Robin Perlmutter Goldenson, MD - Director
rperlmutter@bwh.harvard.edu
617-732-6280
Robin Perlmutter Goldenson, MD for course approval
rperlmutter@bwh.harvard.edu
4.00 Credits (Clinical Elective)
BWH
HMS Principal Clinical Experience (Core Clinical Clerkships) or equivalent
Full time during months when adequate staffing is available and upon approval from the course director
Yes (may be restricted for international students)
This course provides an opportunity for students who, having completed the core clerkship in Radiology, wish further advanced instruction in Ultrasound. Students will spend four weeks in the Ultrasound Division of the Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. During these four weeks, the students will be supervised by the Brigham and Women’s attending Radiology Ultrasound specialists, including Dr. Robin Perlmutter-Goldenson and Dr. Sara Durfee. The student will also be paired with an experienced ultrasound technologist and will be given hands-on instruction as to how to perform ultrasound examinations including abdominal, renal, thyroid, and scrotal studies, with a heavy emphasis on gynecologic and obstetric ultrasound exams. Students will learn the essentials of diagnostic ultrasound in a busy academic practice, including indications and limitations of these studies, practical tips for performing the studies, interpretation of the exam, and generation of a radiology report.
Each day, the student will be scanning approximately 12 patients, from the taking of a clinical history through scanning, image interpretation, and completion of the report. Over the course of the rotation, they will evaluate approximately 240 patients. Depending on availability and student interest, short observations (1-2 days) can be arranged in the High Risk Obstetrical Unit and/or the Vascular Lab. Daily attendance at Ultrasound and Radiology conferences is required. By the end of the clerkship, the student will be comfortable with the basic scanning techniques and will be able to identify common abnormalities on Ultrasound. Weekly reading assignments will be given. The student will be assessed with a final examination at the end of the clerkship and will present two interesting cases to one of the course directors. This course would be particularly suited to a student interested in Diagnostic Radiology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Emergency Medicine, Medicine, or Surgery.
Students are evaluated during a one-on-one session at the PACS work station with one of the course directors, wherein the student is asked to demonstrate the findings of representative cases in the reading room. The methods of student evaluation will include a written examination as well as an evaluation of the student’s scanning ability. Evidence of attendance at daily morning conference and at daily departmental noon conferences will be noted as secondary evaluation points. Comments from the supervising faculty, fellows, and residents in the ultrasound division are also considered as secondary evaluation points.
Describe the criteria used for each grade in the course:
Honors with Distinction:
Confident use of radiology PACS to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology of the cases seen during the rotation. Facility with scanning demonstrated by the end of the rotation. Recognition of common abnormalities seen on ultrasound, with proper use of ultrasound terminology. Appropriate sensitivity to patients and awareness of their needs. Communicates clearly and uses appropriate language with patients while performing an ultrasound examination. Daily attendance at morning conference and noon conferences. Enthusiastic comments from supervising staff.
Honors:
Confident use of radiology PACS to demonstrate most radiologic findings and with a basic knowledge of the anatomy and pathophysiology of the cases. Strong scanning ability demonstrated by the end of the rotation. Recognition of most common abnormalities seen on ultrasound, using appropriate ultrasound terms. Appropriate sensitivity to patients and awareness of their needs. Communicates clearly and uses appropriate language with patients while performing an ultrasound examination. Attendance at majority of radiology noon conferences and morning conference. Good staff feedback suppporting the student’s attendance in the reading room.
Pass:
Adequate ability to use radiology PACS to present some findings relative to the cases seen; rudimentary knowledge of anatomy and pathophysiology. Limited scanning ability demonstrated by the end of the rotation. Able to recognize some of the common abnormalities seen on ultrasound, with limited understanding of ultrasound terminology. Limited sensitivity to patients and with help can attend to immediate needs. Communicates adequately using appropriate language with patients while performing an ultrasound examination. Attendance at less than half of radiology noon conferences. No negative feedback from supervising staff.
Unsatisfactory:
Limited ability or inability to retrieve and display cases on radiology PACS. Unable to identify normal structures on ultrasound while scanning. Unable to recognize any common abnormalities seen on ultrasound, with no understanding of ultrasound terminology. Insensitive to patients and unaware of their needs. Poor communication with patients while performing an ultrasound examination. Consistent failure of attendance at radiology conferences. Disruptive behavior in reading room, negative feedback from the staff, or unexplained absences.