Introduction to OB GYN Ultrasound

This comprehensive course was created for women’s health practitioners who are interested in adding point-of-care ultrasound to their scope of practice. It consists of a combination of recorded lectures and hands-on scanning videos. We start at the beginning to give you a foundation for building your skill set. Ultrasound is a critical piece in the puzzle of women’s health and we are proud to be a part of advancing the availability of quality ultrasound services to the world.

This course begins with a series of lectures on ultrasound principles, image orientation, scanning technique, and knobology. This is your foundation. Once you understand the basics of ultrasound, we move on to anatomy and physiology. Here we begin with the nongravid pelvis. This includes evaluation of the uterus, ovaries, endometrium and cervix. Next, we review the first-trimester exam from conception through the thirteenth week. This includes crown-rump length measurements, gestational sac and yolk sac evaluation, and m-mode assessment for viability, and abnormal findings. We move into the second trimester by reviewing the growth and anatomy scan. This lecture series focuses on normal. Once you can identify normal, you can catch an anomaly. The third trimester is covered next. Here, we discuss biometry, amniotic fluid assessment, placenta location, cervical length, and the biophysical profile. An introduction to twins is included because you never know when you will encounter them! We also include common anomalies and syndromes. Finally, we include a physics section that provides a firm foundation for creating the ultrasound image and how we can manipulate it.

Hands-on scanning videos help to solidify the concepts taught in the lectures and provide practical guidance for incorporating ultrasound into your practice.

Course Objectives

1. Recognize basic ultrasound artifacts
2. Discover common pathology and limitations of ultrasound
3. Perform a basic non-gravid ultrasound exam
4. Identify the uterus, ovaries, endometrium and cervix
5. Identify an intrauterine pregnancy and measure the crown rump length
6. Acquire an M-mode tracing of the fetal heart
7. Perform a biophysical profile
8. Measure the biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length for growth assessment
9. Measure the amniotic fluid
10.Identify the cervix and placental location
11. Communicate in a culturally-sensitive manner to patients who refuse transvaginal ultrasounds and discuss available alternatives.

CME Credits

This course consists of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™  This course fulfills the ARDMS continuing medical education requirement to apply for the ARDMS Midwife Sonography Certificate.

The presentational method for this activity will be video presentation of Lecture, Case Study Review, Hands-on Demonstration, Simulated or Live Patient, and Lab Exercises. This activity is geared to meet the educational requirements of OB/GYN and Primary Care Physicians as well as Nurse Practitioners, Nurse-Midwives, and Physician Assistants. This activity will encompass the following desirable physician attributes: Patient Care & Procedural Skills, Medical Knowledge, Professionalism, and Practice-Based Learning & Improvement.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of PeerPoint Medical Education Institute, LLC and Sonosession, LLC. The PeerPoint Medical Education Institute, LLC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.