Ultrasound is considered one of the most important, non-invasive diagnostic tools for the assessment of the degree of heart failure. Heart failure is a broad diagnosis and can have many causes and multiple pathologies. Physicians dealing with patients with COVID-19 have noted an association with this respiratory virus and cardiovascular complications. According to the American College of Cardiology “The specific effects of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system remain unclear, though there have been reports of acute cardiac injury, arrhythmias, hypotension, tachycardia, and a high proportion of concomitant cardiovascular disease in infected individuals, particularly those who require more intensive care” (1). The use of bedside ultrasound can provide a rapid and safe method to diagnose heart failure and augment clinical decision making in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, resulting in decreased time to treatment, increased patient safety, and improved over-all patient outcomes.
To learn more about how to utilize ultrasound to assess heart failure, I welcome you to view the final presentation of our free webinar series “Combating COVID-19”, “Ultrasound Evaluation of Heart Failure” this Monday, April 27, 2020. This free webinar will run from 10:00 am EST on 4/27 through 10:00 am EST on 4/28 (24-hour access). There is an option to purchase CME for the activity if desired. This presentation will review the ultrasound evaluation of heart failure including advanced quantification techniques.
For those seeking a more comprehensive review of Adult Echocardiography or in need of more hands-on scanning experience, we encourage you to attend our upcoming Blended or Live Adult Echocardiography courses.
The Blended Adult Echocardiography Course at Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute combines the comprehensive online course with two days (12 hours) of live hands-on scanning. You will have 15 months UNLIMITED access to the online course, which features the exact same lectures as the comprehensive live course. The hands-on scanning workshop takes place June 15-16, 2020 at Gulfcoast's facility in St. Petersburg, FL which offers the industry leading 3:1 participant to faculty hands-on scan ratio to guarantee you leave with skills you can immediately incorporate into your clinical practice.
The Live Adult Echocardiography course is perfect for those who prefer the more traditional style of a live learning environment. Join Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute at the main facility in St. Petersburg, FL July 27-31, 2020 for a week of comprehensive lectures presented by leading Adult Echocardiography experts. All of the live courses are limited to 50 participants or less so you can feel confident that you will have the time, and socially-distanced space, you need to gain the skills you need to be more confident and competent in utilizing bedside ultrasound for cardiac evaluation. This course incorporates comprehensive lectures, interactive case presentations, system optimization, human heart cadaver labs, and extensive hands-on scanning sessions with an industry leading 3:1 participant to faculty ratio.
For those interested in obtaining certification through POCUS Academy, Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute is a preferred education provider which means:
- Tuition for the Blended or Live Adult Echocardiography courses includes a 20% discount on POCUS Certification Academy assessment/certification fees.
- Our courses meet all POCUS Certification Academy exam pre-requisites and will provide a peer evaluation and case log enabling attendees to immediately sit for the relevant POCUS Point-of-Care Certificate or Certification assessment.
- Introduction to Emergency Medicine Ultrasound
- Introduction to Critical Care Ultrasound
- Advanced Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Ultrasound
- Ultrasound Guided Vascular Access
- Trauma & Acute Care Sonography
- Ultrasound Guided Nerve Blocks in Emergency Medicine
Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute offers multiple courses focused on Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Ultrasound. Summer Courses offerings are June 4-5, 2020 which is a Blended Course format. Course offerings include:
All courses offer 15 months UNLIMITED access to the online course and the hands-on workshops will take place June 4th, 5th or combination of both days, depending on course selections.
No matter the level of experience you have, Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute is here to help you increase your competence and confidence in utilizing bedside ultrasound so you can incorporate it into your clinical practice and see how it improves your patient care and outcomes.
