Life-saving screenings: Ultrasound reduced hospital visits among pregnant women by 81%.
A study from the University of Minnesota Medical School has revealed a significant transformative effect of using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for enhancing treatment efficiency in early pregnancy. The implementation of POCUS during first-trimester visits resulted in an 81% reduction in emergency department visits and urgent clinic visits for patients without a miscarriage, according to the University of Minnesota Medical School.
The comprehensive approach described in the study, published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine, focused on pregnancies less than 14 weeks, and included real-time ultrasound for assessing dating and viability, risk evaluation, and immediate counseling within a single visit.
Dr. Alison Newman, an associate professor and family medicine physician from M Health Fairview and the study's author, discussed the practical benefits of POCUS: "Our work demonstrates that using ultrasound in care settings provides significant benefits to the patients we serve, addressing early pregnancy issues at the moment they are identified."
The approach studied by the authors aims to streamline diagnostics without compromising the quality of care, significantly alleviating the stress, time, and financial burden on patients. The program was tested at the M Health Fairview Clinic — Bethesda in 2022 and not only allowed for timely diagnosis of abnormal pregnancies but also provided extended support for all patients, including those experiencing a miscarriage. The time to diagnose a miscarriage threat was dramatically reduced from 5.8 to 1.7 days.
The results indicate a substantial potential for widespread adoption of POCUS in family medicine clinics to standardize and improve medical care in early pregnancy, the authors believe. The research team recommends further validation of the results with larger specialists to align the findings and optimize implementation strategies for the examination method.
The adoption of POCUS aligns with the growing trend in healthcare towards integrating compact bedside imaging devices into routine clinical workflows. Studies have shown that portable ultrasound devices not only enhance diagnostic accuracy but also reduce healthcare costs over time by minimizing unnecessary interventions.
Important! This article is based on the latest scientific and medical research and does not contradict them. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. For diagnosis, please consult a healthcare professional.