Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has revolutionized patient care in Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, and Family Medicine, offering rapid, bedside diagnostic insights that guide treatment in high-stakes situations. Traditionally, POCUS has been most impactful in intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments (EDs), where critical patients benefit from its ability to quickly confirm diagnoses and inform management decisions. However, a recent study highlights a less conventional but highly valuable application of POCUS: its use in evaluating deteriorating patients outside the ICU.
The Study and Its Findings
This research, conducted at Stanford Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health System, explored how ICU triage fellows used portable ultrasound devices during emergencies on general hospital wards. These fellows responded to a range of scenarios, including hypotension, rapid response alerts, and “Code Blue” events. The study documented 51 clinical encounters, revealing that cardiac function assessment (53%) and volume status evaluation (35%) were the most common uses for POCUS in these settings.
One of the study’s most striking findings was that POCUS confirmed pre-ultrasound clinical impressions in 79% of cases. This validation played a critical role in guiding treatment, with 35% of encounters resulting in significant clinical interventions, such as fluid resuscitation or vasopressor initiation. For patients in non-ICU wards, where traditional diagnostic tools may not be immediately available, these interventions can be life-saving.
Implications for Non-ICU Settings
The findings underscore the potential of POCUS to extend beyond its traditional boundaries, bringing critical care capabilities to general wards. For Internal Medicine practitioners managing complex and evolving cases, POCUS provides a dynamic, bedside tool that can refine diagnostic accuracy and optimize management strategies. It is especially valuable during rapid response calls, where decisions must be made swiftly and with limited information.
This expanded application of POCUS aligns with the needs of modern healthcare systems, where hospitalists and triage teams must navigate diverse and unpredictable patient presentations. Whether confirming a suspected diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction or assessing fluid responsiveness, POCUS empowers clinicians to act decisively and effectively, minimizing delays in care.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its clear benefits, integrating POCUS into non-ICU settings is not without challenges. The study noted limitations such as incomplete documentation and the absence of immediate expert review for ultrasound images. These issues highlight the need for comprehensive training programs that equip clinicians with both technical proficiency and the ability to interpret ultrasound findings accurately.
Furthermore, while POCUS has become more accessible due to advances in portable ultrasound technology, its adoption in non-ICU environments requires cultural and institutional support. Standardized protocols and consistent training are critical to ensuring that POCUS is used effectively and appropriately in ward-based emergencies.
Supporting POCUS Integration with SonoSim
The successful integration of POCUS into broader clinical practice depends on more than just access to devices—it requires robust training and education. SonoSim is uniquely positioned to support this need, offering an ecosystem of ultrasound training that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Family Medicine, and beyond. Through a combination of hands-on scanning practice and didactic instruction, SonoSim ensures that healthcare providers are equipped to use POCUS confidently and competently in any setting.
As this study demonstrates, the transformative power of POCUS extends far beyond the ICU. With the right tools, training, and institutional support, it has the potential to redefine how care is delivered across healthcare systems, improving outcomes for patients in every corner of the hospital.