About this course
Ultrasound scanning sessions with DOPS (Direct Observation of Practical Skills) assessments, designed for emergency medicine trainees aiming to achieve RCEM Entrustment Scale 4 in point-of-care ultrasound. These are 3-hour practical sessions where candidates undergo specified ultrasound examinations assessed by qualified Emergency Medicine Consultants with extensive PoCUS expertise, who provide an entrustment scale score of 2a, 2b, 3, or 4.
The sessions address a key challenge for trainees: difficulty obtaining supervised practice and sign-off confirmation at their home institutions. Many hospitals lack qualified trainers or trainers have insufficient time to assess skills. DOPS is one of the modern work-based assessment tools (alongside CbD, Mini-CEX, and ACAT) that has replaced the previous triggered assessment model.
Ideal candidates are ST5 doctors or above submitting a CESR (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) application, with existing ultrasound experience, who have completed their logbook to RCEM requirements and are working towards Entrustment Level 4. Six different DOPS assessments are available, matching the RCEM ultrasound curriculum.
Sessions are held in-person at Terracotta Court, London, with two time slots available per day: morning 9:30 am – 12:30 pm or afternoon 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm. Assessors include Emergency Medicine Consultants with extensive PoCUS experience including Dr George Nada, Dr Rob Kalebka, and Dr Ian Stell.
Candidates can apply for 3 CPD points for the session. The competence-based model emphasises the quality and consistency of evidence rather than just scan numbers, supporting trainees in developing, improving, and maintaining their skills through ongoing work-based assessments and personal reflections.
