Procedures

Simulation Curriculum

UCLA has a state of the art simulation center, complete with realistic ICU, operative, inpatient ward, and outpatient clinic rooms. Numerous simulators are used including high fidelity mannequins, task trainers (central lines, lumbar puncture, intraosseous lines, etc), and virtual reality trainers (TTE, TEE, endoscopy, etc). Our high fidelity scenario based curriculum covers all three years of residency. Interns have a half day small group session (3-5 residents) focused on management of common, but acute situations. At the R2 retreat at the beginning of the second year, all R2’s receive a day of instruction in code blue leadership as well as central line and intraosseous line placement. Throughout the PGY2 and PGY3 years, twice monthly interdisciplinary sessions occur with med/surg nurses, ICU nurses, critical care transport team members, and anesthesia residents. Beginning in 2013, we began a year-long simulation elective for senior residents with an interest in medical education; these residents are brought behind the scenes and learn the principles of simulation instruction, eventually writing, running, and debriefing their own scenario. In addition to high fidelity simulation, our use of ultrasound and procedural trainers is also growing with regularly recurring sessions on central line placement, intraosseous lines, lumbar punctures, bedside ultrasound and others.

Procedure Curriculum

Procedure Teaching Service

All of our residents rotate through the Procedure Teaching Service during their intern year. Residents receive 1-on-1 training from hospitalist specially trained in bedside procedures including central lines, ultrasound guided IV placement, paracentesis and lumbar puncture. Additional time is spent in our state of the art high fidelity simulation center to further hone these skills, standardize best practices, and reduce complications. More information can be found here. 

Point-of-Care Ultrasound Elective

Senior residents have the option to take our 1-week introduction to diagnostic bedside ultrasound elective. The course covers cardiac, vascular, pulmonary and abdominal imaging techniques through online learning modules, didactics, and state of the art high fidelity simulation. Half of the course occurs in the hospital with patients getting hands on instruction, and feedback on image acquisition and interpretation from POCUS faculty. More information can be found here.