Remote instruction used for the first time at EDE Ultrasound Course in Camrose
Channel: RhPAP
Date: 31/03/2022

Ten physicians in Camrose became part of history as they finished their final weekend of ultrasound training at St. Mary's Hospital in Camrose.

Up to now, each station at Emergency Department Echo (EDE) Ultrasound courses had its own instructor. Physicians used ultrasound machines that were the size of a very thick and large laptop. 

This time, they used iPad minis connected to a probe, and chatted to a remote instructor over AirPods. 

"The future will be teleguidance," says Dr. Ray Wiss, course director for the EDE Ultrasound course. "So, what you’re seeing her today is instructors from all over Canada, from British Columbia all the way to Newfoundland, instructing here in Alberta."

The new system costs a fraction of the old system. An iPad mini with a Butterfly IQ+ probe and AirPods will cost about $4,000. The larger station-based ultrasound machines with probe cost about $20,000.

Dr. Bryden Russell, a GP-Anaesthetist in Camrose, loves the portability of the new system.

"When you’re in a busy emergency department and you have to walk across somewhere and get a big clunky machine, as nice as they are, it’s just a bit of a barrier to the care," says Dr. Russell. 

"But, when you have something a lot handier, say in your pocket, and you can just stick a probe on, if you can save yourself 20 to 30 seconds, you’re going to use it a lot more in the emergency department."

Are the physicians in your rural Alberta community interested in learning ultrasound? RhPAP will subsidize 50% of the cost for rural Alberta health-care providers.

Dr. Wiss says he will train groups as small as 3 or 4 and as large as 16. 

For more information on bringing an EDE ultrasound course to your rural Alberta community, please go to rhpap.ca/EDE. Or email us at teams@rhpap.ca.