RDMS

[sylvanthus]

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Looks like the last posts per SDNs awesome search function were in 2007. Anyone planning on doing this during residency? Thoughts on the process or utility of it all?

800 scans doesn't seem too unreasonable, so figure I may as well shoot for it.

 

[carbonizedeyesockets]

UMass residents average >1000, so it's doable.

 

[deuist]

800 scans doesn't seem too unreasonable, so figure I may as well shoot for it.

Keep in mind that it's 800 scans per body system. 800 abdominal scans is difficult, but might be doable during a 5-year EM/IM residency. More to the point, why do you want to pursue RDMS? It's a technician's certification and likely will not affect your ability to bill for bedside U/S.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Keep in mind that it's 800 scans per body system. 800 abdominal scans is difficult, but might be doable during a 5-year EM/IM residency. More to the point, why do you want to pursue RDMS? It's a technician's certification and likely will not affect your ability to bill for bedside U/S.

I've met a couple residents who have used it to leverage themselves into U/S director jobs immediately after residency without fellowship.

 

[sylvanthus]

Keep in mind that it's 800 scans per body system. 800 abdominal scans is difficult, but might be doable during a 5-year EM/IM residency. More to the point, why do you want to pursue RDMS? It's a technician's certification and likely will not affect your ability to bill for bedside U/S.

Not sure if I will pursue it or not, was trying to get a feel for how useful it is.

 

[Groove]

It's never a bad idea, if you have the time. It's certainly not useless knowledge or experience. I got all the requirements out of the way during residency but never took the 2 exams. It's primarily only going to be useful for you if you plan on pursuing academics and want to fill a potential US directorship role. You're not going to find very much time to play with the sonosite out in private practice.

 

[deuist]

You're not going to find very much time to play with the sonosite out in private practice.

The biggest determinant on whether or not I do a bedside ultrasound is how many people are waiting to be seen.

 

[Hamhock]

The biggest determinant on whether or not I do a bedside ultrasound is if it will change management or outcomes.

I don't ultrasound the optic sheath (which probably isn't the optic sheath, anyway). I frequently ECHO sick paitents, regardless of how many are waiting to be seen.

Then, again, I don't listen to the heart sounds, unless pericarditis is in my differential (and even then I only do it sometimes -- and I will always have done an ECHO).

This is not intended to be flippant. Rather, the post is intended to point out another reason for obtaining a measure of "competence" and 800 scans. I would much rather have an ED doc who has done 1000 ECHOs than an ED doc who has listened to the heart sounds of 10,000 patients.

We all have to choose how we want to spend our "extra time" learning during residency.

OTOH: I am not sure there is much use to the actual letters 'RDMS'.

HH