POCUS Clinical Certificates & POCUS Specialty Certifications

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

We developed the POCUS Clinical Certificates and POCUS Specialty Certifications for POCUS practitioners to document their clinical proficiency. Each Clinical Certificate is comprised of two components: a clinical case-based assessment and peer evaluation. Each Specialty Certification is comprised of three components: a clinical case-based assessment, peer evaluation and video submissions.

Upon earning a POCUS Clinical Certificate or POCUS Specialty Certification, you will have demonstrated, for a specific clinical area or set group of clinical areas, proficiency in:

• Standard POCUS views
• Recognition and identification of anatomical features
• Recognition and identification of common sonographic artifacts or measurements that may aid in diagnosis
• Determination of diagnostic findings
• Recognition and identification of common pathologies
• Understanding when a diagnosis is not possible

CLINICAL CASE-BASED ASSESSMENT

Clinical scenarios are presented in audio and/or video formats (with closed-captioning and written scripts). Ultrasound media and assessment questions are presented at key points during the patient encounter. Questions are designed to assess the following (as appropriate for the selected clinical area):

• Familiarity with normal exploration paths
• Recognition of when patient condition or presentation requires deviations from the normal exploration paths
• Identification of regions or basic POCUS views described in consensus documents or protocols
• Ability to recognize and identify various anatomical features in M-mode and 2D images
• Knowledge of common sonographic artifacts or measurements
• Ability to identify artifacts that may aid in diagnosis
• Recognition of sonographic patterns and their implications for diagnosis
• Knowledge of common pathologies and conditions identified through POCUS
• Ability to comprehensively consider all case information (POCUS images, patient presentation, labs, etc.) to determine an initial diagnosis

Check out the applicable POCUS Clinical Assessment Content Outline for more detailed information.

Watch this Clinical Case Assessment tutorial:

PEER EVALUATIONS

A peer evaluation is a short questionnaire that is completed by a healthcare provider who has a background in ultrasound and who is familiar with your ability to obtain clinically-relevant, content-specific POCUS images. Two (2) peer evaluations are required. If more peer evaluations are submitted, the first two will be used to determine your score.

We will contact the healthcare providers directly using the names and emails addresses you supply – please ensure that they consent to being contacted by POCUS Certification Academy. They will be asked to provide feedback on the following criteria as applicable to the area(s) of clinical focus:

• Your ability to obtain images of diagnostic quality
• Your use and/or understanding of gain
• Your use and/or understanding of depth
• Your transducer placement
• Your use and/or understanding of measurement techniques
• Your use of appropriate compression
• Your use and/or understanding of M-Mode, Color Doppler and/or Power Doppler
• Your overall experience with the chosen clinical area

Peer evaluator responses will be kept confidential. Peer evaluations must be completed within the timeframe set by the certificate or certification you are pursuing.

CLINICAL CASE VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

Video submissions are designed to assess your practical abilities in POCUS. For specialty certifications (not for clinical certificates), you will submit two videos per clinical area: one without pathology, and one with identified pathology. All videos must be HIPAA compliant, .mp4 formatted, and 5 – 60 seconds long. All submissions will be evaluated by clinical reviewers based on POCUS-specific criteria. Submissions must be received and evaluated within the 180 days. Each submission will be evaluated with a pass or comments for re-submission. Some clinical areas require a still image with a measurement component.

For detailed information about all certification options, download our Certificate and Certification Guide.