Is Point of Care Ultrasound Worth the Bother?

There has been an increase in the routine use of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in the UK over the last decade, which has been reflected by its inclusion in the training curriculum of several specialties. Despite this fact there are still those within medicine who are reluctant to engage with POCUS, remaining sceptical about its benefits. A substantial evidence base exists in support of POCUS use in patient assessment and management. Though there are accepted challenges in achieving competency, these are being acknowledged and work undertaken to overcome them. There is growing enthusiasm amongst the medical workforce for the development of POCUS competencies, and as its use becomes increasingly normalised those still in doubt may see its value. This review aims to highlight the current state of play of POCUS within internal medicine, explore the current barriers to accreditation whilst also suggesting solutions, and discuss the future possible directions for this imaging modality. We conclude that to facilitate the use of POCUS as a routine part of care within internal medicine, there must be collaboration between multiple specialties to facilitate high quality training and sustainable safe practice to the benefit of our patients.