Take back the ‘‘ultrasonographic stethoscope’’

Background: Cardiovascular pathology represents one of the most prevalent disease in Internal Medicine departments; echocardiography represents an essential method for its diagnosis and follow-up. Moreover, it is necessary for an internist to master ultrasonography in most of its various applications, being Internal Medicine departments in the center of the diagnostic process of most of the medical pathologies. Methods: For this reason our department programmed in the formative package of ASUR7, an echocardiography course; internists of different hospitals received yearly 92 h of theoretical-practical training. A certificate of attendance was released after overcoming a final examination. The course was done mainly bedside, focusing on the pathologies of the patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of the Osimo Hospital. Every session was guided by 3 expert tutors (one for patient) and 4 trainees for each tutor. Results: In two years 30 internists of our region (specialists coming from different hospitals or post graduate from the internal medicine school of the Marche Polytechnic University) got the ‘‘stethoscope of the third millennium’’ back in their hands. Conclusions: this experience can well represent not only the skill acquisition, but facilitates the Internist to holistic vision of patient and strengthens his diagnostic capacity.