Acute Medicine (AIM)   as per the Acute Internal Medicine 2022 curriculum, “it is mandatory for all AIM trainees to gain competencies in Point of Care ultrasound. All trainees will need to meet competencies in focused chest, abdominal and lower limb ultrasound.” In Wales, collaborating with the National Imaging Academy Wales (NIAW) allows the delivery of the training programme in a structured 5 stages, leading towards accreditation in Focused Acute Medicine UltraSound (FAMUS). Stages consist of Knowledge Acquisition, Simulated, Supervised & Mentored scanning, and the Assessment of Completion of Training. Below is an overview of the training programme, with links to all training material needed!

Starting Point

Once confirmed to start on the Acute Medicine Training scheme towards AIM CCT, you should then be provided with 

  1. A Focused Acute Medicine Ultrasound (FAMUS)  Educational Supervisor (ES), based on your North or South training allocation. Your FAMUS ES will coordinate your training once stage 1 and 2 are completed.
  2. A provisional  FAMUS Course date allocation, as local as possible. Courses would run in North Wales (?Wrexham Melor Hopsital) and South Wales (at National Imaging Academy Wales (NIAW)).
  3. Access to Learning Materials will also be provided.
  4. Educational material (including cases & webinars) access is provided on this website for use.
  5. More secured learning material and process access is provided thorugh the EOLAS Medical App (please download; access to the ‘Pocus @NIAW by ET’ Space provided after course signup)
  6. Butterfly Cloud network for supervised and mentored scanning will be needed for training. Registration (with NIAW Butterfly Cloud network) will be completed at the start of Stage 1 of training. Device loans however, are only possible after you have completed 50% of the suppervised scanning stage, to ensure familirty with the process, in time for your mentored scanning stage. 
Stage 1 – Knowledge Acquisition

Aim: 

To deliver theoretical knowledge of ultrasound including the physics of ultrasound, instrumentation, scanning techniques, image acquisition, administration, safety and governance.

Elements: 

  1. Pre-Course learning material for FAMUS ( Handbooks, Curriculum &  Videos): to equip you with introductory material that will be covered in the accredited course, for you to read through before course attendance.
  2. Course Attendance:  Book a course to take you through the basic knowledge needed for accreditation and start the journey of hands-on scanning though lectures, cases, simulation training and scanning modules. 


To Complete Stage 1

  1. Review learning materials & attend a FAMUS Course (please keep your certificate of attendance)
  2. Complete the  FAMUS E-Learning Assessment
Stage 2 – Simulated Scanning

AIM

To deliver practical knowledge and basic scanning techniques in a controlled simulation environment before patient contact. 

Elements: 

1. Probe Manipulation: To equip you with introductory skills of how to scan using the Scan Trainer Simulator, which will take you through increasingly challenging task to build your probe manipulation and spatial awareness skills. These basic principles will stand you in good stead when progressing to the supervised scanning stage of training. 

 2. Process of Scanning:To equip you with the format of scanning using the Eve Simulator. This session takes you through scanning the Bodyworks Eve simulator in a structured way in line with the module, so a structured approach to reporting can be achieved.

Below are the contents covered during the session.

Using Intelligent Ultrasound ‘EVE’

  1. Lung Ultrasound
  2. Normal/ Dry Lung Pathologies (A-line Profile; Pneumothorax; Consolidation)
  3. Wet Lung Pathologies (B-line Profile; Pneumonitis; COVID-19; Effusion (simple & complex) 
  4. Abdominal & Renal
  5. Normal/ Degrees and Complexities of free fluid
  6. Degrees of hydronephrosis/ bladder assessment 

Using Abdominal Phantoms

  1. Abdominal & Renal
  2. Normal/ Degrees and complexities of free fluid/ bladder assessment

To Book: 

  1. Simply make contact using the Mail icon (bottom right of the page)
  2. However, should you wish to have individual unsupervised simulation practice, please  book using this process 


To Complete Stage 2

  1. Attend and engage with session (including probe manipulation modules + Eve scanning)
  2. Complete the feedback  BEFORE AFTER the session
Stage 3 – Supervised Scanning

AIM

To complete the mandatory number of modular scans with a mentor/supervisor, thereby gaining supervised scanning experience on real patients, accompanied by supervised reporting.

Elements: 

  1. Indicative number of supervised scans and pathologies needed
  2. Thoracic Ultrasound – 10 scans (20 lungs)
  3. includes rule out pneumothorax, increased lug water, consolidation and effusion
  4. Abdominal / Renal Ultrasound – 10 scans
  5. includes abdominal free fluid, bladder distention and hydronephrosis
  6. DVT Ultrasound – 5 scans
  7. includes a positive DVT
  8. Supervised Scanning  sessions are created for trainees across Wales to attend scanning sessions to acquire the required supervised scan numbers. The creation of these sessions has been through collaboration with multiple faculty members and Intensive Care Units across Wales to take advantage of the All-Wales Juniors Contract enabling juniors for any trust to visit another trust for training. Professionals not on training contracts can still access session, although the pathway is slightly different.

Please see below for advice on your approptiate path towards training. 

Faculty within these units are supervisors/mentors who have graciously created time slots for professionals to be welcome in their unit, to train specifically at the beside with them supervising the training scan process.

Important points to remember

1.  Booking is on a first come basis

2. If after booking, you are unable to make the session, please cancel (stating why) in good time, to enable others to have access to the training slot.

3. Use approved reporting forms. (FAMUS Reporting Sheets –  ThoracicAbdominal/RenalDVT)

4. Update log book(s) as you progress. (Log books –  Thoracic Abdominal/Renal DVT)

5. Please conduct yourself professionally and within the governance structure of the unit that you are supervised in. 

 

Choose your Training Pathway

OPTION 1 – AIM & ICM Trainees with ALL WALES CONTRACT (Given Priority Booking)

  • Access STAGE 3 on EOLAS
  • Click to book a Supervised Drop-in session
  • Scroll to appropriate Hospital and select Faculty providing relevant module training
  • Click to be redirected to Calendly faculty availability to book a session with the chosen faculty

OPTION 2 – Other Trainees with ALL WALES CONTRACT (Non-priority Booking)

  • Access STAGE 3 on EOLAS
  • Click to book a Supervised Drop-in session
  • Scroll to appropriate Hospital and select Faculty providing relevant module training
  • Click to be redirected to Calendly faculty availability to book a session with the chosen faculty

OPTION 3 – Professionals  WITHIN Supervisors Health Board (Non-priority Booking)

  • Access STAGE 3 on EOLAS
  • Click to book a Supervised Drop-in session
  • Scroll to appropriate Hospital and select Faculty providing relevant module training
  • Click to be redirected to Calendly faculty availability to book a session with the chosen faculty

OPTION 4 – Professionals  OUTSIDE OF Supervisors Health Board (Without Honorary Contract)

  • STAGE 2 completion will provide 2 simulated scan numbers for your logbook.
  • Progress by Clicking to register interest in attending a Supervised scanning Day @NIAW
  • Supervised Scanning Day will aim to provide 5 model scans for your logbook.
  • Supervised patient scanning (department/ ?NIAW) of 5 patient scans should complete Stage 3 requirements

 

A note on Reporting…It is important to use the standardized process for reporting while scanning.

This process highlights and re-enforces the questions targeted by the scanning process and can be performed in 3 ways, as below. 

  • Electronically by using the Eolas Medical or Butterfly App’s digitized form which has been created specifically for the process of electronic reporting and remote supervision. 

OR

  • Using  Paper forms which can be printed out and completed after each scan by yourself and the supervisor.

OR

  • Using local reporting systems or process at your training site guided by your supervisor. 


To Complete Stage 3

  1. Complete the required supervised scanning modular numbers
  2. Update your Logbook with all numbers
Stage 4 – Mentored Scanning

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Stage 5 – Assessment of Completion

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