Considerations for Pre-deployment Planning in Point-of-Care Ultrasound Program Implementation: A HIMSS-SIIM...

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) provides real-time diagnostic capabilities at the bedside. Implementing a POCUS program in an institution is a highly complex process. Coordinating the imaging workflow of numerous clinical specialties requires meticulous planning and appropriate oversight. This white paper describes the best practices for the critical pre-deployment phase of program implementation, after having established POCUS program governance. Important considerations during the pre-deployment phase include goal setting, scaling POCUS workflow across clinical, educational, and technological domains, and addressing budgetary concerns and complexity of deployment strategies. This paper also discusses the role of the POCUS workflow manager software in encounter-based imaging workflow and the role of a system-wide clinical ultrasound director. Furthermore, it outlines the necessary approvals needed to ensure compliance and program success, including securing approvals from key departments such as imaging informatics, information technology, cybersecurity, supply chain operations, clinical engineering, infection prevention, legal, and billing departments. Finally, it presents a sample comprehensive project charter to guide this complex integration process from business case development, to clinical go-live, emphasizing best practices for sustained adoption.