Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound - elearning for healthcare
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About the Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound programme

ICE-BLU

The ICE-BLU project covers the theoretical knowledge required undertake hands-on training in focused echo and lung ultrasound  in intensive care. It is designed for all clinicians interested in assessment of critically ill patients, including those in anaesthesia, intensive care, emergency and acute medicine.

It introduces the physics of ultrasound, anatomy and basic views, left and right ventricular function, life-threatening pathologies, basic lung ultrasound and some of the limitations and pitfalls that may be encountered.

DICE

The DICE sessions go beyond the FICE curriculum, to explain Doppler theory and demonstrate the value of spectral and colour flow Doppler imaging in clinical practice.

More information

ICE-BLU

Ultrasound of the heart and lungs in the critically ill patient is a non-invasive, easy-to-perform  and valuable mode of bedside imaging. A focused cardiac  and lung ultrasound examination can identify serious and life-threatening pathology in the haemodynamically unstable patient, and guide management.

Bodies such as the UK Resuscitation Council are promoting the integration of basic echo and lung ultrasound into the assessment of intensive care patients, and hands-on training courses are widespread

The ICE-BLU sessions will interactively teach the theoretical knowledge required prior to attending a hands-on training course, and includes a final MCQ session, which allows the production of a CPD certificate for those who have completed all eight sessions.

DICE

Doppler imaging can enhance the clinical information obtained by echo in cardiac pathology, and the DICE sessions explore beyond FICE to discuss the theory and application of Doppler modes for non-specialist echo users.

Whereas ICE-BLU is endorsed by the ICS as the elearning package for FICE-accreditation, DICE has been developed independently, and is outside the FICE curriculum. Trainees of Doppler echocardiography must have appropriate clinical supervision, and users must practice as self-regulating practitioners.

Sample session

Please note that if you access the content below, your progress and completion of the session will not be recorded and you will not be able to generate a record of completion.

  • Anatomy and Basic Views

    The following sample session explains the anatomy of the heart and lungs related to ultrasound imaging. Building on this knowledge, the basic views used in intensive care echo and basic lung ultrasound are then described.

Module Editors

  • Alison Parnell

    Alison Parnell

    Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist
  • Nick Morgan-Hughes

    Nick Morgan-Hughes

    Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist
  • Dave Woodward

    Dave Woodward

    Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist

Rest of the Team/Co-authors

  • Jonathan Rosser

    Jonathan Rosser

    Specialty Registrar in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care
  • Akos Marko

    Akos Marko

    Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist
  • Paddy Knowles

    Paddy Knowles

    Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist
  • Mark Millar

    Project Manager, HEE elearning for healthcare
  • elfh staff - Jen Van Iwaarden

    Jen Vaniwaarden

    Lead Learning Designer, HEE elearning for healthcare

How to access

In order to access the Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.

Register >

To view the Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.

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NHS healthcare staff in England

The Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this elearning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.

Further details are available here.

Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ‘OpenAthens’ portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound programme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

How to license

In the event that you do not qualify for free access to the Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound programme, you are able to license access through eIntegrity, a community-interest company established for this purpose.
You can check whether or not you qualify for free access by clicking on the ‘Register’ button above.

For more information on the licensing options available for the Intensive Care Echo and Basic Lung Ultrasound programme, please visit the  eIntegrity website.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.

elfh is an NHS England Programme in partnership with the NHS and Professional Bodies