Advances in imaging: ultrasound in every physician's pocket

Advances in medical ultrasound have made the modality widely applicable and the new cart-based and pocket size devices have allowed for relevant point-of-care (POC) ultrasound examinations in many medical specialties. POC ultrasonography is performed as a real-time examination assisting the physician in diagnosis, procedure or screening of the patient without life threatening delays. The examination can be performed at the bedside or wherever the patient may be present. Structured and focused protocols for simple clinical questions have been developed and implemented in the following specialties: Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Neonatology, Gynecology and Rheumatology and many others. POC ultrasound, as well as ultrasound in general, is very user dependent and the need for quality assurance, formal education and practical training is obvious. With this in mind, POC ultrasound now really has the potential for becoming the physician's new personal universal examination tool. Patients admitted to emergency departments will be able to receive organ or symptom-guided initial focused ultrasound triage as part of the physician's first encounter with the patient. This will allow for more accurate referral, correct diagnosis and relevant screening in turn leading to better overall treatment results.