Point-of-care Ultrasound
Conditions
Brief summary
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside portable ultrasound technique utilized by healthcare providers to offer rapid and non-invasive diagnostic imaging. POCUS has proven particularly effective in critical care and emergency settings. However, its application in general medical wards, where patients often present with multiple comorbidities, remains under-researched. Additionally, the feasibility of nurse practitioners (NPs) performing POCUS is promising. Despite limited research on POCUS by less experienced operators, NP-conducted POCUS could provide timely, high-quality care, especially in situations with limited physician availability. The routine use of POCUS in patient admissions to medical wards may improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce diagnostic resource utilization, and shorten hospital stays.
Detailed description
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside portable ultrasound technique utilized by healthcare providers to offer rapid and non-invasive diagnostic imaging. This method significantly aids in diagnosis and treatment by enhancing accuracy, guiding treatment adjustments, aiding procedural interventions, and reducing the time to appropriate treatment, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. POCUS also decreases the reliance on other imaging modalities, providing real-time information and minimizing additional imaging needs. POCUS has proven particularly effective in critical care and emergency settings. However, its application in general medical wards, where patients often present with multiple comorbidities, remains under-researched. The potential value of POCUS in these wards is notable, as it can facilitate early complication detection and timely treatment adjustments, reducing complication incidences. Additionally, the feasibility of nurse practitioners (NPs) performing POCUS is promising. NPs, as frontline healthcare professionals, can use POCUS to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Despite limited research on POCUS by less experienced operators, NP-conducted POCUS could provide timely, high-quality care, especially in situations with limited physician availability. The routine use of POCUS in patient admissions to medical wards may improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce diagnostic resource utilization, and shorten hospital stays.
Interventions
OTHERPoint-of-Care Ultrasound
The investigators will use point-of-care ultrasound to exam participants including lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidney and bladder, etc.
Sponsors
National Taiwan University Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 120 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Age 18 years or older 2. Admitted directly from emergency department
Exclusion criteria
1. End-of-life care 2. Immediate need for life-support therapy or ICU transfer 3. Airborne isolation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of accurate diagnosis | At 48 hours after admission to medical wards | The proportion of accurate physician diagnosis achieved at 48 hours after admission to medical wards |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital mortality | Until death, hospital discharge or up to 28 days | Rate of hospital mortality of the participants |
| Rate of ICU transfer | Within 7 days after admission to medical wards | Rate of participants requiring ICU care |
| Length of hospital stay | Until death, hospital discharge or up to 28 days | The length of hospital stay of the participants |
| Categories and numbers of invasive procedures | Within 7 days after admission to medical wards | Categories and numbers of invasive procedures required by the participants |
| Categories and numbers of imaging studies | Within 7 days after admission to medical wards | The requests for additional categories and numbers of imaging studies for the participants |
Countries
Taiwan
Outcome results
None listed