FEMUS
As part of the Emergency Medicine 2021 curriculum, a new training pathway for acquiring and maintaining POCUS competencies has been developed. It remains an integral part of the EM curriculum (now under SLO6) with the addition of two new core applications: ultrasound in shock and ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block. Other core POCUS modalities are: Aorta, Echo in Life Support, eFAST/FAFF and Vascular Access (peripheral & central).
Read more here.
Study days/courses:
See the RCEM events website for details of all the relevant study days/CPD and Train The Trainer courses
Third party courses are available but none are endorsed/approved by RCEM, and not recommended by POCUS UK
Other resources RCEMLearning
FEMUS-
Focused Emergency Medicine Ultrasound
workshops by POCUS UK coming soon…
FUSIC
Focused Ultrasound in Intensive Care (FUSIC) is the current accreditation pathway in Intensive Care medicine POCUS (though not yet officially part of the ICM curriculum).
It is a modular programme where one may complete accreditation in individual POCUS exams (i.e. Lung, Heart, Abdomen, Vascular, DVT, Haemodynamics and fTOE). Candidates need to register for each module individually, identify a mentor, complete the e-learning (course no longer mandatory), complete the logbook and pass the triggered assessment in order to be signed off. Details are on the FUSIC/ICS website.
Course list here
FAMUS
Focused Acute Medical Ultrasound (FAMUS) is now an integral part of the official Acute Medicine curriculum (since 2022).
It offers accreditation in Lung, DVT, Vascular Access and Abdominal POCUS (no Heart module).
Current list of FAMUS Mentors/Supervisors
BSE
The British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) offers formal accreditation in echocardiography. This includes Level 1, Level 2, Adult Critical Care Echocardiography (ACCE - Level 2 equivalent) and TOE.
Level 1 - Focused echocardiography (slightly beyond FUSIC Heart as Colour Doppler is part of the minimum dataset), 75 scans for logbook and practical assessment. Possible to complete without echo lab sessions with the right mentor/supervisor.
Level 2/ACCE - Advanced/comprehensive echocardiography, 250 logbook scans minimum (with specified criteria), written and practical assessment. Access to echo lab is almost essential (strongly recommended for ACCE even with supervisor within Critical Care).
Learn more here
CACTUS
Children’s Acute Ultrasound (CACTUS) is the current pathway for accreditation in paediatric POCUS which sits under the Intensive Care Society (though not yet officially part of the Paediatric/PICU curriculum).
It is a modular structure for individual POCUS applications (i.e. Lung, Heart, Abdomen, Vascular).
Course list here
BTS
The British Thoracic Society (BTS) offer accreditation in Thoracic Ultrasound.
Learn more here
FEEL
Resuscitation Council (UK) offers formal accreditation in echocardiography. FEEL (Focused Echocardiography in Emergency Life Support) is a specialist course that teaches healthcare professionals skills when using echocardiography and ultrasound in the critically ill patient.
This course trains novice practitioners in the use of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) during the peri-resuscitation period, an advanced technique that builds from skills learnt on a Resuscitation Council UK ALS course. FEEL is recognised and supported by the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE).
Learn more here
POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATIONS
There are a number of postgraduate programmes (PgCert, PgDip, MSc) with POCUS route/modules that are CASE approved:
Teesside University (PgC/PgD/Msc in Medical Ultrasound)