POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound)

What is a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)?

A point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a type of portable ultrasound. Healthcare providers use it when they need to bring an ultrasound to you — whether it’s to your hospital bedside, a trauma bay at the ER or an ambulance. It can help providers make quick decisions about your care because they can read the results immediately. This is especially beneficial in emergencies.

With other types of ultrasounds, even ones on wheels or carts, you may still need access to a radiologist or sonographer. This increases the time you wait for decisions about your care. Radiologists need to interpret the results, which can take hours depending on how many other people are waiting.

Many POCUS machines are smaller than a tablet, making it easy for providers to carry them throughout a hospital or to an emergency scene. They can offer tremendous benefits when healthcare providers receive training on how to use and read them.

When is a POCUS used?

Healthcare providers use point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose a condition at your bedside quickly. You don’t need to go to a second room or wait for another provider. It’s often ideal for emergency situations, when time is critical, and decisions need to be made fast.

Just like other ultrasounds, providers can use it for many different locations on your body, including your:

• Heart
• Chest and abdomen
• Lungs
• Muscles, tendons and other soft tissues
• Veins

Healthcare providers need appropriate training on how to use and read results from POCUS. It involves knowledge of the specific device and how to take images, videos and measurements. Not all healthcare facilities have access to POCUS.

How does a point-of-care ultrasound work?

POCUS uses sound waves to create images of your body, just like a traditional ultrasound. But unlike a traditional ultrasound machine, POCUS comes to you. There’s no transport to an ultrasound room. Your provider may even have a handheld device and a tablet to perform the ultrasound wherever you are.

Your provider will ask you to lie still while they perform the ultrasound. This helps them get the best images. They’ll move a handheld transducer across the area they wish to see.

You don’t need to prepare for a point-of-care ultrasound. It’s also relatively quick since you don’t have to wait for a room or for your provider to wheel an ultrasound cart to you. The provider caring for you can perform the ultrasound and read the results right away.

What are the benefits of a point-of-care ultrasound?

• Convenience: You don’t need to move to a new room for your ultrasound or change providers.
• Quicker care: You can receive treatment more quickly.
• Portability: It’s small and moves easily, often in the provider’s pocket. It has a small footprint, so it stores easily, too.

What are the risks?

There are limitations to POCUS, like:

• Provider training: Healthcare providers must be knowledgeable about the device. They must stay up to date on changing technologies and be able to interpret the results. Not receiving specialized training can lead to misdiagnosis.
• Battery life and lost equipment: Since the device is handheld, it runs off a battery, which needs charging. It’s also small, which can lead to it being lost.

What type of results do you get from a point-of-care ultrasound?

Your healthcare provider can typically tell you what they see on your ultrasound right away. That’s one of the main benefits of POCUS, especially when medical decisions need to be made quickly.