KCU incorporates Butterfly Network's AI-guided ScanLab™
education application into its curriculum to empower dedicated,
hands-on ultrasound training.
KANSAS
CITY, Mo. and BURLINGTON,
Mass., Oct. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- Kansas City University
(KCU) is revolutionizing medical education by becoming a leader in
point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training. In collaboration
with Butterfly Network, Inc. ("Butterfly") (NYSE: BFLY),
KCU transformed its POCUS training curriculum by debuting a
first-of-its-kind, hands-on POCUS elective in its 2024 curriculum.
This innovative program makes KCU the first U.S. medical school to
leverage Butterfly ScanLab™ as the foundation of its POCUS
curriculum. The approach focuses intensively on student scanning
proficiency and is designed to ensure students enter residency and
clinical settings ready to perform high-quality ultrasound scans
for more accurate and timely patient assessment.
KCU's innovative POCUS program uses the AI-powered ScanLab™
app to provide students with dedicated feedback and guidance that
is key to strengthening skills in essential scans, including
cardiac, lung and eFAST (Extended Focused Assessment with
Sonography in Trauma). The app offers real-time anatomical
labeling, step-by-step instructions and feedback on probe
placement, all while comparing students' scans to reference images.
The AI tool even grades the scans, enabling students to learn
independently and refine their skills efficiently.
While POCUS is becoming increasingly vital in modern health
care, most medical schools still fail to provide consistent
training in this area. Physicians often acquire these essential
skills during postgraduate training. KCU is addressing this gap by
integrating comprehensive POCUS training into its curriculum,
ensuring students are equipped for residency right from the
start.
"When you get to residency, there's a lot to learn," said
Robert Arnce, MD, director of
clinical integration at KCU. "If our students enter with POCUS
proficiency, that's one less skill they need to master, and it
distinguishes them from other residents."
John Martin, MD, chief medical
officer at Butterfly Network, added, "Empowering students with
POCUS skills not only gives them a leg up entering residency but
will ultimately lead to higher quality patient care. The AI-powered
insights from Butterfly ScanLab are designed to give every student
the personal mentorship they need to scan confidently. By
integrating this technology into their program, KCU is setting a
new standard for medical training in the 21st century."
This academic year alone, nearly 300 students have enrolled
in KCU's POCUS elective series, using their own personal
Butterfly handheld ultrasound devices. As they progress, students
simultaneously complete related courses in Butterfly Academy,
building confidence and expanding their ultrasound skills at their
own pace. With each completed course, students earn certifications,
further solidifying their expertise.
"I performed an eFAST exam, a cardiac exam, and a lung exam. It
was incredibly valuable to visualize different structures and gain
a deeper understanding of anatomy," said first-year medical student
Bryant Pace.
Beyond its educational impact, the mobility and versatility of
the Butterfly probe make it indispensable in resource-limited
settings, such as rural hospitals or disaster environments. Unlike
traditional ultrasound machines, this tool's portability ensures
high-quality care even in challenging circumstances.
"This is a physician skill—one that directly translates into
their ability to care for patients," Arnce continued. "While many
aspects of medical school are theoretical, POCUS training gives our
students the hands-on experience they need to make a real impact in
clinical settings. Research shows that point-of-care ultrasound
significantly increases patient satisfaction because doctors spend
more time at the bedside. It transforms patient care by integrating
ultrasound into daily assessments, diagnoses, and treatments."
Through its pioneering use of AI-powered tools and its strong
focus on practical ultrasound training, Kansas City University is equipping the next
generation of physicians with the skills and confidence to stand
out in the evolving world of health care.
About Kansas City
University
Kansas City University, founded
in 1916, is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit health
sciences university with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine,
Biosciences and a College of Dental Medicine. The College of
Osteopathic Medicine is the fifth largest medical school in the
U.S., the ninth most impactful medical school for primary care for
the nation, the eighth most affordable of private medical colleges,
and the leading producer of physicians for the State of Missouri. The College of Osteopathic
Medicine has two sites strategically located on the University's
campuses in Kansas City and
Joplin, Missouri, to address the
growing needs of both urban and rural populations. The University
offers multiple graduate degrees; a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine;
a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology; a Master of Arts in
Bioethics; a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences; a Master of
Business Administration in partnership with Rockhurst University; a new Master of Public Health
in partnership with the University of Nebraska
Medical Center; and seated the first Doctor of Dental
Medicine students in 2023.
About Butterfly Network
Founded by Dr. Jonathan Rothberg
in 2011, Butterfly Network is a digital health company with a
mission to democratize medical imaging by making high-quality
ultrasound affordable, easy-to-use, globally accessible, and
intelligently connected, including for the 4.7 billion people
around the world lacking access to ultrasound. Butterfly created
the world's first handheld single-probe, whole-body ultrasound
system using semiconductor technology, Butterfly iQ. The company
has continued to innovate, leveraging the benefits of Moore's Law,
to launch its second-generation Butterfly iQ+ in 2020, and third
generation iQ3 in 2024 – each with increased processing power and
performance enhancements. The disruptive technology has been
recognized by TIME's Best Inventions, Fast Company's World Changing
Ideas, CNBC Disruptor 50, and MedTech Breakthrough Awards, among
other accolades. With its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip™
technology, intelligent software, and educational offerings,
Butterfly is paving the way to mass adoption of ultrasound for
earlier detection and remote management of health conditions around
the world. Butterfly devices are commercially available to trained
health care practitioners in areas including, but not limited to,
parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle
East, North America and
South America.
Contact:
Haley Reardon
Director of Communications
417.208.0664 (office)
417.592.2223 (cell)
hreardon@kansascity.edu
Liz Learned Snyder
Head of Comms & PR
978.505.2567
llearned@butterflynetinc.com
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SOURCE Kansas City
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