Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Mentorship Program

Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate ability to correctly acquire, interpret, and clinically integrate normal and abnormal ultrasound images for the following core internal medicine POCUS examinations:
   • Pulmonary ultrasound
   • Focused cardiac ultrasound
   • Kidney and bladder ultrasound
   • Evaluation of abdomen for free fluid
   • Focused vascular evaluations of the lower extremity for deep venous thrombosis
2. Demonstrate ability to troubleshoot commonly occurring problems in obtaining optimized images across multiple sonographic windows
3. Describe nuances of clinical integration for various POCUS findings
4. Generate a plan for personal implementation of internal medicine POCUS into local clinical practice and a plan for continual skill refinement

Is This Course Right For You?

Substrate

• You have sufficient POCUS knowledge and hands-on scanning experience to make remote training practical (See Prerequisites tab)  

AND

• You have sufficient familiarity with virtual meeting programs and a general willingness to help troubleshoot common connection/technological issues

Setup

• You have access to someone willing to serve as a scanning model and access to compatible ultrasound equipment in a quiet space with a reliable and robust internet connection.
• Access to EchoNous Kosmos, Philips Lumify, or a cart-based or laptop system. Note that ACP has a limited number of EchoNous Kosmos devices available for loan. You can request a loan when you register for the course. Please note that we are not able to accommodate Butterfly IQ devices at this time. If you are a Butterfly IQ user and are interested in participating in the program, please send an email to ACPPOCUS@acponline.org expressing your interest, and you will be contacted if additional registration slots become available.

Goals

• You have the drive/desire to incorporate POCUS into your practice but don’t have readily available POCUS mentors to help guide your learning.

AND/OR

• You prefer to practice your scanning skills outside the clinical environment to optimize the basics before scanning patients.
• You are practicing your scanning skills in the clinical environment and wish to accelerate your progress obtaining diagnostic quality images consistently.
• You would like targeted feedback on scans you are obtaining and customized practice sessions to work on your specific training needs.
• You would like targeted feedback on improving your techniques for teaching/training others.

The course may not be right for you if:

• You have no prior hands on scanning experience or have taken a course many years ago without regular practice.
• You are looking for image overreading or purely image feedback without hands-on practice.
• You are looking for virtual consults/real-time scanning in the clinical environment to inform patient care.
• You have highly advanced or specialized ultrasound areas of focus outside of core Internal Medicine POCUS applications (e.g. ultrasound of the pancreas).

Course Directors

Faculty Members

CME Information

Information to come.

Ultrasound Equipment Requirements

After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email which will include a link to a questionnaire where you'll be asked which type of device you'll be using. This questionnaire should be completed within 3 days.

Learners should have access to one of the following:

• EchoNous Kosmos - You can use your own device.
• Butterfly  (A mandatory tech session with a Butterfly representative is required. More information will be available at a later date.)
• Philips Lumify (limited number of slots available)
• Laptop or Cart-based System
  • If using a laptop or cart-based system, we recommend using a single brand/model for all sessions because sorting out the connection details for the live video feed is best done only once and will be necessary to test prior to registering. Your laptop or cart-based system must have "video-out" capability. That is typically accomplished by a video-out port on the back of the machine/cart in the form of an HDMI, DVI, or, less likely, a VGA port. Sometimes this port is hidden under a cover or involves connecting the laptop to a docking station. Most modern devices have video-out capability, however older machines may not be able to output the video feed live from the ultrasound and will not work for this course. For learners using cart-based/laptop ultrasound machines (not a Philips Lumify or EchoNous Kosmos device), the interaction will require a laptop computer with 2 or more USB ports and video output via HDMI, VGA, or DVI. ACP will provide a POCUS Connect Box (accessories needed to connect)

Laptop or Cart-based System

If using a laptop or cart-based system, we recommend using a single brand/model for all sessions because sorting out the connection details for the live video feed is best done only once and will be necessary to test prior to registering.

Your laptop or cart-based system must have "video-out" capability. That is typically accomplished by a video-out port on the back of the machine/cart in the form of an HDMI, DVI, or, less likely, a VGA port. Sometimes this port is hidden under a cover (SonoSite XPorte) or involves connecting the laptop to a docking station (the SonoSite EDGE devices would be an example of this). Most modern devices have video-out capability, however older machines may not be able to output the video feed live from the ultrasound and will not work for this course.

For learners using cart-based/laptop ultrasound machines (not a Philips Lumify or EchoNous), the interaction during mentoring sessions will necessitate a laptop computer. Learners must assure they have an available modern laptop with 2 or more USB ports available that can connect to the wireless or wired network AT THE LOCATION THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR MENTORING SESSIONS for internet access. Specifically, if you are using a personal laptop, you must assure that it can connect to the network in your hospital if that is where you plan on doing your mentored scanning sessions.

The laptop security should allow installation privileges for the ZOOM application and access to https://webapp.reacts.com/ Prior to registering, we suggest that you assure your machine is capable of video output by connecting the appropriate cable (DVI, HDMI, VGA) to the ultrasound machine and connecting the other end to a computer monitor or TV. Your local ultrasound rep can assist if you have questions. When you register for the course, you’ll need to provide the following information;

1. the manufacturer and model of the laptop/cart-based ultrasound you plan to use
2. what the connection type is (DVI, HDMI, VGA), and
3. that you successfully tested the video output and it worked on a monitor/TV

Registration Information

Registration for the 2023 program is closed. Registration for the 2024 program will open in January, 2024.

Course Requirements

• Complete ACP’s POCUS Online Learning Modules, #1-6  
• Complete a technical refresher quiz that will be sent to you approximately one month prior to the start of the course
• Attend a one-hour orientation session
• Participate in one 1-hour mentorship session per month, May through October. Note that there is flexibility in scheduling these sessions.  You will coordinate with your mentor each month to determine a mutually convenient time.
• Participate in 2 Image Review Sessions
• Participants will be responsible for obtaining a live model to scan during the sessions. Live models will be required to sign an Ultrasound Model Waiver and this signed waiver should be emailed to acppocus@acponline.org prior to the start of the program. If using several different models throughout the program, each model will need to sign a release prior to their session.

Prerequisite Requirements

• Students and Residents are not eligible
• Must have completed one of the following:
  • POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, Rosemont, IL Internal Medicine Meeting 2023
  • POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, Rosemont, IL November 2022
  • POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, Rosemont, IL November 2022
  • POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, Internal Medicine Meeting 2022, April 26-27, 2022
  • POCUS: Advanced Skills for Outpatient Practice, Internal Medicine Meeting, 2022, April 26-27
  • POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, November 11-12, 2021, Rosemont, IL
  • PG2105 – POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, November 13-14, 2021, Rosemont, IL
  • POCUS: Advanced Skills for Outpatient Practice, November 15, 2021, Rosemont, IL
  • PCS1901 – POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, November 7-8, 2019, Rosemont, IL
  • POCUS: Foundational Skills for Internists, November 9-10, 2019, Rosemont, IL
  • POCUS for Internists and Hospitalists, Internal Medicine Meeting 2019
  • POCUS for Internists and Hospitalist, Internal Medicine Meeting 2018

Alternate 2-day introductory courses that include a minimum of 50% hands-on time might be considered as a surrogate for and ACP course. A course agenda and certificate of completion must be submitted for approval. Attestation of significant experience might also be considered as a surrogate at the course director’s discretion. Please submit this information to ACPPOCUS@acponline.org. You will receive a response within 10 days. If you are not approved for the course, you will receive a full refund.

Cancellation Policy

Through April 8, 2023: Full refund.

April 8 - April 23, 2023: Refund registration less $100 administrative fee.

Beginning April 24, 2023: No refund.

Important Course Dates

Orientation Session
Wednesday, May 23, 2023, 3:00 pm (ET)

Laptop/Cart-based Tech Sessions
Wednesday, May 31, 2023, 3:00 pm
or
Thursday, June 1, 2023, 3:00 pm

EchoNous Tech Sessions
Wednesday, May 31, 2023, 3:30 pm
or
Thursday, June 1, 2023, 3:30 pm

Image Review Session I
Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 3:00 pm (ET)

Image Review Session II
Thursday, October 12, 2023, 3:00 pm (ET)

Zoom links will be sent at a later date. All sessions will be recorded.

FAQs

Who is eligible to participate in the POCUS Mentorship Program?

Registrants of the POCUS Mentorship Program must have completed one of the following courses:

• ACP’s POCUS Foundational Skills for Internists
• ACP’s POCUS: Advanced Skills for Outpatient Practice
• An alternate 2-day course that included at least 50% hands-on instruction

When will my mentorship sessions be scheduled?

Using an interactive calendar, you’ll work with your mentors to schedule your sessions at a mutually convenient time.

What if I have a last minute conflict and am not able to participate in a scheduled mentor session?

If this happens, please contact your mentor and ACP at ACPPOCUS@acponline.org to reschedule your session. Reschedules will be limited to one per month.

Who can be an ultrasound model?

Anyone can.  You can ask a medical student, resident, fellow, colleague, family member or friend.  Just be sure that you obtain a completed Ultrasound Model Waiver from the individual serving as your ultrasound model and submit it to ACPPOCUS@acponline.org.

What type of ultrasound machines can be used?

Registrants may use EchoNous Kosmos, Philips Lumify, or a cart-based/laptop system.  More information can be found under the Ultrasound Equipment Requirements tab.

How do I set up my ultrasound unit for the course?

Instructions for the set-up will be sent to you approximately one month prior to the course.

How do I claim CME for this course?

Instructions on how to claim CME/MOC for this course will be sent to participants towards the end of the course. Up to 8 CME credits will be available for this course.

What if I’m not able to attend the Orientation Session?

The orientation session will be recorded and the recording will be made available to all registrants.

What if I’m not able to attend the Image Review Sessions?

The image review sessions will be recorded and the recording will be made available to all registrants.

Other questions?

Email ACPPOCUS@acponline.org