Integrated Obstetric Curriculum for Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency, Radiology Residency and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program at an Accredited American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Diagnostic Ultrasound Center

Objective The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the approach to devel oping an integrated curriculum for obstetric ultrasound training by utilizi ng an accredited American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine teaching plat form. Methods During the 1996-98 academic years, the American College of Obstetri cians and Gynecologists and American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine gu idelines for ultrasound performance and training were integrated into a mul tifaceted training program for obstetric and radiological residents and mat ernal-fetal medicine fellows consisting of a structured reading program, se lf study of a 35-mm slide program of normal/abnormal anatomy, a basic ultra sound and fetal echocardiography interactive CD program, hands-on supervise d scanning program and practical anc certificate-bearing fetal echocardiogr aphy courses for fellows. Al obstetric residents were given pretests and po st-tests to measure learning performance in the program. The results from t hese tests were analyzed for statistical significance. Results Thirteen obstetric residents completed the training program. The lo cally developed pretest showed a mean of 16/40 correct questions with an SD of 1.85. After completing the training, the mean obstetric resident scores on the post-test were 32/40 with an SD of 5.9. This difference was statist ically significantly different, P < 0.009. Radiology residents showed an im provement from no residents passing the obstetric ultrasound portion on the 1996 Radiology Boards to 100% pass rate in 1997 (four residents per year) after completing the course. Maternal-fetal medicine fellows progressed fro m inability to perform acceptable fetal echocardiography to full ability to perform fetal echocardiographic examinations. Conclusion A integrated approach to obstetric ultrasound training for obste tric and radiologic residents and maternal-fetal medicine fellows with mult ifaceted learning methods is easily achieved with available guidance form t he American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Institu te of Ultrasound in Medicine.