2023 4:30 PM
Description
Abstract
There is great interest nationwide in integrating ultrasound into the physician assistant (PA) curriculum over the recent years. Two of the biggest challenges that impair implementation of ultrasound into PA programs are lack of access to ultrasound machines and trained faculty. Des Moines University started ultrasound training for the PA program in their first year since 2017. The PA ultrasound curriculum consists of ultrasound teaching or training in didactic lectures, anatomy, cardiac physiology, vascular ultrasound, muscular skeletal ultrasound, FAST exam, and central line placement. A three-year survey of the PA ultrasound curriculum was conducted showing that the students significantly favored ultrasound teaching or training in didactic lectures, anatomy, cardiac physiology, and vascular ultrasound. Muscular skeletal ultrasound, FAST exam, and central line placement were not significantly favored with the least favored being central line placement. This shows a solid ultrasound curriculum for PA that is well received at DMU and has room for improvement. Areas of future improvement will be based in student evaluations and survey data. DMU is committed to ultrasound training in the College of Health Sciences, and the PA program are leaders in advancing ultrasound within their college.
Recommended Citation
Qi, Kevin Z.; Taylor, Holland; Ma, Peter; Benzoni, Thomas; Fell, John; Matz, Donald; Clayton, Sarah; and Carnevale, Kevin A., "Survey of Physician Assistant Curriculum in Ultrasound at Des Moines University" (2023). DMU Research Symposium. 74.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2023rs/2023abstracts/74
Survey of Physician Assistant Curriculum in Ultrasound at Des Moines University
E4110
Abstract
There is great interest nationwide in integrating ultrasound into the physician assistant (PA) curriculum over the recent years. Two of the biggest challenges that impair implementation of ultrasound into PA programs are lack of access to ultrasound machines and trained faculty. Des Moines University started ultrasound training for the PA program in their first year since 2017. The PA ultrasound curriculum consists of ultrasound teaching or training in didactic lectures, anatomy, cardiac physiology, vascular ultrasound, muscular skeletal ultrasound, FAST exam, and central line placement. A three-year survey of the PA ultrasound curriculum was conducted showing that the students significantly favored ultrasound teaching or training in didactic lectures, anatomy, cardiac physiology, and vascular ultrasound. Muscular skeletal ultrasound, FAST exam, and central line placement were not significantly favored with the least favored being central line placement. This shows a solid ultrasound curriculum for PA that is well received at DMU and has room for improvement. Areas of future improvement will be based in student evaluations and survey data. DMU is committed to ultrasound training in the College of Health Sciences, and the PA program are leaders in advancing ultrasound within their college.
