The UK is one of the few countries with a nationally accredited point-of-care ultrasound programme. It is called CUSIC: Core Ultrasound Skills in Intensive Care.
The training pathway includes the following components:
- Initial theoretical and practical training
- Supervised practice until competence demonstrated in acquiring and saving images
- Mentored practice with completion of log book demonstrating knowledge of an appropriate range of pathology
- Completion of competency assessments within the range of practice
- (lung, vascular and abdominal)
- Triggered assessment using lung ultrasound to investigate a clinical question.
The pathway should be able to be completed within a 6 month training block in an appropriate intensive care unit. It is expected that the training pathway should be completed within 12 months after commencing formal ultrasound training.
Trainees should register using the on line system. There is a nominal cost for the administration of the pathway. Before commencing training, identify a local training mentor from the ICS database. Initial training (theoretical and practical) can be undertaken either through an accredited course or from locally organized teaching from your mentor. Details of accredited courses can be found in the CUSIC courses pages.
After completing initial training a period of mentored practice needs to be undertaken. During this time, all the core competencies should be demonstrated and signed off by your mentor. All completed ultrasound investigations and ultrasound guided procedures should be recorded in your log book. An appropriate range of pathology needs to be demonstrated. A triggered assessment of a lung ultrasound examination to assess a clinical problem should be completed.
Once your mentor has confirmed that your log book shows an appropriate range of clinical experience and all the competencies have been achieved including the triggered assessment, your training record is forwarded to the ICS for validation. A certificate of completion of CUSIC training is then issued.
CUSIC Documents
CUSIC Mentor Application
CUSIC Mentors
Please send any enquiries to CUSIC@ics.ac.uk
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