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Passero VC, Conley N, Finley EP, Schott CK. The Feasibility of Using Point of Care Ultrasound as a Visual Substitute for Physical Examination During Telehealth Visits: A Pilot Project. J Patient Exp 2024; 11:23743735231224516. [PMID: 38223207 PMCID: PMC10785720 DOI: 10.1177/23743735231224516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Telehealth provides greater opportunity for specialty access but lacks components of the physical exam. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) may assist telehealth as a visual substitute for the provision of palpation. We conducted a prospective observational pilot project to survey oncologists about (1) their expectations of POCUS, (2) their use of POCUS in oncology telehealth visits, and (3) post-project assessment of their experiences. The results of the pre-assessment survey showed an interest among the oncologists in the ability to evaluate structures remotely via POCUS. POCUS was utilized in 6.4% of visits, most commonly for lymph node assessment (60% of use). POCUS was not utilized most often due to not being applicable to the patient's visit. There were 14 instances of technical issues limiting views of the relevant anatomy reported. Oncologists rated the use of POCUS as very satisfied or satisfied in the vast number of recorded responses. This pilot study suggests POCUS can be integrated into oncology telehealth visits for specific applications such as lymph node assessment. The surveys indicated a potential interest and positive responses that provide for the foundation of expansion to subspecialty care access for patients with telehealth supported by POCUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vida C. Passero
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Veterans Affairs of Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nicole Conley
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Connected Care Department, James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center Altoona, Altoona, PA, USA
| | - Erin P. Finley
- Medicine Service, VA South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Christopher Kevin Schott
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Veterans Affairs of Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Szabó GV, Szigetváry C, Szabó L, Dembrovszky F, Rottler M, Ocskay K, Madzsar S, Hegyi P, Molnár Z. Point-of-care ultrasound improves clinical outcomes in patients with acute onset dyspnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Intern Emerg Med 2023; 18:639-653. [PMID: 36310302 PMCID: PMC10017566 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-022-03126-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The early, appropriate management of acute onset dyspnea is important but often challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) versus conventional management on clinical outcomes in patients with acute onset dyspnea. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and reference lists were searched to identify eligible trials (inception to October 14, 2021). There were no language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and prospective and retrospective cohort studies that compared PoCUS with conventional diagnostic modalities (controls) in patients with acute onset dyspnea were included. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. The primary study outcomes were time to diagnosis, time to treatment, and length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included rate of appropriate treatment, 30-day re-admission rate, and mortality. We included eight RCTs and six observational studies with a total of 5393 participants. Heterogeneity across studies was variable (from low to considerable), with overall low or moderate study quality and low or moderate risk of bias (except one article with serious risk of bias). Time to diagnosis (mean difference [MD], - 63 min; 95% CI, - 115 to - 11 min] and time to treatment (MD, - 27 min; 95% CI - 43 to - 11 min) were significantly shorter in the PoCUS group. In-hospital LOS showed no differences between the two groups, but LOS in the Intensive Care Unit (MD, - 1.27 days; - 1.94 to - 0.61 days) was significantly shorter in the PoCUS group. Patients in the PoCUS group showed significantly higher odds of receiving appropriate therapy compared to controls (odds ratio [OR], 2.31; 95% CI, 1.61-3.32), but there was no significant effect on 30-day re-admission rate and in-hospital or 30-day mortality. Our results indicate that PoCUS use contributes to early diagnosis and better outcomes compared to conventional methods in patients admitted with acute onset dyspnea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergő Vilmos Szabó
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Emergency Department, Szent György University Teaching Hospital of Fejér County, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
- National Ambulance Service, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Air Ambulance Nonprofit Ltd., Budaörs, Hungary
| | - Csenge Szigetváry
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Szabó
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Fanni Dembrovszky
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Máté Rottler
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Szent György University Teaching Hospital of Fejér County, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
| | - Klemetina Ocskay
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Stefanie Madzsar
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
| | - Péter Hegyi
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Division of Pancreatic Diseases, Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Molnár
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Poznan University, Poznan, Poland.
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