Point of Care Ultrasound

POCUS is a handheld imaging tool that physicians can use at the bedside to see under the skin and know what is happening within important structures in the body. POCUS uses sound waves that, unlike radiation used in x-rays, do not cause harm to the body. Portable ultrasound devices, such as those used at IU School of Medicine, use a smart phone or tablet to display ultrasound images and can be carried in the physician’s pocket or a small pack. POCUS is often used to augment the physical exam and has been called by many “the new stethoscope.”

The use of POCUS has grown rapidly as more physicians realize its benefits, including ease of use, low cost, and non-invasive nature. The technology is already proven beneficial in several specialties:

• Detecting emergency conditions, such as heart failure, pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis
• Expediting the care of traumatically injured patients
• Monitoring pregnancies, detecting ectopic pregnancies and assessing fetal health
• Diagnosing musculoskeletal injuries such as tendon and ligament tears and other acute injuries
• Performing nerve blocks, procedures and other interventions