Why Is the Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Certification so Popular

Are you an emergency responder who is looking to expand your knowledge and skills?

Emergency responders are highly sought after in the medical field. According to the BLS, the job growth rate for ultrasound technicians is 6% through 2029- a rate that’s much faster than the national average.

One of the best ways to sharpen your skills and make yourself more desirable to employers is to earn more certification. One of the best certifications to earn is the point of care ultrasound certification.

Why is this certification so popular? How do you go about obtaining it?

Read on to learn all about the point-of-care ultrasound certification (POCUS).

What is POCUS?

First things first, what is the point of care ultrasound certification?

Point of care ultrasound complements a standard medical examination performed by a primary physician. With the point of care system, trained medical professionals use ultrasound equipment to diagnose problems wherever the patient is being treated.

For example, point-of-care ultrasound may take place in an ambulance, modern hospital, or remote village. The system allows clinicians to treat patients faster and give better care to patients who may not have close access to quality healthcare.

With the point of care system, patients can receive quality care without having to make trips to the radiology department.

Point of Care vs Bedside Care

Many people confuse the point of care with bedside care, however, they’re not the same thing. A bedside ultrasound is an older term used to describe the sonographic assessment of patients.

Typically, a bedside ultrasound is performed in a medical facility at the patient’s bedside (hence, the name). The term was created to acknowledge the use of the portable ultrasound, which allowed patients to be treated from the comfort of their hospital bed instead of having to be transported to the radiology suite.

On the other hand, “point of care” is a more general term used to describe the many different scenarios where portable ultrasounds may be used. For example, a medical professional can scan a patient using a portable ultrasound in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

What is POCUS Certification?

The POCUS certification isn’t just available to emergency responders. It’s available to all medical professionals who are looking to expand their knowledge and offer better patient care.

Many people who earn POCUS certification are physicians, nurses, midwives, sonographers, and nurse practitioners. Medical students can also earn the certification. There are two types of POCUS certifications: the POCUS general certification and the POCUS emergency medicine certification.

As the names suggest, the general certification was developed for general practitioners and physicians, while the emergency one was developed for emergency responders.

Topics covered in the certification course include:

  • Critical care ultrasounds
  • Ultrasound-guided vascular access and nerve blocks in emergency medicine
  • Acute care and trauma sonography
  • Ultrasound images with pathologic and normal findings to help accurately interpret images

POCUS certification offers medical professionals many practical uses. It can allow medical professionals to rapidly assess trauma. It can also help them evaluate dyspnea causes and accurately evaluate patients who are suffering from shock.

It also helps medical professionals give focused electrocardiography to cardiac arrest patients on life support.

Why is POCUS Certification So Popular?

As we mentioned, POCUS certification allows physicians and medical professionals to give better care to their patients. Of course, this is the primary benefit of the certification and the main reason it’s so popular.

However, the certification also offers many other benefits that are worth considering. These include:

  1. POCUS allows for cost-effective, non-invasive, and precise diagnosis without any risk of ionizing radiation. Using this type of ultrasound system helps determine the state of health for both stable and emergency patients.
  2. POCUS is vital for many acute resuscitation situations. It can be used in situations where patients experience hypothermia, cardiac tamponade, pulmonary embolism, haemoperitoneum, hypovolemia, and pneumothorax.
  3. POCUS images can be transmitted using satellite and wireless transmission. These transmitted images can then be interpreted with the use of telemedicine, and a radiologist isn’t needed onsite.
  4. Portable ultrasound machines are very helpful during disaster management situations. The machines allow healthcare professionals to get a better idea of the patient’s conditions and the triage field. Modern devices can also be very effective in pre-hospital settings.
  5. POCUS devices are more portable and cost-effective than standard ultrasound machines. Many clinics and hospitals have started to supplement their bulky stationary machines with portable devices to reduce costs related to in-hospital transportation, storage, and process time, and ultimately, improve the level of patient care.
  6. The POCUS systems allow for more personal contact between the physician and patient. This personalized contact can help calm down patients who are in a state of duress.
  7. POCUS also works as a complement to physical assessments. Medical professionals can immediately use curated data to reach a quick and accurate diagnosis. This will help guide the next steps in the patient care plan and lead to more informed medical decisions.
  8. POCUS can also improve radiology overall.

Plus, earning POCUS certification is a relatively straightforward process that can be done in a matter of weeks. Best of all, you can earn your certification online from the comfort of your own home. You can check out this site to learn more about POCUS certification.

Point of Care Ultrasound: Are You Ready to Earn Your Certification?

Now that you know more about point-of-care ultrasound, it’s time to decide if certification is right for you. No matter what are of the medical field you work in, this certification can help your career and your entire workplace.

Check back in with us for more medical news and information!