Diagnostic bedside ultrasound has become increasingly common in pediatric critical care medicine across the United States. However, the infrastructure to support these programs, specifically within acute care settings, often lags behind the technology’s adoption. A recent survey assessed the implementation of core elements essential for successful bedside ultrasound programs in pediatric critical care divisions. These critical components include training protocols, credentialing processes, image storage solutions, robust documentation practices, and comprehensive quality assurance measures.
This cross-sectional needs assessment, distributed to leaders in education and bedside ultrasound training within Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited pediatric critical care medicine fellowships, revealed a significant gap. While 63% of responding divisions were actively utilizing diagnostic bedside ultrasound, critical core program elements were notably absent in many. Notably, divisions with larger units demonstrated a statistically significant increase in credentialing and documentation practices, suggesting resource availability may influence program element implementation. Despite variations in unit size, a strong consensus emerged: respondents overwhelmingly agreed on the high impact of each core element for effective Acute Care Program Development, acknowledging the considerable effort required for their implementation. Furthermore, a significant majority (83%) believed diagnostic bedside ultrasound should be a mandatory component of fellowship education, provided that the necessary structural elements are in place.
In conclusion, while diagnostic bedside ultrasound is increasingly integrated into pediatric critical care training and clinical practice, the foundational programmatic infrastructure is frequently underdeveloped. These core elements are recognized as vital for successful acute care program development, irrespective of division size. The development of shared, standardized resources could significantly reduce the implementation burden, facilitating the measurement of crucial educational and clinical outcomes and ultimately enhancing patient care within pediatric acute care settings.
