5 days
Advanced Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Course (PoCUS)
(RUQ, RUSH, Soft Tissue, Peripheral Nerves)
ASUM, ACEM, ACRRM, RACGP
Course highlights
- RUQ pain presentations;
- RUSH Protocol (Heart, Basic Lung, Abdomen, IVC and DVT);
- Normal anatomy of soft tissue, eyes, bones and joints;
- Regional anaesthesia using peripheral nerves.
Course Dates
Description
Now that you can scan, it is time to integrate your point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) findings into holistic patient care. This Emergency Medicine ultrasound course starts with a clinical problem, encourages multi-system scanning and challenges you with real case based discussions. It is not for the beginner.
You will spend the first two days honing your approach to the hypotensive patient. RUSH is more than just finding a mechanism for hypotension, it is about assessing the capacity of multiple systems to cope with ongoing demand.
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) is so much more than gallbladder and common bile duct. It is the gateway to the thorax. Expand your RUQ protocol to screen for heart, lung, renal, and even bowel pathology.
Day four pushes the boundaries of your scanning outward with useful tips and tricks. Recognise soft tissue layers, necrotising fasciitis, shoulder dislocation, the pupillary response in a closed eye, and indicators of raised intracerebral pressure. You must also learn the principles of safe practice and proper hygiene.
Expand your repertoire of regional anaesthesia – day five introduces you to upper and lower limb nerve blocks, with needling practice and hints to optimise your tip visualisation.
Who should attend?
- Emergency Physician
- Geriatrician
- Intensivist
- Junior House Officer
- Paediatrician
- Paramedic
- Retrieval Medicine Physician
- Rural Generalist
- Senior House Officer
Objectives
The objectives of this emergency medicine ultrasound course are:
- The Bayesian approach to point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) for appropriate management decisions;
- Identify the physical principles, artefacts and the steps for image optimisation while performing ultrasound;
- Practice hands-on ultrasound scanning skills to answer relevant clinical questions;
- Recognise the sonographic appearances of normal and abnormal structures in common clinical scenarios;
- Perform eFAST, AAA, Biliary, BELS, Proximal Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), Musculoskeletal, and peripheral nerve recognition;
- Apply the RUSH protocol in the clinical field, with pathology and variants illustrated from real cases;
- Describe the limitations of ultrasound and safe application of ultrasound in medical diagnosis and management.
Prerequisites
The prior ultrasound experience assumed for this course is highlighted below.
None/Minimal | Don’t use ultrasound |
Limited | Use ultrasound weekly/monthly |
Moderate/Experienced | Use ultrasound daily/weekly |
Accreditation
ASUM
CCPU units included in the course:
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
- Extended Focused Abdominal Scan for Trauma (eFAST)
- Focused Echocardiography in Life Support (FELS)
- Proximal DVT
- Renal Hydronephrosis & Calculi
- Biliary
- Basic Soft Tissue
- Distal Brachial Plexus Block: Infraclavicular/Axillary
- Upper Limb Peripheral Nerve Blocks
- Fascia Iliaca and Femoral Nerve Block
ACEM
Approved for Educational Activities 38.5 hours.
ACRRM
This course is approved for 40 total activity hours. PDP units: 6 Performance Review, 16 Performance Review, 19 Educational Activity. MOPS points: 30. Grant eligibility: Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, Obstetrics, Surgery.
RACGP
CPD Approved Activity under RACGP 2023-25 CPD program. Approved for Educational Activities 8.5 hours, Reviewing Performance 27 hours, specific requirements diagnostic radiology, 5 days Anaesthetics, Obstetrics, Surgery and 3 days Emergency Medicine training grants. Provider Number 214288, Activity ID 414710.
HOURS
Theoretical | 9.5 |
Practical | 23.5 |
Total | 33 |
CATERING
Morning tea, a light lunch and refreshments are provided each day.