CRUS CORE, now in its 8th year running, is a two-day course focusing on the skills required to begin down the road to competency in critical care ultrasound. This will include didactic and hands-on sessions, with emphasis on image acquisition, image interpretation and clinical integration. There will be particular emphasis on cardiac and respiratory failure, as well as vascular access. This course is ideally suited for those caring for the gravely ill patients typically seen in the ICU, the ED or OR. 

At least four weeks before the course, you will receive our flipped classroom modules so that you on the day of the course, you’re ready to start learning. Each session will begin with an interactive and engaging lecture (minimized due to pre-course material) using real time ultrasound examination. Subsequently attendees are split into groups with a 2:1 learner to faculty ratio to complete interactive image interpretation sessions that challenge the participant with interpretation and integration of ultrasound images. Each day will conclude with a simulation enhanced post-course assessment to gauge comfort and ease with the techniques emphasized in the course.

We see the CRUS CORE course as building the foundation, but skills need to be maintained to ensure retention in the long-term. This year we are launching a new initiative, CRUS RETENTION, as an option for attendees who want to take their POCUS learning to the next level. We believe there are four pillars to ensuring skills retention and offer unique solutions for each:

1) Cognitive – Self-directed references: We will provide an extended flipped classroom and a copy of the POCUS Textbook (currently available on amazon) for users to continue learning on their own schedule.

2) Mentorship – Registrants will be paired with a Resuscitative Ultrasound expert and quarterly video chats (with screen sharing) will be scheduled. This will be an opportunity for users to review their scans, discuss concerns or questions, and go over any obstacles in becoming a POCUS master.

3) Technical skill – Scanning, Scanning, and Scanning. The hallmark for retaining any technical skill is practice. We ask all our attendees to scan as much as possible but as part of the CRUS RETENTION package, we will work with you to create a scanning plan/benchmark and a provide a logbook if you choose.

4) Teaching – We hope each and every person who takes this course will engage in formal and informal teaching opportunities to pass on knowledge. Beyond that, we recognize that the Retention package shows a significant dedication and may provide an opportunity in teaching at future CRUS courses.