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Impact of Physician-Performed Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) on Outpatient Cardiology Consultation
A recent study investigated the impact of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by consulting cardiologists during the initial cardiology consultation on patient management and downstream testing. The study compared patients who received POCUS during their consultation with a control group that did not receive POCUS. The results showed that POCUS detected more abnormal echo findings, leading to greater medication adjustments and earlier referrals for advanced cardiac diagnostic imaging and subspecialty cardiac referrals. Additionally, patients who received POCUS had fewer referrals for noninvasive stress testing. This study highlights the potential benefits of integrating POCUS into outpatient cardiology consultations for improving patient care.
Impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) on Acute Heart Failure Hospitalization: Retrospective Cohort Study
A retrospective cohort study investigated the impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) as an additional diagnostic tool in hospitalized heart failure patients. The study compared patients who received ultrasound-guided diagnosis at admission with those who underwent standard diagnosis. The results showed that the introduction of POCUS reduced the time to disposition decision and total length of hospital stay, while increasing the time to treatment. The study highlights the potential benefits of POCUS in improving clinical outcomes for acute heart failure patients and suggests the need for further evaluation in clinical trials to confirm these findings.
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Impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Acute Heart Failure Hospitalization
Integration of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Family Medicine Clerkships: A CERA Study
A study conducted by M. Rebecca Hoffman, MD, MSPH, Georgia S. Mueller Luckey, PhD, MS, and Jenenne Geske, PhD, aimed to explore the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) education in family medicine clerkships in the United States and Canada. The researchers surveyed clerkship directors regarding the incorporation of POCUS education and other procedural training in their institutions. Out of the respondents, only 13.9% reported structured POCUS education during the clerkship, while 50.5% included other procedural training. Although 65% of clerkship directors recognized the importance of POCUS in family medicine, few directors used it personally or included it in the clerkship education. The study suggests that there is an opportunity to expand POCUS exposure for medical students during the clerkship as POCUS continues to be integrated into medical education in family medicine.
Read more: Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Procedural Instruction in the Family Medicine Clerkship: A CERA Study
