Availability of urgent ultrasonography to emergency departments in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the availability and use of urgent ultrasonography to emergency departments in New Zealand.


METHODS
A questionnaire used in Canada was modified for New Zealand and mailed to all emergency department clinical directors in New Zealand who are listed by the Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.


RESULTS
The response rate was 92% (24/26). Most clinical directors found it difficult to obtain an ultrasound scan during 'off-hours'. Only one emergency department had the facility to get an ultrasound scan within 15 minutes. Seventy nine per cent of clinical directors felt that emergency physicians should perform ultrasonography, yet only 29% were actually doing so. Of those not performing ultrasonography, 47% had plans to do so in the future.


CONCLUSIONS
Most clinical directors feel that it is difficult to get an urgent ultrasound scan and that emergency physicians should be performing ultrasonography. With the proper training and support most clinical directors had plans to use ultrasonography in the future.
Department of Emergency Medicine. Tauranga Hospital, Tauranga. mwoo@ottawhospital.on.ca
Michael
M
Woo
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009520:New Zealand; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*