title: Use of point-of-care ultrasound in Connecticut emergency departments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Point-of-care ultrasound (PoC US) is now taught and used in nearly all academic emergency departments (EDs), but prior surveys have shown that adoption in the community ED setting is much lower.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to characterize the current practice of emergency physician (EP)-performed PoC US in Connecticut.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 20-question online survey of all ED directors in Connecticut to determine how PoC US is utilized. The questions addressed ED demographics, ownership of ultrasound (US) equipment, frequency of PoC US performance in general and by examination type, credentialing patterns, quality assurance methods, and billing patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 83% (25 of 30). Almost all (96%) respondent EDs owned at least one US machine, and 24% used US regularly for diverse applications according to 2008 American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) guidelines. PoC US was most commonly used for Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma examinations, procedural guidance, and assessing the aorta for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Although 64% reported hospital ultrasonography privileges, 40% did not keep any record of PoC US performed in the ED. More than half (56%) required an over-read by radiology, and 36% required an over-read by another EP (e.g., ED Ultrasound Director). Only 8% of EDs billed for PoC US.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most Connecticut EDs own an US machine and have hospital privileges for PoC US. However, a minority use or bill for PoC US regularly for diffuse applications, and most do not have a quality assurance program as described by ACEP guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Hartford Hospital, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Meghan Kelly
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003237:Connecticut; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
keywords: emergency department; survey; ultrasound