Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) practices in the helicopter emergency medical services in Europe: results of an online survey

Abstract

Background The extent to which Point-of-care of ultrasound (POCUS) is used in different European helicopter EMS (HEMS) is unknown. We aimed to study the availability, perception, and future aspects of POCUS in the European HEMS using an online survey. Method A survey about the use of POCUS in HEMS was conducted by a multinational steering expert committee and was carried out from November 30, 2020 to December 30, 2020 via an online web portal. Invitations for participation were sent via email to the medical directors of the European HEMS organizations including two reminding notes. Results During the study period, 69 participants from 25 countries and 41 different HEMS providers took part in the survey. 96% (n = 66) completed the survey. POCUS was available in 75% (56% always when needed and 19% occasionally) of the responding HEMS organizations. 17% were planning to establish POCUS in the near future. Responders who provided POCUS used it in approximately 15% of the patients. Participants thought that POCUS is important in both trauma and non-trauma-patients (73%, n = 46). The extended focused assessment sonography for trauma (eFAST) protocol (77%) was the most common protocol used. A POCUS credentialing process including documented examinations was requested in less than one third of the HEMS organizations. Conclusions The majority of the HEMS organizations in Europe are able to provide different POCUS protocols in their services. The most used POCUS protocols were eFAST, FATE and RUSH. Despite the enthusiasm for POCUS, comprehensive training and clear credentialing processes are not available in about two thirds of the European HEMS organizations. Due to several limitations of this survey further studies are needed to evaluate POCUS in HEMS.

Serial image interpretation tasks improve accuracy and increase confidence in Level 1 echocardiography reporting: a pilot study

“…if users become inappropriately confident, and this influences decision making by them or others), and our study is not exempt from this. Nevertheless, many professionals use POCUS in their practice without any specific credentialling [ 11 , 12 ], and this is likely to increase as handheld US probes become less costly and there is a proliferation of free open access resources. While we believe that there are patient safety considerations attached to the ethical development of any educational resource, we do not suggest that completion of image interpretation tasks in isolation would be de facto evidence of competence or any form of accreditation.…”

“…It would allow participants to work through tasks at their own rate, at a time convenient to them. This reduces some of the logistical barriers to POCUS training, which have been identified to adversely affect engagement with accreditation programs [ 11 , 12 , 15 ]. Flexible learning, where possible, may be particularly important in widening access to people with complex work schedules and specific responsibilities outside work as well as those whose attendance at in person training is limited by geography, time zones, financial constraints or disability.…”

Time to FOCUS - ‘Palliative Medicine Point-of-Care Ultrasound’

“…[22][23][24] Ultrasonography competency among palliative care providers could be achieved by imparting dedicated POCUS training within the core curriculum. [1,2,9,22,23] This review aims to explore the application, importance and feasibility of POCUS in various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions of palliative care medicine. A database search was performed using the terms 'Palliative medicine' and POCUS and 'point-of-care ultrasound' .…”

“…[ 22 - 24 ] Ultrasonography competency among palliative care providers could be achieved by imparting dedicated POCUS training within the core curriculum. [ 1 , 2 , 9 , 22 , 23 ]…”

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Ultrasound skillset in palliative care stems from the extension of internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine and intensive care principles into palliative medicine. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Point-of-care diagnosis has become the need of the hour and along with its guided interventions; ultrasound could be used bedside in a palliative care patient. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been defined as performance of ultrasound imaging by the treating clinician at patient's bedside and it differs from routine ultrasound imaging which is usually performed by a radiologist in a hospital setup.

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