Christopher L Moore, MD

My research has focused around the use of diagnostic imaging in the emergency department patient. I am fellowship trained in emergency ultrasound, and much of my research has focused the application of "point-of-care" or bedside ultrasound in the emergency patient. This led me to an interest in reducing unnecessary CT scans, particularly in patients with suspected kidney stone. Our work, currently funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has led to development of the "STONE score", a clinical prediction tool for ureteral stone, as well as efforts to optimize radiation dose in CT scan and to disseminate this practice nationally.

Ultrasound has been described as "the stethoscope of the future" and with advances in machine size, quality, this is finally beginning to be a reality. However, ultrasound is a user-dependent technology whose efficacy is largely dependent on the training of the person obtaining and interpreting images. I remain interested in investigating how this tool is best used in the emergency department and other settings as well as providing effective education and assessment of competency.

I have now run a fellowship in emergency ultrasound for twelve years as well as rotations for residents and medical students. Prior work I have completed has focused on the bedside evaluation of left ventricular function in patients with hypotension or dyspnea. We have also looked at screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms and the prognostic value of peritoneal free fluid in patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy. I have also looked at issues regarding penetration of ultrasound technology into academic and community settings.

In addition to our work on imaging in renal colic we have ongoing projects include expanding the utility of bedside ultrasound in the evaluation of fluid responsiveness and pulmonary embolism, and a multi-center trial of ribaraoxavan for outpatient treatment of pulmonary embolism.