TRAINING AND CREDENTIALING

FOCUSED ULTRASOUND

Specific training and credentialing is required for the use of ultrasound in ED. In general the use of point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) in ED is in a focused fashion. That is it is utilised in a specific defined clinical setting to recognise a narrow list of potential diagnoses. Ideally this should answer a binary question ie. is there a pericardial effusion? Further advanced training and qualification may allow the user to perform further limited studies or rarely a specific comprehensive study.

Specific protocol and policy surrounds use of ultrasound in Middlemore Emergency Department and the documentation that is undertaken:

USE OF FOCUSED ULTRASOUND IN ED (MMH POLICY)

credentialing GETTING STARTED

To be a credentialed user of focused ED ultrasound you must have undertaken an educational program meeting ACEM requirements, this must also include a physics component:

ULTRASOUND EDUCATION PROGRAMS (ACEM GUIDELINE)

Direction on training and credentialing can be provided by ultrasound supervisors in the department. A structured outline of credentialing can be seen in the Middlemore ED guideline:

GUIDELINE ULTRASOUND CREDENTIALING (MMH ED)

EDUCATION PROGRAMS:

MED-PoCUS has no affiliation with any particular courses or workshop, and the links provided are certainly not an exhaustive list of ultrasound education opportunities.

There are a variety of clinical ultrasound education opportunities including workshops, online courses, and post graduate options. These will provide a varying level of education and or practical support. Attending a basic ED PoCUS workshop is a good place to start your journey in ED ultrasound. A variety of more focused and in depth workshops are available in different modules.

A more consolidated and structured training can be undertaken with post graduate education (certificate/diploma/masters) in clinical ultrasound.

The Australasian Society of Ultrasound Medicine (ASUM) offers the Certificate in Clinician Performed Ultrasound (CCPU). This is targeted at medical practitioners who are not imaging specialists but who may use ultrasound as a diagnostic tool at the point of care.

ACEM ONLINE MODULES (TBA)

Postgraduate Certificates/Diploma/Masters

Post Graduate Certificate in Clinician Performed Ultrasound (University of Otago)

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound (Melbourne University)

Graduate Diploma in Clinical Ultrasound (Melbourne University)

Masters of Clinical Ultrasound (Melbourne University)

Australasian Society of Ultrasound Medicine (ASUM)

Certificate in Clinician Performed Ultrasound (ASUM CCPU)

Diploma in Diagnostic Ultrasound (ASUM DDU)

AUCKLAND REGIONAL CREDENTIALING FORMS

When undertaking any supervised formative or summative ultrasound credentialing please utilise the below regional credentialing forms, these can be used for logbooks:

eFAST CREDENTIALLING (AUCKLAND REGIONAL)

AAA CREDENTIALING (AUCKLAND REGIONAL)

ECHO CREDENTIALING (AUCKLAND REGIONAL)