The Handheld Ultrasound Revolution: 4 Indicators Your Rural Health Practice is Ready to Upgrade

There are two stories to tell about point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) The first describes a growing consensus around the value of POCUS. Research shows the technology can rapidly diagnose life-threatening conditions, aid in urgent decision-making, and guide invasive bedside procedures - all helping reduce costs by avoiding unnecessary CT scans or MRIs.  This has led to rapid adoption at all levels of healthcare.

But the second story complicates things – and suggests rural health may be at risk of being left behind. Rural physicians share the same enthusiasm for POCUS as their peers, with 80% claiming the technology is essential for rural care.8 Yet while 90% of patients in metropolitan areas have access to POCUS, just 38.84% of rural patients can say the same.9 Worse still, these patients represent a disproportionately high 23% of the screening-eligible population despite accounting for only 15% of the U.S.

The takeaway? Rural physicians require more innovative technology to access fast, accurate imaging at the point of care – and that is where handheld POCUS enters the picture.