How I Do It: Advancing Point-of-Care US in a Large Hospital Setting.

Abstract

Point-of-care US (POCUS), also known as focused US, targeted US, clinical US, bedside US, or emergency US, is a rapidly evolving, dynamic imaging tool that aids in rapid diagnoses and informed bedside decision-making. POCUS devices are portable, affordable, and considered easy to use for nonradiologists. POCUS has several advantages over diagnostic US, including improved accessibility, real-time assessment, and provision of immediate results. This makes POCUS useful to guide bedside procedures, such as vascular access for central and peripheral line placement. However, advancing POCUS across a broad health care network requires collaboration among the POCUS stakeholders and clinical departments within the existing multidisciplinary ecosystem. This collaboration should support nonradiology colleagues to ensure quality patient care and streamlined operations while ensuring POCUS imaging availability for comparison. Creating a comprehensive POCUS program in a large hospital setting requires policies and guidelines like those of other clinical imaging programs. Leadership, training programs, credentialing bodies, documentation, proper image storage, and quality assurance are essential for any clinical imaging program, including POCUS. This review article presents a framework aimed to standardize POCUS practice across a health care system, thereby enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.