Curriculum & Overview

Comprehensive mapping to FAMUS and FUSIC standards.

Why Train with the UHL POCUS Programme?

The programme follows the standard FAMUS accreditation pathway, with the hardest parts built in. Teaching, supervisors, mentors and supervised scans are all part of the programme, so you don't need to find a supervisor or arrange scanning sessions yourself. Attend, scan and keep your logbook up to date.

FAMUS accreditation guaranteed by the end of the 11 months

Maintain your attendance and put in a little effort, and the programme guarantees you will achieve FAMUS accreditation by the end of the programme.

Supervisors & mentors provided

No need to find your own supervisor. The programme has its own FAMUS supervisors and mentors.

Supervised Scans Arranged for You

Supervised and mentored scanning sessions are part of the programme. No booking time with a supervisor or organising sessions yourself.

Theory is taught

The programme teaches the theory: ultrasound basics, normal and abnormal findings, and how to apply them to patient care.

Who can join?

Any East Midlands AIM trainee. Other UHL doctors who have attended or volunteered at the Leicester FAMUS Course get access to complete their accreditation.

11months, Sep – Jul

1–3teaching sessions a week (1–2 hrs)

6months to complete your supervised scans

2pathways supported: FAMUS & FUSIC Heart

Hover over a step to read it. The last one you hover stays open.

Provided by the programme Essential before the programme starts With the FUSIC Supervisor

The FAMUS Pathway - Made Simpler

1
Register with the FAMUS administrator (fee payable)
Essential Step for Programme
2
Attend a FAMUS-approved practical course
Essential Step for Programme
3
Complete the theoretical training (FAMUS e-learning)
Essential Step for Programme
4
Locate a FAMUS supervisorSupervisors provided
5
Undertake training scans with full supervisionSessions arranged for you
6
Complete each module with mentored scansMentors provided
7
Submit your training record to the FAMUS administrator
Achieve FAMUS accreditationGuaranteed by the end of the programme

FUSIC Heart Echo Accreditation

1
Register for FUSIC Heart with the ICS (fee payable)
Essential Step for Programme
2
Complete the FUSIC Heart e-learning or an approved course
Essential Step for Programme
3
Find an approved FUSIC Heart mentorEcho mentors provided
4
Perform supervised and unsupervised scans and record them in your logbookScanning sessions arranged for you
5
Mentor signs off your logbookEcho mentors provided
6
Pass the pre-accreditation (triggered) assessmentWith the FUSIC Supervisor, Dr James Offer (Glenfield)
7
Submit your assessment documents and Summary of Training via the FUSIC Portal
Achieve FUSIC Heart accreditation

FUSIC Heart is the Intensive Care Society's accreditation in point-of-care cardiac ultrasound. The programme provides your echo mentors. The FUSIC Supervisor and the pre-accreditation (triggered) assessment are completed separately with Dr James Offer, FUSIC Supervisor at Glenfield General Hospital (UHL).

ICS time limits: complete your logbook (first to last scan) within 12 months, and all components of the accreditation within 24 months. FUSIC Heart on the ICS website

Enrolment Prerequisites & Compliance Standards

Eligibility Prerequisite

Open to East Mids AIM trainees or UHL doctors who have attended or volunteered at the Leicester FAMUS course (and FUSIC heart course/modules if pursuing echo).

1-Month Milestone (Mandatory)

Within 1 month of starting, all participants must register for FAMUS with SAM, complete e-LFH e-learning modules, and register for FUSIC heart with ICS.

Session Engagement Criteria

Maintain active enrolment by demonstrating meaningful participation, attending at least three bedside teaching sessions per month.

Monthly Scan Quotas

• 5 point-of-care echo scans (if enrolled)
• 5 lung scans & 5 abdominal scans
• 2 vascular scans & 1 US-guided vascular access

Curriculum Modules & Clinical Pathologies

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and echo are vital skills in the management of acutely unwell patients. Aligned with the Society of Acute Medicine (SAM) FAMUS curriculum and Intensive Care Society (ICS) FUSIC-Heart standards, our structured teaching programme covers the following modular competencies:

Lung Ultrasound

Scanning technique and normal lung sliding
A-lines and B-lines
Pleural effusion and pneumothorax
Consolidation / collapse and pulmonary oedema
Shred sign and pleural thickening

Abdominal Ultrasound

Focused abdominal scanning technique and normal findings
Free fluid / ascites
Renal hydronephrosis
Distended urinary bladder

Lower Limb DVT

Vein compression technique to rule in DVT
Common femoral and femoral veins
Long saphenous and popliteal veins
Popliteal trifurcation

Vascular Access

Ultrasound-guided peripheral vascular access
Needle visualisation techniques
Securing difficult cannulation
Practised in simulation sessions

Lumbar Puncture Bonus

Ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture technique
Identifying the interspinous space
Estimating needle depth
Bonus module – not part of the FAMUS or FUSIC accreditation

FUSIC Echocardiography

Normal views: PLAX, PSAX, 4C and subcostal
LV size and function
RV size and function, TAPSE
Pericardial effusion
IVC size and collapsibility

Formative & Summative Assessments

Scans	Lungs	Abdomen	Heart	DVT	Vascular access
Supervised (with a mentor)	10	10	10	5*	–
Mentored (by yourself, then discussed)	30	30	40	10*	5

* at least one positive DVT

For mentored scans you scan independently, write down your interpretation and how you would apply it to the patient’s management, then discuss it with your mentor. Supervised scans are due by the end of month 6. These follow the SAM (FAMUS) and ICS (FUSIC Heart) model and count towards the logbook.

Formative

The scans above in a logbook completed.

Summative

Regular MCQ tests
One reflection of about 1,000 words per module before each ACT exam
Accreditation exam with a recognised supervisor, once the first two are complete

Marked Passed or Failed.

Intended learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of point of care ultrasound and echo, including image generation, ultrasound physics, probes and how the machine works.
Understand the governance issues associated with point of care ultrasound and echo.
Show proficiency in the technique of point of care ultrasound (lungs, abdomen, leg vessels, peripheral vascular access) and echo.
Interpret findings and identify relevant pathology, including lung (pleural effusion, pulmonary oedema, pneumothorax, consolidation/collapse), abdominal (ascites, hydronephrosis, distended bladder) and lower limb DVT.
Apply scan findings to influence patient management.
Identify areas needing further research.
Perform ultrasound-guided vascular access.
Attain accreditation in FAMUS and/or FUSIC Heart.
Bonus: learn ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture.

Indicative reading list

Soni, N.J., Arntfield, R. and Kory, P.D. (2019). Point of care ultrasound (2nd edn). Elsevier.
Olgers, T.J. et al. (2019). Point-of-care Ultrasound (PoCUS) for the internist in Acute Medicine: a uniform curriculum. Neth J Med, 77(5), 168-176.
Smallwood, N., Dachsel, M., Matsa, R. and Walden, A. (2016). Focused Acute Medicine Ultrasound (FAMUS) – Point of care ultrasound for the Acute Medical Unit. Acute Medicine, 15(4), 184-187.
Alber, K.F. et al. (2018). Focused acute medicine ultrasound (FAMUS). Acute Med, 17, 164-167.
FAMUS Curriculum Pack (2020), Society for Acute Medicine.
FUSIC Heart training details (2021), Intensive Care Society.
Clare, S. and Duncan, D.C. (eds) (2022). Ultrasound for the Generalist: A Guide to Point of Care Imaging. Cambridge University Press.
Hothi, S.S., Sprigings, D. and Chambers, J. (2014). Point-of-care cardiac ultrasound in acute medicine – the quick scan. Clinical Medicine, 14(6), 608.
Lee, L. and DeCara, J.M. (2020). Point-of-care ultrasound. Current Cardiology Reports, 22(11), 1-10.
Torres-Macho, J. et al. (2020). Point-of-care ultrasound in internal medicine: a position paper by the ultrasound working group of the EFIM. Eur J Intern Med, 73, 67-71.

Programme Timeline & Phases

Current: November 2026 (Month 3 of 11)

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Phase 1: Theory (Sep)

Foundational Zoom lectures covering Thoracic, Abdomen, Vascular, and Echocardiography theory, setting the knowledge baseline before bedside scanning.

Phase 2: Bedside Scans (Oct–Apr)

Small-group hands-on bedside teaching sessions at LRI. Trainees complete supervised scans and maintain attendance compliance (3 sessions/month). Trainees should also perform independent, mentored scans once they are deemed ready.

Phase 3: Sign-offs & ACT (May–Jul)

Trainees should continue independent, mentored scans. Final image portfolio reviews, expert mentor sign-offs, and completion of the Acute Care Training (ACT) POCUS certification requirements.

Accreditation & Curriculum Standards

Our course maps directly to national UK ultrasound curricula and accreditation standards:

Society for Acute Medicine (FAMUS)

Official FAMUS modules and curriculum pack.

Intensive Care Society (FUSIC)

FUSIC Heart and general ultrasound learning modules.