Premium
Diagnostic Ultrasound Safety Review for Point‐of‐Care Ultrasound Practitioners
Author(s) -
Miller Douglas L.,
Abo Alyssa,
Abramowicz Jacques S.,
Bigelow Timothy A.,
Dalecki Diane,
Dickman Eitan,
Donlon John,
Harris Gerald,
Nomura Jason
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.15202
Subject(s) - medicine , point of care ultrasound , ultrasound , patient safety , medical physics , medical diagnosis , radiation exposure , radiology , point of care , intensive care medicine , health care , nuclear medicine , nursing , economics , economic growth
Potential ultrasound exposure safety issues are reviewed, with guidance for prudent use of point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS). Safety assurance begins with the training of POCUS practitioners in the generation and interpretation of diagnostically valid and clinically relevant images. Sonographers themselves should minimize patient exposure in accordance with the as‐low‐as‐reasonably‐achievable principle, particularly for the safety of the eye, lung, and fetus. This practice entails the reduction of output indices or the exposure duration, consistent with the acquisition of diagnostically definitive images. Informed adoption of POCUS worldwide promises a reduction of ionizing radiation risks, enhanced cost‐effectiveness, and prompt diagnoses for optimal patient care.