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Programs in Seed Grants

Improving clinical decision-making using point-of-care ultrasound in Lusaka, Zambia

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Portable ultrasounds enable non-invasive imaging and diagnosis by trained medical professionals regardless of a patient’s location, whether in a hospital, rural clinic, or ambulance. Commonly called point-of-care ultrasound, or POCUS, this tool provides an essential, non-invasive way to improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. Despite being portable and inexpensive compared to other imaging modes, POCUS is less common in under-resourced areas such as Zambia due to a lack of access to medical equipment and technical training. By piloting a training course in collaboration with the University Teaching Hospital of Zambia, Stanford investigators hope to increase Zambian physicians’ expertise with the technology, increase patients’ access to diagnostic imaging, and improve overall quality of care. The course is targeted to build participants’ knowledge of POCUS and increase confidence in clinical decision-making using the information gained from the tool. This project aims to empower local doctors and provide them with the necessary tools, technical skills, and confidence to begin incorporating this powerful tool into the care of patients.

“In the future, we hope to expand the course to other hospitals in Zambia and also teach more advanced ultrasound skills,” said Stanford resident Kabungo “Yanick” Mulumba, MD, MBA, who is co-principal investigator along with Jan Boublik, MD, PhD, Stanford clinical assistant professor in Stanford’s Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Principal Investigators:

Kabungo “Yanick” Mulumba, MD, MBA, Resident in Anesthesiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Jan Boublik, MD, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Research Team:

Ana Maria Crawford, MD, MSc, Clinical Assistant Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine; Mack Kalenga, BScHB, MBChB, Chief Resident, the University of Zambia, Anesthesia and Critical Care Program; Hazel Mumphansha, BScHB, MBChB, Mmed, Training Program Director, the University of Zambia, Anesthesia and Critical Care Program

Funders: Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine Dean’s Office