Table 1 Objectives of the ACE curriculum

After participating in the ACE curriculum, learners will:

 1. Demonstrate improved understanding of the relationship between cardiopulmonary physical exam findings and physiology by achieving a higher post-ACE score on a validated cardiovascular assessment.

 2. Demonstrate improved accuracy in the detection of cardiopulmonary exam findings by achieving a higher score on a validated online assessment that is administered pre- and post-ACE.

 3. Demonstrate increased confidence and an increased appreciation for the importance of the bedside physical examination in patient evaluation as measured by higher scores on a self-assessment survey administered pre- and post-ACE.

 4. Illustrate proper cardiopulmonary exam techniques on a cardiac simulator, healthy volunteers and hospitalized patients while being observed by a faculty preceptor.

 5. Demonstrate more cost-effective use of chest radiography and echocardiography as measured by reduced ordering of inpatient computerized tomography (CT) scans and echocardiograms.