POCUS and Portable Ultrasound: Bringing Imaging Closer to Care
A portable ultrasound device can change where an examination happens. A clinician can assess a patient at the bedside, bring imaging into a consultation room, or carry a unit between clinical settings. The equipment takes up less space, but obtaining a useful image still requires anatomical knowledge, careful probe control, and sound clinical judgment.
Point-of-care ultrasound, or POCUS, is ultrasound performed by clinician to help answer a clinical question or guide a procedure during a patient encounter. Portability describes the equipment. POCUS describes its clinical use. A handheld device can support POCUS, but so can a larger cart-based system.[1]
Start with the clinical question
A focused examination begins with a clear purpose, for example in a patient with suspected urinary retention, the immediate question may be whether the bladder is distended. The clinician obtains appropriate views, considers the findings alongside the history and examination, and decides what further assessment or management is needed.
That focused assessment has a defined scope. It does not provide a complete evaluation of the urinary tract or explain every possible cause of the patient’s symptoms. When the images are inconclusive, the findings are uncertain, or the clinical question remains unanswered, further imaging may then be necessary.
Match the unit to the work
Portable ultrasound units range from compact systems with dedicated screens to probes that connect to compatible phones or tablets. Their suitability depends on the examinations a team intends to perform. Before selecting a unit, consider the required probes, imaging modes, image quality, and ability to save and transfer examinations. Screen visibility, battery life, cleaning requirements, and access to technical support also affect everyday use.
A device should be assessed in the clinical environment where it will be used, with attention to the patients and applications it needs to support. A small size alone says little about whether a system will meet a department’s needs. The useful comparison is how reliably the equipment supports the intended examination.
Exploring Sono Mobile® through FAGONEX
SonoSavvy Institute has an affiliate partnership with FAGONEX, the company behind Sono Mobile®. Clinicians and healthcare teams exploring its ultrasound units can use our Sono Mobile® referral link and enter SONOSAVVY5 for a 5% discount.
Confirm current pricing, eligible products, and offer terms with FAGONEX before purchasing.
When considering a unit, discuss your intended examinations, probe requirements, and image-storage needs with the supplier. Where possible, arrange a demonstration to assess how the equipment fits your clinical workflow.
Affiliate disclosure: SonoSavvy Institute may earn a commission from purchases made through this referral link
Pair the technology with practical training
A smaller ultrasound device can change where you scan, but it does not change the care and skill required to obtain a useful image. This is important when discussing point-of-care ultrasound, or POCUS.
Portable systems bring imaging into a compact format, but understanding anatomy, controlling the probe and recognizing the limits of an examination remain essential. Even with a suitable device, the operator must find the correct imaging plane and adjust the image appropriately. Depth, gain, probe selection, and patient positioning all influence what can be seen.
This is where supervised practice matters. Learners need feedback on both the images they obtain and the conclusions those images can reasonably support.
At SonoSavvy, we tailor ultrasound education to the learner's experience and goals. Training is
available in North York, Toronto, at a local clinical facility, or at your facility.
Contact SonoSavvy to discuss customized ultrasound training for yourself or your team.
References
Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. Recommendations for the use of point-of-care ultrasound by emergency physicians in Canada. 2019. https://www.caep.ca/position-statements/recommendations-for-the-use-of-point-of-care-ultrasound-(pocus)-by-emergency-physicians-in-canada
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Practice Parameter for the Performance of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Examinations. 2019. https://www.aium.org/docs/default-source/resources/guidelines/pointofcare.pdf?sfvrsn=6c9ad906_1
American College of Emergency Physicians. Ultrasound Guidelines: Emergency, Point-of-care, and Clinical Ultrasound Guidelines in Medicine. 2023. https://www.acep.org/siteassets/new-pdfs/policy-statements/ultrasound-guidelines--emergency-point-of-care-and-clinical-ultrasound-guidelines-in-medicine.pdf
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