ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Guidelines receive AIUM recognition

American Institute of Ultrasound in MedicineDec 9 2011

In keeping with the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine's (AIUM) overarching mission of advancing the safe and effective use of ultrasound in medicine through education, research and development of guidelines, the AIUM recognizes the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Policy Statement Emergency Ultrasound Guidelines as meeting the qualifications for performing ultrasound in the emergency setting. These guidelines describe the education and training required by emergency physicians to achieve competency for the performance of focused emergency ultrasound applications in clinical practice.

AIUM President Alfred Z. Abuhamad, MD, expanded on the importance of this resolution, stating, "Recognition of the ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Guidelines by the AIUM helps ensure that focused emergency ultrasound examinations are performed safely and that physicians performing the ultrasound examinations have met a minimum level of competency as hereby defined. AIUM recognition of the ACEP guidelines can pave the way for collaboration between the two organizations. Furthermore, AIUM recognition provides support and standardization for hospital credentialing of emergency physicians in the performance of the focused emergency ultrasound examination."

Focused emergency ultrasound examinations are performed at the bedside to diagnose acute life-threatening conditions, guide invasive procedures and treat emergency medical conditions. Focused emergency ultrasound has been proven to improve the care and expedite treatment of countless patients worldwide.

ACEP President, David C. Seaberg, MD, FACEP, stated "ACEP has been the leading organization to support the use of ultrasound by emergency physicians since 1996. ACEP has been working with AIUM over the years, and the recognition of the ACEP Emergency Ultrasound Guidelines by the AIUM will help to further the work of both organizations to improve emergent patient care in the areas of diagnosis, treatment and patient safety. ."