As ultrasound makes further inroads into the primary care landscape,1 versatility remains among the most important factors in its continued successful integration. General practitioners (GPs), physician assistants, nurse practitioners, OBGYNs, and all other clinicians in this space need an ultrasound system that is as diverse as the area of primary care itself.
But what does this versatility look like? What are its benefits? How is it put into practice? Some of the core pillars of the versatility of an ultrasound system include—but aren't limited to—the ability to utilize one system with adaptable applications in multiple environments, the potential to scale up to facilitate the diagnosis of additional conditions, the ability to accommodate practices with more limited budgets and resources, and ease of use among clinicians of different experience levels.
If your practice is considering or has already begun to leverage ultrasound in the interest of growth and increasing your scope of care, learn more about why versatility is important and some primary areas that are vital to your aims.
Primary care takes place in many different venues. GPs and other primary care clinicians need an ultrasound setup that's equally useful in community medical practices, imaging centers, general practice clinics, family doctors' offices, hospitals, mobile clinics, and anywhere else primary care is administered.
In a practical context, features like portability, hands-free voice activation, longer battery life, wireless capability, and standardized report templates can help seamlessly integrate your ultrasound into all types of environments. Automated scan-assisting technology allows for fast, high-volume scanning, while reducing the amount of manual data entry, image optimization and extensive training for facilities with more limited personnel.
Look for ultrasound devices equipped with scanning assistance, wireless connectivity, adjustable monitors and system height, handheld options which help them fit all primary care environments.
Versatility of environment also means accommodating facilities with different budgets and financial resources. Primary care clinics that treat lower-income patients often face their own resource scarcity issues, which is why it's important that all types of facilities are able to access quality diagnostic equipment.
Perhaps the most apparent need for versatility in your ultrasound system relates to the range of patient imaging needs. Some studies suggest that abdominal, rectal, and vaginal ultrasounds are among the most common types being performed by general practitioners.2 As clinicians in multiple areas of specialization continue to pursue expansion through ultrasound integration,3 a more adaptable system is one of the most immediate, effective, and affordable ways to increase your scope of care by diagnosing more health issues.
While the conditions your practice plans to diagnose will vary based on factors like demographics, resources, insurance agreements, and others, it's imperative that you have a system that can quickly adapt to your potential expansion. In a clinical and diagnostic context, the ability to integrate condition-specific probes can help maximize your diagnostic capability.
A more versatile ultrasound device with condition-specific probes or tools, which are easily connected to its ports, can provide a ready-made vehicle for diagnostic expansion into other areas of care including breast, cardiac, bladder, pulmonary, and thyroid health.4 Additional probes and supporting software can help you quickly scale up your primary care practice into a multi-specialty facility without having to replace your existing system.
Patient population is directly related to conditions treated. As you're looking to expand your practice with ultrasound, it's important to assess your current and emerging patient population for the most valuable use of your resources.
For instance, if your practice treats a predominantly older population, it may be worth investing in a system that can seamlessly scan for issues in areas that usually impact seniors, such as cardiac, abdominal, renal, liver, and vascular.5 Observing the importance of the versatility of patient population is also beneficial for clinics in remote areas with high rates of infectious diseases.6
Additionally, ultrasound may help improve treatment outcomes for patients of lower socioeconomic status by detecting long-term heart disease, abdominal issues, different types of cancer, and other life-threatening conditions for which they may not have had the means to seek specialized care. This is a common problem not only in underserved areas of the United States but in many other lower-income countries where disease prevention is not always a priority.7
The versatility to treat different populations can also help your practice use your system to manage shifting geographic and social determinants of health.8 For instance, if your primary care practice operates in a region that has a high population of heart disease patients, and you are looking to expand your diagnostic capabilities to help them, the right system can help you quickly and easily integrate cardiac ultrasound into your practice, based on existing and emerging needs.
Once you've made the decision to expand your practice through ultrasound, whether it's with the above features or any others, you may experience a learning curve in successfully integrating them into your everyday care. Unfortunately, lack of training and education continues to be one of the main impediments to the successful implementation of ultrasound in primary care.9
This is why you may need a system that is also simple in operator experience and can offer features that promote easy operation for users of all skill levels. Automated presets can facilitate startup ease, including recalling frequently used settings.
When searching for the right versatile system, look for features that automatically adjust brightness, uniformity, contrast, and other parameters to give you the optimum image quality in real time, as well as tools to help walk clinicians through the setup, operation, cleaning, and maintenance of the system. As you're preparing to integrate ultrasound into your practice, it's imperative that you choose an option with robust training, education, and support to ease the learning curve.
The most versatile ultrasound systems also offer multiple models for scalability to help you upgrade and add capabilities when you need them. Ultrasound utilization is becoming more common among GPs.2 Primary care clinics around the world are continually seeing an increased patient population and caseload,10 which means many clinics may look to enhance their systems to diagnose and treat more conditions. With this expansion comes the need for more advanced ultrasound infrastructure to accommodate growth.
At the same time, adding new features should be seamless and not disruptive. Some ultrasound devices may offer multiple models to accommodate primary care clinics at each stage of application; you can start with basic options and expand your system later to include more probe configurations or software options as your practice grows.
Versatility is a must for your ultrasound system as your primary care organization strives to increase its scope of care, provide more diagnoses to patients who need them, identify new opportunities for revenue, and expand into different areas of specialization. Be sure the system you choose is diverse enough to meet your needs now and, in the future, as they evolve.
October is Ultrasound Awareness Month. In the ever-evolving realm of medical and technological advancements, ultrasound stands as a remarkable and reliable innovation that continues to revolutionize healthcare. Whether it has allowed you to experience the thrill of witnessing a baby’s first movement in the womb or enabled you to marvel at the inner workings of the human body, ultrasound technology has wielded its way to earn a special place in our everyday lives.
What is Ultrasound Technology?
Ultrasound technology, also known as ultrasonography or ultrasound, is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of the body’s inner workings. These sound waves bounce off organs and tissues to produce detailed images for diagnostics, monitoring, and therapy. Beyond medical use, ultrasound technology is has also made significant contributions to scientific research. It has opened up new possibilities for studying various subjects, such as marine life behavior and the properties of materials in industrial settings, making it a versatile and indispensable tool across multiple fields!
If you’re curious about ultrasound in medicine, these five incredible facts will leave you with a newfound appreciation for this remarkable technology. Let’s embark on this journey to the wonders of ultrasound during Ultrasound Awareness Month, together!
Fact 1: Ultrasound Technology is Non-invasive
Ever wonder how ultrasound technology stands out from the rest? The answer is simple: it is non-invasive. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, it doesn’t use ionizing radiation. Instead, it uses harmless sound waves, making it safe for imaging different parts of the body, even during pregnancy. This non-invasiveness reduces patient discomfort and minimizes the risk of radiation exposure. Thinking about must give the patient incredible peace of mind!
Fact 2: Ultrasound Can Be Used for Various Medical Diagnostics
Off the bat, when ultrasound is mentioned, people tend to think about pregnancies. But that’s not the only thing ultrasound is for! Ultrasound technology has a wide range of uses in medical diagnostics. It’s often used to see inside organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and uterus. While it’s true that it is incredibly helpful in monitoring the growth of babies during pregnancy, detecting issues like gallstones and assisting with procedures like biopsies are also made easy with ultrasound! It can give detailed, live images of such, making it an essential tool for healthcare providers.
Fact 3: Ultrasound is Safe and Radiation-free
Ultrasound technology has an amazing ability to provide real-time imaging. This means that when the ultrasound transducer moves over the body, the images appear instantly on a screen, giving the practitioner the liberty to carefully scrutinize operations. Real-time imaging is essential for medical procedures like guiding surgeons, monitoring blood flow, or assessing muscle and organ movement. During pregnancies, patients can even see their babies in action!
Fact 5: Ultrasound is Cost-effective and Portable
Ultrasound machines are cost-effective and portable. Unlike other imaging technologies that are expensive and bulky, ultrasound machines are affordable and come in portable versions. This means that healthcare providers can easily bring ultrasound technology to patients in remote or underserved areas, increasing accessibility and reaching people who might not have the means to access a hospital in a jiffy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ultrasound Awareness Month
Why is Ultrasound a Good Career?
A career in ultrasound offers several benefits, including job stability, competitive salaries, and the opportunity to make a difference in patients’ lives. Ultrasound professionals play a crucial role in healthcare by providing essential diagnostic information, making it a rewarding and fulfilling career choice.
Why is it Called Ultrasound?
The term “ultrasound” derives from “ultrasonic” and “sound.” It describes sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper limit of human hearing. In ultrasound technology, these high-frequency sound waves are used to create images of the body’s interior, hence the name.
What are the 3 Benefits of Ultrasound?
Three key benefits of ultrasound include its non-invasiveness, safety due to the absence of ionizing radiation, and real-time imaging capabilities. These features make it an essential tool in medicine and various other fields.
Happy Ultrasound Awareness Month from Smith Chason College!
Smith Chason College proudly celebrates Ultrasound Awareness Month! We recognize the importance and relevance of ultrasound in our daily lives. As an institution focused on delivering quality education to future practitioners of medicine and ultrasound imaging, we place great value on staying informed about the latest advancements and breakthroughs in this field. Together, let’s reflect on the profound impact ultrasound technology has had on healthcare and look forward to the innovations and discoveries that lie ahead!
Want to kickstart your education in ultrasound? Check out our website for more information about our five bachelor’s and associate degree programs in ultrasound!