Point Of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Society building capacity in imaging healthcare

By Linnette Leyi

Ultrasound technology has traditionally been used as an imaging test using high-frequency sound waves to capture live images from the inside of your body.

It is usually done by radiologists. In the last two decades, clinicians who are not radiologists have been using it in basic functions of diagnosis to help in making clinical decisions.

The method has become more popular over the last two decades since the equipment has become more portable, affordable, and available.

This technology is also relatively new and many doctors have not received such training while in medical school. However, the Point Of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Society tries to bridge that gap.

POCUS Society is a Canadian organization that offers globally recognized certifications for healthcare providers to independently validate their POCUS knowledge, application, and proficiency.

Through a collaboration with Kenyatta National Hospital, the Society offered training and certification to thirty (30) practitioners namely consultants, registrars, medical officers from KNH, Nairobi Hospital, and MP Shah.

The course which is standardized and internationally recognized not only teaches the practitioners how to use the technology and improve their practice but also how to train others.

This helps build capacity at KNH as well as other hospitals. The course, which is offered at least once every year ran from 6th to 19th February 2023 at KPCC Daycare Centre.

Speaking to Newsline, Dr. Anne Mugire, a Cardiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) highlighted the benefits of practitioners taking the course.

“A clinician can use available ultrasound equipment during bedside examination to make a better, quicker, and more accurate diagnosis. There is no need to send a patient for an X-Ray which is a time-consuming procedure,” she said.

“It is also more accurate, for example in pneumonia,” she added. It will be very useful, especially in acute units like Accident and Emergency, ICUs, and theatres for both the pediatric and adult population.

Deirdre Druffy-trainer from POCUS, explained further: “A doctor can look for a specific thing that will make immediate differences to management without having to send patients for other time-consuming procedures. The program will be beneficial because practitioners make use of already available ultrasound machines to do more functions hence better management of diseases at no added costs.”

The Academy has been offering training in Kenya since 2019 with Kenyatta National Hospital specialists benefitting from the rigorous training offered at subsidized charges.

POCUS team and the trainees posing for a photograph after a session

PHOTO | DIERDRE DUFFY

Internal medicine resident Dr. Catherine Thuita described the course as very intensive, with classes running from 7 am to 6 pm. “The instructors were very thorough, and thanks to them I’ve learned a lot. I am now able to rule out diagnosis at the bedside, hence reducing the time lag as witnessed when getting investigations done,” she said.

POCUS Society partners with various constituents through rigorous assessments, continual learning opportunities, and community building around important topics relevant to POCUS.

MAIN PHOTO | LINNETTE LEYI One of the instructors (left) and a trainee analyzing an Ultrasound Image