FUSIC and COVID-19
We have received several queries regarding how COVID-19 may affect your accreditation journey.
Please refer to the below FAQ's to help assist with your enquiry.
If your question has not been answered, please email FUSIC@ics.ac.uk
Q: I am unable to attend a course due to COVID-19. What can I do in the meantime?
A: Due to the pandemic, many courses are currently unavailable. While we are not able to confirm when courses will resume, providing you have the support of your mentor and supervisor, you may begin by completing your registration and fee payment, e-Learning and your logbook of scans. This will mean that the requirements are done in a different order than outlined but with the intentions that all delegates attend a course at a later stage. NB: Certification will not be distributed unless all requirements have been met.
Q: I attended a FICE course, but the website says that FICE is no longer available including registration. Will this course count as having attended a course towards FUSIC heart?
A: Yes. The FICE course you have attended, providing it has been within the last 3 years is still valid in contribution to the requirements outlined in the FUSIC heart module.
Q: I have completed my FICE/CUSIC accreditation, but it is unavailable when I try to register and pay. How can I complete this step and receive my certificate?
A: Registration and fee payment is required as one of the first steps to be completed and should not be left until the final step before receiving certification. As FICE/CUSIC are not longer available, registration and fee payment will now be made under the relevant FUSIC module. For example, FICE registration will be FUSIC heart, CUSIC lung will be FUSIC lung etc.
Q: Can I pay the old fee for my FICE/CUSIC accreditation?
A: Unfortunately, this is not feasible. The fees that are now set out are in line with the combined modular pathway that is FUSIC and cannot be changed. Therefore, it is recommended that delegates who wish to complete accreditation, register and pay the fee as one of the first steps.
Q: Due to COVID-19, I will be unable to finish my logbook/accreditation? Can I have an extension?
A: The FUSIC committee have allocated an extension of 3 months for all delegates to complete their accreditation in addition to the 12 month time-frame set out to complete the requisite number of scans. As the pandemic is currently ongoing, the extension we have given may be re-evaluated and we continue to consider and review how this will affect the completion of accreditation for many.
Applicant Queries
Q: I attended a course more than 12 months ago. Will this count as attending a required course?
A: If your Mentor and Supervisor are supportive, and you are prepared to restart your logbook collection and complete it within a year, we will accept attendance on a relevant ICS-approved course within 3 years of your FUSIC registration for that module.
Q: Would a FEEL, EGLS or BSE Level 1 course (or similar) be accepted automatically?
A: FEEL and BSE Level 1 courses are automatically approved for FICE training. Other courses may have been approved on an individual basis, so please check with our accreditation team who will be able to confirm their status.
Q: I am an ST5 Anaesthetic Trainee/respiratory trainee, am I eligible to carry out the FUSIC heart module?
A: Yes. It doesn’t matter what grade, role or speciality you belong to - medical, nursing or allied healthcare professional - FUSIC training is for you.
Q: I have completed a logbook for another ultrasound accreditation, can these scans contribute to my FUSIC logbook?
A: Yes. But only if you fulfil all the FUSIC logbook requirements (>10 scans are directly supervised by your FUSIC Mentor; all 50 scans [first to last] are completed within 12 months; all 50 scans [images and reports] are reviewed by your FUSIC Mentor).
Q: How long do I have to complete the scans?
A: You must complete your logbook scans (first to last) within a 12-month period. You may apply for an extension to this deadline in advance of the 12 months, but it will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Q: What documents do I need to submit in order to get my accreditation certificate?
A: You need to submit your completed summary of training record in your accreditation pack, signed off by both your Mentor and Supervisor. There is no need to send your reports or any other documentation as part of this application.
Q: When do I need to register and make payment with the Intensive Care Society?
You must register on the Intensive Care Society website before starting your log book.
Q: How will I receive my certificate of accreditation?
A: Certificates of accreditation are sent via email.
Q: Is ICE-BLU access available as part of the FUSIC Heart module or does this need to be paid for separately?
A: ICE-BLU is available at no charge to UK residents. This is not the case outside the UK; in such cases, please contact the our
accreditation team who will advise you on alternative resources.