Emergency Medicine (Advanced)
5 days
Advanced Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Course (PoCUS)
(RUQ, RUSH, Soft Tissue, Peripheral Nerves)
ASUM, ACEM, ACRRM, RACGP
Course highlights
- In-depth RUQ pain assessment and scanning techniques.
- Application of the RUSH protocol for multisystem shock assessment.
- Soft tissue imaging for pathologies, dislocations, and critical conditions.
- Advanced nerve blocks for regional anaesthesia.
- Comprehensive hands-on scanning with expert guidance.
Course Dates
Description
The Advanced Emergency Medicine Ultrasound course is designed for experienced practitioners ready to integrate point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) into holistic patient care. Over five intensive days, this course equips you with advanced scanning techniques, real-world clinical applications, and case-based discussions.
Participants will refine their diagnostic and procedural skills across a wide range of topics, enhancing their ability to deliver effective, ultrasound-guided care in emergency and critical care settings. Hands-on scanning sessions ensure participants can confidently apply techniques in real-world clinical scenarios.
What you’ll learn
- Multi-system assessment with the RUSH protocol: integrate heart, lung, abdominal, and vascular scanning to evaluate system capacity and manage shock.
- RUQ scanning: expand beyond gallbladder imaging to assess renal, bowel, and thoracic pathology.
- Soft tissue imaging: identify pathologies, dislocations, and critical conditions like raised intracranial pressure.
- Nerve blocks for regional anaesthesia: perform upper and lower limb nerve blocks with precision and safety.
- Case-based learning: engage in case-based discussions to solve real-world clinical problems and refine your approach to pathology variants.
Real-world applications
- Streamline critical care: use the RUSH protocol to diagnose and manage shock efficiently in high-pressure situations.
- Enhance pain management: use ultrasound-guided nerve blocks to provide regional anaesthesia and minimise systemic medication reliance.
- Improve diagnostic precision: leverage RUQ scanning techniques to identify complex renal, thoracic, and bowel pathologies.
- Address emergencies with confidence: identify infections, dislocations, and raised intracranial pressure using advanced imaging techniques.
- Integrate PoCUS into patient care: combine ultrasound findings with clinical judgement for holistic and effective decision-making.
Who should attend?
- Emergency Physician
- Geriatrician
- Intensivist
- Junior House Officer
- Paediatrician
- Paramedic
- Retrieval Medicine Physician
- Rural Generalist
- Senior House Officer
Objectives
Participants in this emergency medicine ultrasound course will:
- Apply a Bayesian diagnostic approach to integrate ultrasound findings into clinical decision-making.
- Perform advanced multi-system scans, including RUSH, RUQ, soft tissue, and musculoskeletal assessments.
- Identify physical principles, artefacts, and techniques for optimising ultrasound imaging.
- Differentiate normal and pathological sonographic appearances in common and complex clinical scenarios.
- Safely perform ultrasound-guided procedures, including nerve blocks, with hands-on practice.
- Analyse real-world clinical problems and pathology variants through case-based discussions.
- Understand the limitations of PoCUS and its safe application in medical diagnostics and procedures.
- Develop confidence and proficiency in ultrasound techniques through extensive practical scanning with expert guidance.
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
ASUM accredited training program. 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.