A Hybrid Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Curriculum for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residents—a Multi-center Pilot Program

Purpose of Review: The increased use of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) in clinical practice warrants achieving competency earlier in physiatrists’ careers. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency programs have started incorporating formal MSKUS training in their curricula; however, significant heterogeneity remains in MSKUS education. Recent Findings: Numerous barriers contribute to the lack of consensus for MSKUS training during residency, but the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted in-person learning. As an adjunct or alternative to in-person learning, teleguided technology is being utilized. Summary: This curriculum demonstrates the role of a hybrid MSKUS training with interinstitutional collaboration. Twenty PM&R learners, from two institutions, were divided into a fundamental or advanced track. Virtual didactic sessions alternated weekly with hands-on ultrasonographic scanning sessions. Following a 12-month longitudinal curriculum, an end-of-year practical examination was used for competency assessment, in addition to a survey assessing resident perceptions and feedback. To our knowledge, this is the first collaborative and hybrid MSKUS curriculum for PM&R learners that can be easily reproduced at most training institutions and circumvent some of the barriers amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.