Ultrasound technology developer Exo highlighted results of a survey that found half of primary care physicians believe the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) will be mainstream in the next five years.
The company released a report titled “2023 Survey Report: Unlocking Point-of-Care Ultrasound” based on results of a survey of 150 U.S.-based physicians. The survey aimed to glean insights into POCUS use in hospitals and primary care, potential barriers to its use, and the impact of AI on medical imaging.
Key findings from the survey report include the following:
- 68% of ultrasound exams are documented, meaning that performed scans aren’t showing up in patient records; of respondents who said their POCUS exams were documented, only 50% cited that those exams were actually billed.
- 88% of respondents believe handheld POCUS availability will moderately or significantly increase POCUS adoption.
- 79% of respondents indicated that AI would positively impact POCUS, with 63% saying it would streamline image interpretation.
- 61% of respondents said it’s important for primary care providers to adopt handheld POCUS devices, and 50% believed primary care use of POCUS will be mainstream within the next five years.
While POCUS provides immediate medical answers that caregivers can use for diagnosis and treatment, its adoption still has not become widespread across the care continuum, Exo said. The survey results ultimately validate just how severely caregivers are craving a new medical imaging approach, the company added.
