Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Critical Care

ICU Management & Practice

Dr. Gulrukh Zaidi, MD and Prof. Seth Koenig, MD

Physicians have used ultrasonography for more than half a century to aid diagnoses and guide procedures, but the advent of portable ultrasound systems that physicians can use to see and assess physiological function firsthand, and in real time, has revolutionized patient care in the intensive care unit. This shift from traditional ultrasound, in which a technician and/or consulting radiologist obtains and interprets patient ultrasound images, reduces dissociation in patient care and shortens time-to-diagnosis. What goal-directed applications of point-of-care ultrasound are recognized as being among the most valuable in critical care? In this article, Drs. Gulrukh Zaidi and Seth Koenig of Hofstra University present four areas in which intensivists can apply point-of-care ultrasound to improve outcomes in the critically ill.

Six Secrets of Implementing Ultrasound in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Becker's Hospital Review
Russ Horowitz, MD, RDMS
Ultrasound is an important tool for rapid assessment of trauma patients, CVC and regional nerve block placement, facilitating difficult PIV access, and assessing cardiac function during resuscitations. In this article, Russ Horowitz, MD, RDMS, discusses six strategies to help implement ultrasound at the bedside in pediatric emergency medicine.

MedPAC and What We Can Learn Regarding the Use of Ultrasound to Guide Procedures

HealthCare Business News
Jill Rathbun, Managing Partner at Galileo Consulting Group, Arlington, VA
In this View from the Hill article for DOTmed News, Jill Rathbun discusses how incorporating ultrasound into healthcare delivery may assist health systems to align with MedPAC's annual March report objectives.

Ultrasound Helps Reduce a $373 Million-Dollar Risk: Medicare Penalties for Hospital Errors

Becker's Hospital CFO
Haney Mallemat, MD Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Mallemat discusses the impact and expansion of the CMS Hospital Acquired Conditions payment program in patient care as well as overall Medicare payments to hospitals.  He also explains the role of point-of-care ultrasound at his hospital to assist in lowering complications and costs associated with central lines.

2017 - The Year For Expansion In Ultrasound-Guided Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures

HealthCare Business News
Jill Rathbun, Managing Partner at Galileo Consulting Group, Arlington, VA
With the future of the Affordable Care Act in flux, this may be a time for healthcare providers to evaluate their practices and see how they provide more for their patients and communities. By expanding service offerings, healthcare providers can attract more patients and elevate their patient's level of satisfaction. Read this article to find out how 2017 may be the year for expansion of ultrasound-guided surgical procedures using ultrasound guided breast biopsies as an example.

Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access Program Saves St. Joseph's $3.5 Million

Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality
Matthew Ostroff, ARNP
The American College of Emergency Physicians issued a policy statement in 2016 advocating a new safety standard for vascular access through the use of ultrasound guidance. St. Joseph's Healthcare System, in Paterson, N.J., launched a program that has yielded significant safety and quality of care improvements for all patients requiring vascular access. This article describes how St. Joseph's cut healthcare costs and improved patient outcomes by achieving the "one-stick standard".

Integrating Ultrasound Services Into Your Practice - Five Reasons December 2016 Could Be The Right Time

Becker's Hospital Review
Jill Rathbun, Managing Partner at Galileo Consulting Group, Arlington, VA
Since the election there have been many articles written discussing the future of the Affordable Care Act under a President-Elect Trump Administration and a Republican Congress. It is important that physicians and office administrators understand the real impact by reading this article.

Performance-Based Payment & Orthopedics: A Focus For The Medicare Program

Becker's Hospital CFO
Jill Rathbun, Managing Partner at Galileo Consulting Group, Arlington, VA
In this informative article for Becker's CFO, Jill Rathbun covers the newly implemented CMS Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement payment model. While the program began April 1, 2016, many of the hospitals were not, and are still not, prepared to participate. Read more to understand the basics of the model and how to be successful.

Hospitals Must Integrate Imaging Technology to Avoid Cuts to Medicare Payments

HealthCare Business News
Jill Rathbun, Managing Partner at Galileo Consulting Group, Arlington, VA
In this View from the Hill article for DOTmed News, Jill Rathbun discusses the Fiscal Year 2017 Proposed Inpatient Hospital Rule and how imaging, in particular ultrasound, can play an important role in achieving fewer complications and higher quality of care scores in CMS payment programs.

6 Steps to Implementing Ultrasound in Critical Care

by Nidhi Nikhanj, MD

In this article for ​Health Management Magazine, Dr. Nidhi Nikhanj lays out the path for a system-wide implementation of point-of-care ultrasound to bring quality of care and enhanced patient safety to the bedside. What 6 steps should a large health system use to successfully implement point-of-care ultrasound?

Read the full article from Health Management Magazine to find out!

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