What is POCUS?
Point-of-care ultrasound, or POCUS, is the practice of using ultrasound at the bedside to assist healthcare providers in making clinical decisions regarding patient management. The portability of modern ultrasound devices has allowed for rapid assessment of clinical status, making it an effective tool even in remote and resource-limited settings.
Why is it important to learn?
POCUS has numerous important applications, complementing the history and physical examination to provide valuable information during resuscitation, procedural guidance, physiological monitoring, and diagnosis. Proficiency in POCUS may expedite care and flow, providing a cost-effective and non-invasive means to improve patient outcomes. The effectiveness of POCUS is user-dependent and thus developing this useful skill will continue to be important as POCUS becomes more widespread and prominent in daily practice.
Where can I learn more about POCUS?
The completion of this course provides learners with the basics of cardiac and lung POCUS. To extend your knowledge there are many resources available to learn more about POCUS.
The POCUS Journal is a free peer-reviewed publication that contains the latest research, case reports, and protocols on POCUS. POCUS Journal supports the open access of educational resources to support clinicians, trainees, and researchers with their point-of-care ultrasound practice, whether it’s learning new skills, or refreshing old ones.