Clinical procedural use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is expanding rapidly. Currently, expectations are for point of care ultrasound equipment sales to double every 7 to 8 years. The broader equipment base, and rapid adoption, have often outstripped insurance and Medicare reimbursement, as well as certification and appropriate use.

Here's a point-of-care ultrasound news brief of recent articles - from evolution to current pitfalls of POCUS.

Growth of Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Covering some of the growth of PoCUS from mostly a gadget found in the ED, into dozens of in-hospital, and now out-of-hospital and pre-hospital procedures:

The Evolution of Point-of-Care Ultrasound - Jodi Miller

Appropriate Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound

But rapid expansion of use has come with concerns about appropriate POCUS use:

Is More Evidence Needed to Demonstrate the Value of POCUS - AuntMinnie

Pitfalls of Point-of-Care Ultrasound

As well as pitfalls of POCUS, calls for more training in use, safety, and avoiding spread of pathogens:

Pitfalls of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) - A Perspective - Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

POCUS is seeing rapid expansion of use as an effective, inexpensive diagnostic tool - and COVID has seen a lot of equipment changes designed with hygiene and safety in mind. Expanded pattern recognition in devices doesn't substitute for training and certification, but it does improve diagnostic imaging quality.