Ultrasound has become an increasingly important investigation in the assessment and management of acutely unwell medical patients. However, access often depends on referral to other specialists, including radiologists and cardiologists. This can introduce significant delays in diagnosis and management, potentially prolonging hospital stays. In addition, the practical barriers associated with obtaining formal imaging may even result in the investigation being deferred or omitted entirely.
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) addresses these limitations by placing focused ultrasound directly in the hands of the acute medicine clinician, allowing key diagnostic questions to be answered rapidly at the bedside and integrated immediately into clinical decision-making.
This intensive one-day course provides a practical introduction to the core POCUS applications relevant to Acute Medicine. Participants will learn the principles of ultrasound image acquisition before developing the skills required to perform focused bedside assessments, recognise common sonographic abnormalities and integrate ultrasound findings into the assessment and management of acutely unwell medical patients. The course also emphasises the appropriate use, strengths and limitations of point-of-care ultrasound in Acute Medicine.
No previous ultrasound experience is required.
