Point-of-Care Ultrasound and the use of Ultrasound in Emergency Practice (2 day course – Swindon)

Point-of-care ultrasound is becoming an increasingly valuable tool in emergency and critical care, helping you answer focused clinical questions quickly and support more effective decision-making in practice. 

This blended-learning course is designed to help you develop confidence in the use of POCUS across a wide range of emergency presentations, combining five comprehensive online modules with two practical training days to support both theory and hands-on skill development. 

You will explore the principles of ultrasound and image optimisation, before progressing through thoracic, abdominal and focused cardiac POCUS, as well as its application in reproductive emergencies, vascular access, volaemia assessment, CPR and ultrasound-guided procedures. Through practical training using modern ultrasound equipment, supported by case-based learning and innovative teaching methods, you will have the opportunity to strengthen both your technical ability and your confidence in applying POCUS effectively in your own clinic. 

Topics to be covered include:

• Basics of ultrasound and imaging, including probe selection, image optimisation and artefacts
• Thoracic POCUS, including pleural space assessment, pulmonary changes and pneumothorax
• Focused cardiac ultrasound and its use in emergency assessment
• Abdominal POCUS, including assessment for free fluid and focused evaluation of abdominal organs
• Use of POCUS in emergency reproductive presentations
• Ultrasound-guided vascular access and arterial sampling
• Assessment of the caudal vena cava and the use of POCUS in volaemia evaluation
• Use of ultrasound during CPR and emergency patient monitoring
• Ultrasound-guided procedures including fluid sampling and other common emergency techniques
• Practical scanning sessions designed to improve confidence, image acquisition and interpretation