Point of Care Ultrasound

Font Size: + -

Print

Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a portable and versatile medical imaging technology used by healthcare providers at the patient's bedside. It involves the real-time use of ultrasound to visualize internal organs and structures, aiding diagnosis and treatment decisions. POCUS is a valuable tool in family medicine, particularly in under-resourced areas

Programs

Contra Costa takes pride in helping establish and strengthen POCUS programs in family medicine residencies. POCUS is a valuable tool in family medicine, especially in under-resourced areas. To understand how to arrive at potentially life-saving diagnoses in real-time by using POCUS, we hold a variety of programs and training. POCUS-related programs include:

2-day POCUS training in June for incoming residents and Global Health fellows, including:
- Trauma/FAST exam
- Echocardiography
- Pulmonary
- DVT
- Renal
- AAA
- Gallbladder
- 1st Trimester OB
- Rapid Ultrasound Evaluation of Shock (RUSH exam)
- Advanced applications, including ocular & intro to Musculoskeletal
Pathway for POCUS Credentialing during residency and fellowship
Two-to-four-week ultrasound elective in the second or third year of residency. This includes scanning shifts in the emergency department and advanced one-on-one teaching with echo techs, ultrasound techs, cardiologists, emergency physicians and radiologists. The course includes pre/post-tests and online lectures.
Global health fellows receive extensive training and serve as instructors in the annual POCUS training course and at other family medicine residencies and international sites.
Contra Costa instructors have taught 2-day POCUS courses at UCSF-affiliated Santa Rosa and Natividad Family Medicine residency programs, among others.

If you would like help in setting up a POCUS program, a 2-day course at your residency or would like to attend our annual POCUS course at Contra Costa, please review the resources on this page. You can also contact the director of the ultrasound program, Matthew.Fentress@cchealth.org.

Resources

For more information about POCUS, please review our resources.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Word Viewer