@article{10.22454/FamMed.2026.925279,
author = {Nguyen, Natalie and Capizzano, Nicoll and Lefevre, Nicholas M. and Paulus, Ryan and Songara, Varshaben M. and Dalal, Puja and Patel, Hiten and Tenegra, Johnny and Trantham, Ryan and Chen, Dongru and Runyon, Amy and Heidelbaugh, Joel J. and Harper, Diane M.},
title = {Curricular Impact of Resource Investments in Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education Among Family Medicine Residency Programs: A CERA Study},
journal = {Family Medicine},
volume = {58},
number = {9},
year = {2026},
month = {10},
pages = {655-669},
doi = {10.22454/FamMed.2026.925279},
abstract = {Background and Objectives: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education added POCUS (point-of-care ultrasound) education to family medicine program requirements in 2023. This study examined the association between institutional resources dedicated to POCUS education and outcomes of POCUS curricula.
Methods: A Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) survey was administered to US family medicine residency program directors (PDs) from April to May 2025. The survey assessed POCUS faculty resources, protected time, ultrasound equipment, curriculum scope, resident assessment, PD satisfaction, and resident engagement. Associations were evaluated using χ2 tests and multinomial multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Of 726 eligible residency programs, 321 (44.2%) responded. Overall, 89% of programs offered POCUS education, although only 18.3% of PDs were satisfied with their curriculum. Programs with two or more POCUS faculty were significantly more likely to provide comprehensive curricula incorporating bedside scanning, image review, and competency assessment. Protected time for the POCUS champion was independently associated with higher PD satisfaction, with programs providing more than 2 hours per week demonstrating 9.3-fold greater odds of satisfaction than those with no protected time (OR 9.32, 95% CI 2.92–29.76). Access to four or more ultrasound machines was also independently associated with greater PD satisfaction (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.54–7.36).
Conclusions: Although POCUS education is widely implemented in family medicine residencies, institutional resources remain highly variable. Dedicated POCUS leadership, protected faculty time, adequate faculty, and sufficient ultrasound equipment were associated with more comprehensive curricula and greater PD satisfaction, providing targets for resource allocation as national POCUS competency standards are implemented.},
URL = {https://journals.stfm.org//familymedicine/2026/october/nguyen-0194/},
eprint = {https://journals.stfm.org//media/us0jrnlq/fammed-58-655.pdf},
}