The Point-of-care ultrasound Certification Academy™ is determined to empower healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care. We are confident that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is instrumental in fueling this empowerment. The future of ultrasound is portable and mobile, enabling faster care, leading to more efficient, more effective and better patient experiences.
We seek a future where all applicable healthcare professionals are knowledgeable and proficient POCUS users. Thus, our organization is committed to listening to the POCUS community, so we can serve your needs and wants. What we heard was a request for a bundle for generalists who need POCUS in order to provide the best care possible. We are introducing our POCUS Generalist Certification, which we believe addresses the needs of a broader audience. We sat down with Victor V. Rao, MBBS, DMRD, RDMS (APCA), Manager, Global Clinical Content & POCUS Education at the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy. He walked us through what this new certification is all about.
Q: What is the POCUS Generalist Certification?
Dr. Rao: The POCUS Generalist Certification is a package whose components include eight (8) specialty clinical areas and a peer evaluation.
The specialty clinical case assessments include:
1) Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombus (DVT)
2) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
3) Cardiac
4) Musculoskeletal (MSK) and Soft Tissue
5) Renal/Genitourinary
6) Obstetrics/First Trimester
7) Lung
8) Hepatobiliary/Spleen
Q: Who is the POCUS Generalist Certification intended for and why was it created?
Dr. Rao: We designed the POCUS Generalist Certification for healthcare providers in family medicine and primary care, who have already earned the POCUS Fundamentals Certificate.
Q: How does the POCUS Generalist Certification benefit primary care physicians, family medicine practitioners and generalists?
Dr. Rao: Earning the Generalist Certification from the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy, validates that one possesses, not only a core knowledge of POCUS, but also has in-depth and well-rounded expertise in the field of point-of-care ultrasound. It demonstrates a high level of commitment to professional and ethical medical care. Let’s not forget that the Certification also illustrates a commitment to lifelong learning. We want to encourage the healthcare community to continue to grow and develop professionally.
Q: What are the key reasons medical professionals pursue the POCUS Generalist Certification?
Dr. Rao: As certified medical professionals, we make conscious choices to stay abreast of advances in our field, and this is one way to do so. A certification like this one allows us to obtain a critical edge in supporting patient safety and allowing visibility into our commitment to excellence in patient care.
Q: What exactly does one need to do to earn the POCUS Generalist Certification?
Dr. Rao: First, passing the POCUS Fundamentals is a prerequisite for the Generalist Certification. All applicants must attest to being healthcare providers in good standing, as well as attesting to the accuracy of the information provided for each certificate component. And, applicants must complete a confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement before starting the assessments.
Applicants must satisfy the experience requirements related to each of the specific content areas through the acquisition and interpretation of at a minimum number of cases for each content area.
Our greatest hope is that this certification satisfies the growing needs of our community and takes each and every one who decides to pursue it to even greater heights.
Let’s reach altitudes that not only transform your career but revolutionize medicine and patient care on a global scale!
To learn more about the POCUS Generalist Certification and obtain details on the eight clinical case assessments, please visit us at https://www.pocus.org/certificates-certifications/pocus-generalist-certification/.
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