Online courses

Basic (whole body)

  • Who it is for — This course is designed for hospital physicians and general practitioners, and its modular structure adapts readily to other specialties, including internal medicine, emergency medicine and intensive care medicine.
  • Recognition — The course is recognised by the Swiss Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (SGUM/SSUM).
  • Scope — The full curriculum offers over 20 hours of training content, delivered in British English. Course directors are encouraged to select the modules that best match their own programme; our example curricula by specialty offer a starting point.
  • Getting started — Log in and read the quick-start guide first: it takes only a few minutes and covers everything you need to navigate the platform.
  • Certification — On completing each module (once the corresponding MCQ has been passed), you will automatically receive a confirmation e-mail validating that component. If you cannot find it, check your spam folder, and keep these confirmations as they may be requested.
    If you are enrolled in an AURUS practical course, these confirmations allow the online credits to be incorporated into your practical course certificate. Outside a practical course, or where the course does not incorporate these credits, you may request a certificate covering the online course alone from admin@pocus.academy.

Technical aspects

  • E-learning user guide
  • Basic physics of ultrasound
  • Imaging system
  • Probe selection
  • Modes
  • Doppler mode
  • Artefacts
  • Optimising utilisation and settings
  • Probe manipulation
  • Ultrasound guidance
  • Interaction and communication with the patient
  • Probe decontamination - US gel
  • POCUS diagnostic performance
  • POCUS and AI
  • POCUS and Tardoc
  • References

Heart

  • Introduction
  • Parasternal long axis view
  • Parasternal short axis view
  • Apical 4 chamber view
  • Apical 2 and 3 chamber view
  • Subcostal 4 chamber view
  • Inferior vena cava view
  • Haemodynamic evaluation
  • - Left ventricular systolic function
  • - Right ventricular function
  • - Clinical utility of the inferior vena cava
  • - Pericardial effusion
  • - Tamponade
  • - Useful measurements
  • - Stroke volume estimation
  • Valves
  • Some tips
  • Eye education
  • Pericardiocentesis (advanced course)
  • References
  • Clinical cases

Lung

  • Introduction
  • Semiology
  • Lung preset
  • Interstitial diseases
  • Pleural diseases
  • Pneumothorax
  • Thoracentesis
  • Consolidations
  • Tailoring scan to clinical situation
  • BLUE protocol
  • Diaphragmatic function
  • Rib fractures
  • References

Abdomen

  • Introduction
  • Liver
  • Ascitis and paracentesis
  • Gallbladder
  • Spleen
  • Kidney
  • Bladder
  • Suprapubic catheter insertion
  • Prostate
  • Abdominal aorta
  • FAST: perihepatic space
  • FAST: perisplenic space
  • FAST: perivesical view
  • eFAST protocol
  • Appendicitis
  • Diverticulitis
  • References

Vessels

  • Deep venous thrombosis
  • Peripheral vein catheterisation
  • Midline
  • Jugular catheterisation
  • Femoral catheterisation
  • Subclavian/axillary venous catheterisation (optional module)
  • Arterial catheterisation
  • References

Nervous system

  • POCUS for diagnosis of giant cell arteritis
  • Lumbar puncture

Soft tissue, musculoskeletal and miscelaneous

  • Skin and soft tissue
  • Musculoskeletal system
  • Joint effusion and guided puncture
  • Tendinopathies
  • Bone marrow puncture
  • Lymph nodes
  • Testis and adjacent structures
  • Thyroid
  • Sinusitis

Protocols

  • POCUS prehospital setting
  • Cardiorespiratory failure
  • BLUE protocol
  • E-Fast
  • Shock diagnostic algorithm
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Examination report
  • Case studies

Practical courses

  • Introduction
  • Conclusion
  • Certificate for the internist

Curricula and training standards

  • Teaching and learning POCUS
  • Primary care: formation and training (EFSUMB 2026)
  • Live ultrasound demonstrations (EFSUMB 2026)