Building POCUS Capability in Brunei

In 2024, a national Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) education initiative was launched by the Emergency Department of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, Ministry of Health Brunei Darussalam. Led by Dr Hjh Nurul Bahriah binti Haji Ali and Dr Hjh Dk Halimatussa'diah binti Pg Dato Paduka Haji Zaini from the Emergency Department, RIPAS Hospital, as well as Dr Hj Mohammad Athaailah bin Haji Abdullah from Acute Medical Unit, this aims to incorporate POCUS into clinical practise and build a lasting foundation for POCUS education by developing both providers and local expertise.

The AACES Ultrasound Life Support (USLS) Course served as the core curriculum for a two-part POCUS education programme run at RIPAS Hospital for doctors across acute care specialties.

The initiative began with a 1.5-day Train-the-Trainer workshop during which visiting AACES faculty—Associate Professor Francis Lee and Associate Professor Toh Hong Chuen—worked with the local organising team to mentor experienced clinicians and prepare them to serve as local POCUS instructors. Following that, a one-day Provider Workshop was delivered, co-taught by the newly trained local instructors alongside the AACES faculty.

Throughout both sessions, visiting and local trainers jointly presented lectures and supervised hands-on scanning practice, enabling participants to gain the clinical knowledge, practical skills, and confidence necessary to incorporate point-of-care ultrasound into the assessment and management of critically ill patients.

The programme strengthened professional ties between clinicians in Singapore and Brunei, highlighting how regional collaboration can promote best practices and empower local clinicians to lead POCUS education. It exemplifies AACES' commitment to advancing point-of-care ultrasound education beyond Singapore through collaboration, mentorship, and sustainable faculty development.

Dr. Basirun Ahmad, Emergency Department, RIPAS Hospital