POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND IN GENERAL PRACTICE

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a transformative tool in family medicine, enhancing dia­gnostic accuracy and patient management, particularly in ambulatory care settings. This literature review eva­luates the utility, diverse applications, and integration of POCUS within general practice, alongside assessing family physicians’ confidence in adopting this techno­logy. Recent studies highlight the significant impact of POCUS on rapid diagnostic processes, which can reduce the dependency on more invasive and costly diagnostic methods. However, challenges such as high equipment costs, need for continuous training, and complexities in billing practices persist as barriers to its widespread adoption. Data was collected from multiple recent stu­dies demonstrating that with adequate training, family physicians could effectively integrate POCUS into their daily practice, thereby improving diagnostic timeliness and clinical outcomes. The review underscores the neces­sity of structured POCUS training programs and calls for cross-departmental collaboration to standardize POCUS education and facilitate its broader implementation in fa­mily medicine. These efforts aim to equip physicians with the necessary skills to leverage this advanced imaging modality, ultimately enhancing patient care and optimi­zing clinical workflows.