Point of Care Ultrasound: Bringing Clinicians Back to the Bedside
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By
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Preetha Hebbar
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Alissa S. Chen
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July 13, 2026
Clinical Report: Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Patient Experience
Background
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an integral tool in various medical fields, particularly in internal medicine and emergency care. Its use has expanded beyond traditional diagnostic roles, prompting a need to understand how patients perceive and experience this technology.
Data Highlights
| Participant Characteristics | Findings |
|---|---|
| Total Participants | 18 |
| POCUS in Emergency Room | 90% |
| Exams by General Internists | 56% |
| Abnormal Results | 33% |
Key Findings
- Patients reported enhanced reassurance and a stronger sense of involvement in their care due to POCUS.
- POCUS was viewed as part of a broader clinical encounter.
- Patients expressed significant trust in clinicians performing POCUS despite limited understanding of the technology.
- Many patients could not distinguish POCUS from formal radiology studies.
- Effective communication about POCUS's limitations is essential.
Clinical Implications
Clinicians should prioritize clear communication about the capabilities and limitations of POCUS.
Conclusion
The study highlights the importance of understanding patient experiences with POCUS.
Related Resources & Content
- Madrazo et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, Year -- Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Reintegrating Clinicians with Patient Care at the Bedside
- Frontiers in Medicine — Education and training models for point-of-care ultrasound in perioperative medicine: a narrative review
- Frontiers in Medicine — Developing and implementing a point-of-care cardiac ultrasound teaching module for medical students: perceptions, needs, and outcomes
- Frontiers in Pediatrics — Case Report: A structured point-of-care ultrasound pathway for the crashing neonate in the NICU: a case series and algorithm proposal
- Intensive Care Medicine — Re: Peripheral ultrasound in the ICU: current evidence, limitations, and future directions
- International evidence-based recommendations for point-of-care lung ultrasound: 2025 focused update
- Internal Medicine Residency Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Consensus Recommendations
- POCUS Certificate of Completion
- Inferior Vena Cava Ultrasound to Guide Decongestion in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial | JACC: Heart Failure
- SERIAL POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND (POCUS) TO GUIDE DIURETIC THERAPY IN ACUTE DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL - CHEST
- Lung ultrasound guided management in chronic heart failure: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - PubMed
- Utilization of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Routine Patient Care Among Internal Medicine Resident Physicians in the United States - ScienceDirect
- Development of Validity Evidence of a Standardized Competency Tool for Internal Jugular Vein Point of Care Ultrasound: Consensus Recommendations from International Experts - PubMed
- Ultrasound | ACEP
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
