The University of Pennsylvania
The faculty of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Division of Emergency Ultrasound are well integrated into educational and research resources of a leading nationally ranked university. The campus includes the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Presbyterian Medical Center, the Veterans Administration Hospital, the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and other important institutions that combine to create a robust environment for research and scientific training.
The Division of Emergency Ultrasound
The Division of Emergency Ultrasound (DEUS) was established in the Emergency Department at the University of Pennsylvania in to serve as a focal point for multidisciplinary research across the full spectrum of ultrasound science from bench to bedside. The mission of the DEUS is to advance research, education and training to improve patient care and medical education. The DEUS meets weekly to provide quality assurance and discuss ongoing research projects. The DEUS has developed a broad multidisciplinary team with expertise in procedural and diagnostic ultrasound, education and care. Collaborations with the Departments of Trauma, Critical Care, Pediatric EM, Nursing, and with the Center for Resuscitation Science have resulted in a range of scientific investigations, past and ongoing. A selection of the papers generated by this collaborative effort appears below.
The DEUS has research space less than 100 feet from the Emergency Department. The DEUS currently has 5 ultrasound machines that are used 24/7 in clinical practice, training and research. Outside of the Division, mentorship, collaboration and guidance are available from the Vice Chair for Research Dr. Benjamin Abella. The Division also has access to the full-time departmental biostatistician Dr. Francis Schoffer, in addition to access to the resources of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Contribution of Environment to Success of the DEUS
The DEUS has had a track record of successful funding and publication in part due to the extensive resources available at Penn and in the University of Pennsylvania Health System and hospitals. These resources include grant support personnel, experts in data acquisition, entry, management, and analysis, and electronic charting tools that facilitate data access and acquisition. Strong support from the Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and relevant leadership has been instrumental in our productivity. The DEUS at HUP provides a unique opportunity for aspiring investigators to assess how ultrasound technology can be used in the treatment and care of Emergency Department patients and to advance the knowledge of our subspecialty.