From classroom to bedside: The role of point-of-care ultrasound in undergraduate medical education

Introduction: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has become an indispensable tool for diagnosis, monitoring, and procedure guidance in various medical specialties. Structured POCUS training is essential to provide users with the knowledge and skills needed for clinical practice. Many medical schools have integrated POCUS into their curriculum to familiarize their students with this technology early on in their medical careers. Objective: This review aims to explore the integration of POCUS into the undergraduate medical education curriculum, discussing its benefits, challenges, barriers, and strategies for effective implementation. Discussion: The POCUS educational framework uses various methods that combine the delivery of theoretical knowledge with practical skills training. It is highly recommended that medical schools include the fundamentals of ultrasound physics and knobology, structural anatomy, physiology, basic pathology of various organs, and basic instructions on ultrasound needle guidance for procedures in their POCUS curriculum. Importantly, the curriculum should include a comprehensive plan for assessing competency. The integration of POCUS into undergraduate medical education offers several benefits, including facilitating the teaching of basic sciences, enhancing physical examination skills, improving clinical problem-solving abilities, preparing students for future clinical work, and enhancing the overall educational experience. However, there are challenges associated with this integration, such as a limited availability of qualified instructors, the high financial and logistical investment required, and the complexities of incorporating POCUS into an already compact medical curriculum. With the advancements in ultrasound technology and the integration of artificial intelligence, future research studies are needed to assess how these developments influence the integration of POCUS in undergraduate medical education.