The following is a guest article by Dale R. Cyr, CEO & Executive Director, Inteleos.
Recent technological innovations have “miniaturized” ultrasound devices, and these hand-held devices are having a significant impact on healthcare around the world. And the market is growing. According to research firm Market Data forecast, the global portable ultrasound market was worth $3.91 billion in 2020, and estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% to reach $5.59 billion by 2025.
Hand-held ultrasounds are making the technology more readily available to a wider variety of healthcare professionals and affordable to smaller clinics and for use in limited resource communities. However, proper training on how to use them correctly and accurately is absolutely paramount. Misuse of these machines can lead to an incorrect diagnosis, further harm or even death. To mitigate risk, there needs to be an increase in usage standards, and healthcare professionals need to receive proper training and certification.
Benefits of increased ultrasound access
Ultrasounds are a powerful diagnostic tool that can identify a wide range of conditions without the harm associated with other devices. Where other diagnostic imaging tools may expose patients to radiation, ultrasound devices offer a non-ionizing, less intrusive alternative. In addition, miniaturized versions of this technology are more readily available than ever. It’s no longer uncommon for internists, family practice physicians, physical therapists, nurse practitioners, EMT/Paramedics and more to have an ultrasound device as part of their practice. Rolling around an ultrasound machine on a cart isn’t always an option, and hand-held devices are much more cost-effective. There are currently options available for miniaturized devices for as low as $2000 USD.
Portable miniaturized ultrasounds helped to simplify COVID-19 diagnostics as well. Smaller devices can be effectively cleaned and put back into rotation much more quickly than larger diagnostic tools—something that’s especially helpful in overcrowded hospitals. Hand-held ultrasounds have several important uses for COVID-19 care, including diagnosing some respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia, assessing complications surrounding ventilation or other cardiovascular concerns.
Additionally, hand-held ultrasounds also make the technology more accessible for use in limited-resource communities around the world. However, the absence of training is the number one roadblock for widespread quality implementation. A study in The Ultrasound Journal examined the use of the technology in resource-limited settings, and it found that 60% of its 138 respondents cited training as the primary barrier against adoption. For the first time, accessibility is not the problem. The problem is the lack of universal standards and certifications.
The case for standardization and certification
When ultrasound operators don’t have the proper training, they can cause serious harm to their patients. Point of Care Ultrasounds (POCUS) were cited by the ECRI Institute as being the number two tech hazard for 2020, and the reason was due to the adoption rate outpacing policies and procedures that prevent misuse and incorrect diagnoses.
An example of this happened in Portugal in 2019. A pregnant mother had three ultrasounds done by the same doctor who raised no concerns about the health of her baby. but an ultrasound administered by a different doctor showed her fetus would be born with severe physical abnormalities. When the baby was born, he was missing a nose, eyes and parts of his skull. Having poorly-trained operators introduces the possibility for serious diagnostic errors, which can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits and cause lasting physical and psychological damage to patients and their families.
Because the hand-held ultrasound market exploded so rapidly, there have not been sufficient training and standardization protocols that have kept up with the demand. The only way to prevent misdiagnoses is to call for a consistent, universal set of standards for using hand-held ultrasound technology. To achieve this, third-party, independent validation through certification will be key.
Making standards and treatment widely available
POCUS education, training and practice standards must be accessible on a global scale, and certification programs need to ensure that training education is universal across all clinics and hospitals. Fortunately, as more people become certified, there will also be more qualified trainers to further the education process. Patients need to feel confident that excellent ultrasound care is available wherever they go, and standard certification protocols are essential for achieving this.
Increased access to safe and economically-viable diagnostic imaging is a major step in improving global healthcare. The hand-held ultrasound is being proliferated across most clinical specialties, but training must keep up with the market demand. To improve access to training, certification standards and validation will be a critical aspect in this transformation of healthcare around the world. Third-party independent certification is necessary for the future of POCUS, and it’s something that can’t be ignored.
