We are hosting an intensive point of care ultrasound (POCUS) training course for emergency medicine residents and clinicians at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana. We will cover multiple body systems including cardiac, pulmonary, FAST exam, RUSH exam, female pelvis, biliary, and renal. We will also cover procedural skills using ultrasound such as ultrasound guided IV placement, central line, arterial line, lumbar puncture, and arthrocentesis. Our goal is to educate clinicians on the use of bedside ultrasound so they can utilize these skills in caring for emergency room patients.
We will be working directly with emergency medicine residents and clinicians at KATH. Ultrasound is low cost and high yield which will undoubtedly benefit the population of Kumasi when they present to the emergency department. KATH has the first emergency medicine residency in Ghana and it has only been opened since 2009. Continuing to educate residents and clinicians on current and best practice will ensure patient care remains at a high standard. Incorporating ultrasound into medical practice, especially emergency medicine, can not only help to identify life threatening ailments quickly but is also extremely cost effective as it can be used to spare more invasive testing and procedures.
Our goal is that after the course the clinicians at KATH feel more comfortable in their ultrasound skills and will continue to use POCUS when treating patients in the emergency department. The skills acquired by KATH clinicians during the course can be then taught to other clinicians throughout the hospital. Becoming more skilled at POCUS enables clinicians to identify life threatening conditions in real time, thus improving patient care and outcomes. Participants in the course can also easily continue to improve on the skills we will be teaching long after the course ends, thus ensuring lasting impact.
Two emergency medicine physician colleagues and I hosted a two-day POCUS course for residents at KATH. The course comprised of lecture, hands on practice with volunteer models, and then clinical application in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Ward. While the majority of the trainees were EM residents, we also had trauma, internal medicine, and anaesthesia residents join as well.
Working with the residents at KATH was an incredible experience. They were motivated, eager, and excited to participate--we even had a few people that came to the all day course direct from their overnight shifts! It was amazing to see them apply the skills we just practiced to real life clinical scenarios in the A&E. Throughout Ghana, it is incredibly difficult to obtain advanced imaging such as CT scans and as such POCUS is being increasingly important in the diagnosis and treatment of acute medical conditions. These skills will enable physicians to improve patient care and outcomes. Overall it was an amazing trip and I can't wait to back and work with them again in the future!
