Frequently asked questions
The probe, the training, the certification, and how to get started — answered in one place.
What is EASy POCUS?
EASy (Echocardiographic Assessment using Subxiphoid-only examination) is a subcostal-first, physiology-centered point-of-care ultrasound exam. A single cardiac acoustic window, read together with the IVC and lungs, resolves into one of ten hemodynamic phenotypes — and each phenotype points to the next safest action: fluid, pressor, inotrope, procedure, or hold. It is a decision system, not a reduced echocardiogram.
Which probe and ultrasound machine do I need?
A phased array (cardiac) probe is the only probe the exam uses, in a fixed six-view sequence. Because EASy is qualitative 2D pattern recognition — no Doppler, strain, or quantitative packages — any machine or handheld device with a phased array probe is sufficient.
How long does EASy take to learn?
The framework is designed to be learnable in a focused course. In peer-reviewed data, 87% of resident-obtained EASy exams (55 of 63) were sufficient for clinical decision-making after one day of training (Critical Care Explorations, 2024). Competence is then built with online drills and 30 expert-verified exams from your own patients.
Do I need an invite code to use the site?
Membership is free but requires an invite code from your course director. Without one you can still use a lot of the site: the free bedside cards, the open protocol guides, the free dynamic phenotype drill, and the free weekly scenario — one full case, open to everyone, rotating every Monday. If you have no course near you, leave your email on the Courses page and we'll tell you when one opens.
Free phenotype drill →Free weekly scenario →Free bedside cards →
How does CME credit work for the courses?
CME credit, when offered, is provided through the accredited provider hosting each course — most EASy workshops run inside national and international congresses. The credit designation is listed with each course's registration.
Does EASy certification replace hospital credentialing?
No. Completing the EASy pathway documents training within this program — the modules, the hands-on workshop, and 30 expert-verified exams. It does not replace institutional credentialing, privileging, scope-of-practice requirements, or specialty-board certification.
Who is EASy for?
Clinicians who meet shock, arrest, and airway emergencies first: anesthesiologists and CRNAs, intensivists and critical care fellows, emergency physicians, hospitalists, and advanced practice providers. The exam is designed to work at every level of prior ultrasound experience, from novice to expert.
What is the difference between EASy MAP, ALS, PDA, and Sepsis?
EASy MAP is the foundation: rapid hemodynamic phenotyping of hypotension and undifferentiated shock using the ten patterns. The others apply the same framework to specific settings — EASy ALS to cardiac arrest and the reversible causes during CPR, EASy PDA to the physiologically difficult airway before emergency intubation, and EASy Sepsis to serial assessment and de-resuscitation in septic shock.
Is EASy evidence-based?
Yes. The method is defined in a peer-reviewed methods paper (Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2025) and evaluated in prospective studies, including validation against focused transthoracic echocardiography (Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 2021) and resident-training outcomes (Critical Care Explorations, 2024 and 2025). The full evidence base spans 18 peer-reviewed publications and 5 book chapters.
Can I bring EASy to my institution or team?
Yes — institutional training is the main way EASy spreads: residency and fellowship programs, ICU and anesthesia departments, emergency and trauma teams, and hospitals building a POCUS curriculum. Workshops run from one to three days, and the train-the-trainer pathway builds local faculty so the program sustains itself.