Perspectives on Point-of-Care Ultrasonography Credentialing and Privileging: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Health Policy
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) adoption is increasing in acute care.
• Lack of standardized guidelines for POCUS regulation and best practices exists.
• Need for evidence-based policies to guide POCUS implementation and credentialing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and implementation of POCUS credentialing and privileging policies.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to POCUS policy adoption in US healthcare institutions.
• To inform the development of standardized POCUS practices.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, mixed-methods study using a cross-sectional design.
• Analysis of 19 POCUS policies from diverse healthcare institutions.
• Online surveys and structured interviews with POCUS leaders.

Main Results:

• Successful policy development depends on contextual factors, stakeholder engagement, and barrier mitigation.
• Multidisciplinary committees and tailored policy design are vital for POCUS integration.
• Policies commonly specified POCUS applications and required institutional training/proctoring.

Conclusions:

• POCUS policy development is essential for standardizing use, training, and oversight.
• Identifying implementation barriers and successful strategies aids other institutions.
• Standardized policies promote safe and effective POCUS use in patient care.