HCCIntelligence™ Webinar Recording: Introduction to Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for the Home Care Provider

Webinar Q and A

Pdf Summary

The November 2020 HCCIntelligence webinar introduced Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for home care providers and addressed several questions about its applications, training, and organizational adoption.<br /><br />**Musculoskeletal Applications:** Dr. Paul Wallace highlighted that ultrasound significantly enhances the safety of procedures like joint injections and aspirations. However, its relevance and the necessity for learning these procedures depend on individual clinical contexts, such as the frequency of their application by healthcare providers like rheumatologists.<br /><br />**Training Programs:** Dr. Wallace mentioned that the American College of Physicians (ACP) is developing a relevant curriculum, and Dr. Daniel Kim expressed hopes of conducting a workshop for further training through HCCI in the future.<br /><br />**Minimizing Knowledge Decay:** Dr. Kim stressed the importance of regular practice to maintain confidence in POCUS skills. He recommended physicians incorporate ultrasound into their clinical practice gradually, starting with a few key exams to build confidence and expertise over time.<br /><br />**Organizational Buy-In:** Dr. Wallace discussed the challenges of convincing non-clinical administrators due to the lack of a direct revenue stream from ultrasound, though the reduced costs of modern devices make a compelling case. He noted that institutional momentum often comes from tech-savvy residents and medical students. Dr. Kim shared his experience at UPenn, where educating fellows and attendings gradually shifted perceptions, proving the utility of POCUS in geriatric care.<br /><br />**Special Considerations in Geriatrics:** Dr. Kim reiterated that POCUS is highly beneficial for managing geriatric patients, particularly for conditions like heart failure, which is prevalent in the elderly and a major cause of hospitalization. Tracking pulmonary edema and utilizing other modalities like bladder assessment can improve patient outcomes in home care settings.<br /><br />Through education and gradual integration into practice, POCUS can become a valuable tool for home care providers, enhancing patient diagnoses and treatment safety.

Keywords

Point-of-Care Ultrasound

POCUS

home care

musculoskeletal applications

training programs

knowledge decay

organizational buy-in

geriatric care

pulmonary edema

patient outcomes