SPOCUS is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization
AAPA recognizes the value and supports the advancement of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in PA clinical practice. AAPA endorses, supports, and promotes the development of POCUS education opportunities.
-AAPA resolution 2021-C-18: Recognizing Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) as a Skill Integral to the Practice of Medicine.
Whether you are a faculty member with no ultrasound experience or have some experience and are looking for further guidance, SPOCUS offers their CME-accredited “Train-the-Trainer” (TtT) program – approved for up to 30 hours of Category 1 CME. In addition to an eBook on POCUS training, each month learners will review one or two unique curated modules representing a different POCUS application (eg, cardiac, biliary, etc) and perform scans on volunteers (friends, family, students, etc). The attendee is then paired with one of our experienced mentors via video conference to answer questions, review learner acquired images, share scanning tips and techniques, go over pertinent literature, and discuss the pearls and pitfalls of that particular POCUS application. Our unique asynchronous approach with copious one-on-one time with experts has already prepared several faculty members with the tools necessary to integrate ultrasound into their program’s curriculum.
Click here for a TtT testimonial
Learners can expect to advance through the ultrasound applications at their own pace in an asynchronous classroom. The purpose of the Train-the-Trainer Program is to familiarize PA, NP, and CRNA faculty members with various applications in clinical ultrasound and help them learn how to best implement ultrasound into their own local curriculum in a private, safe, and non-judgmental learning environment.
Once enrolled, attendees will be assigned a primary SPOCUS mentor. SPOCUS mentors are clinicians that are fellowship-trained, certified, and/or have significant experience teaching clinical ultrasound. The didactic education will be sent to the trainee on a monthly basis, and the participant will receive open access to abundant medical literature and vetted online resources to augment their education. Participants typically have access to an ultrasound machine, but may also contact us to explore other options. Oftentimes, a nearby machine may be found in the Emergency Department, the medical school, a sonography tech program, or the simulation lab. Other than machine access, there is no other durable equipment requirement.
Once or twice per month the participant and their SPOCUS mentor will meet via video conferencing for an hour session to answer questions, discuss pathology, reinforce topics, and evaluate technique. The program is intended to be extremely flexible to work with the schedule and interests of the learner. The time commitment is roughly 3-4 hours per application spread over approximately 8 months, though the actual timeline is flexible. The attendee will also be expected to provide feedback both to track their personal progress and to encourage the evolution of the program.
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