Title:
Using Videos to Complement the Integration of Cardiac Physical Exam and Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Undergraduate Medical Education

Author:
Beza Mengistu

Area of Concentration (Petal):
Medical Education

Specialty (if any):
Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine

Keywords:
POCUS, Medical Education, Physical Exam

Background:
While the physical exam is a foundational clinical skill, its accuracy is limited by user variability and interpretation. Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) provides real-time anatomical and physiological insights that can complement physical exam findings. Despite increased use of POCUS in undergraduate curricula, integration remains inconsistent and under-resourced. There is a gap in accessible, standardized resources that show how these modalities interact—particularly in cardiac assessments—leaving learners unclear on how to combine findings in real-time clinical decision-making.

Objectives:

• To synthesize cardiac physical exam techniques with POCUS applications
• To provide accessible and standardized teaching tools for students and faculty
• To improve student confidence and skill in integrated bedside diagnostics

Design:
This educational innovation involves the development of a video series demonstrating cardiac physical exam techniques (e.g., auscultation, palpation) and corresponding POCUS applications (e.g., Doppler for valvular regurgitation). Clinical cases illustrate real-world integration of findings. Supplementary materials include faculty teaching guides and student checklists. The videos will be incorporated into existing curricula and made available online to support hybrid learning.

Impact/Effectiveness:
Pre- and post-intervention assessments will evaluate student confidence, knowledge, and ability to integrate exam and ultrasound findings. We anticipate increased proficiency, reduced teaching variability, and improved alignment with competency-based education standards.

Lessons Learned:
Instructor variability and resource access present challenges to POCUS education. Leveraging experienced faculty, simulation centers, and handheld ultrasound devices like Butterfly iQ has helped mitigate these limitations.

Summary:
This project offers a scalable, portable model for integrating traditional and modern diagnostic tools in medical education. It has potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, prepare students for earlier clinical experiences, and inform national curricular frameworks for bedside ultrasound training.