230 - Empowering the Next Generation: Developing an Adaptable Neonatal POCUS Curriculum for Neonatal Providers

Publication Number: 230.4726

Emma Prichard, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, United States; Katrina Savioli, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, United States

Background: Despite widespread use of Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in adult and pediatric critical care, it has only recently emerged as a valuable tool in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Many neonatal providers do not have the necessary training to effectively utilize POCUS. Traditional training models often lack focus on neonatal-specific applications and consist of isolated, short-term courses, limiting skill development and retention.

Objective: To develop and implement a focused neonatal POCUS curriculum that provides hands-on training and fosters ongoing skill development serving as a model for training military neonatologists nationwide.

Design/Methods: The curriculum was developed using Kern's Six-Step Approach to Curriculum Development and guidance from the 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report on the use of POCUS in the NICU. A needs assessment identified a high level of interest in POCUS, but limited experience and comfort as well as identified specific areas of interest leading to the creation of unit specific goals and objectives. A multidisciplinary team of POCUS experts from various specialties was assembled to act as POCUS champions, assisting in various components of the curriculum. An intensive 1-day course focuses on core POCUS skills of interest, including machine basics and knobology and image acquisition and interpretation. The longitudinal curriculum encompasses quarterly hands-on and didactic sessions reinforcing practical skills and clinical applications; weekly image review and quality assurance fostering continuous learning and expert feedback; NICU POCUS WhatsApp group facilitating real-time case discussions, image sharing, and peer-to-peer learning.

Results: The first iteration of the curriculum was launched in July 2024 with a 1-day course for 10 providers. It incorporated self-paced pre-course work, case-based didactics, and hands-on training. Pre- and post-course surveys assessed participant confidence in various POCUS domains using a Likert scale. Overall self-reported confidence using POCUS increased from an average score of 2.09 to 3.82 (0 – strongly disagree in confidence to 5 – strongly agree in confidence). Additionally, pre- and post-course tests demonstrated improved knowledge, with average scores increasing from 66.7% to 80.1%.

Conclusion(s): This innovative curriculum effectively addresses the need for comprehensive training in neonatal POCUS. By leveraging a hub-and-spoke model, this program can be disseminated across the military health system in a low-cost fashion leading to improved patient care.