Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers
Abstract Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can aid geriatricians in caring for complex, older patients. Currently, there is limited literature on POCUS use by geriatricians. We conducted a national survey to assess current POCUS use, training desired, and barriers among Geriatrics and Exte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04313-2 |
| _version_ | 1797451573439234048 |
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| author | Maya Gogtay Ryan S. Choudhury Jason P. Williams Michael J. Mader Kevin J. Murray Elizabeth K. Haro Brandy Drum Edward O’Brien Rahul Khosla Jeremy S. Boyd Brain Bales Erin Wetherbee Harald Sauthoff Christopher K. Schott Zahir Basrai Dana Resop Brian P. Lucas Sandra Sanchez-Reilly Sara Espinosa Nilam J. Soni Robert Nathanson |
| author_facet | Maya Gogtay Ryan S. Choudhury Jason P. Williams Michael J. Mader Kevin J. Murray Elizabeth K. Haro Brandy Drum Edward O’Brien Rahul Khosla Jeremy S. Boyd Brain Bales Erin Wetherbee Harald Sauthoff Christopher K. Schott Zahir Basrai Dana Resop Brian P. Lucas Sandra Sanchez-Reilly Sara Espinosa Nilam J. Soni Robert Nathanson |
| author_sort | Maya Gogtay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can aid geriatricians in caring for complex, older patients. Currently, there is limited literature on POCUS use by geriatricians. We conducted a national survey to assess current POCUS use, training desired, and barriers among Geriatrics and Extended Care (“geriatric”) clinics at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). Methods We conducted a prospective observational study of all VAMCs between August 2019 and March 2020 using a web-based survey sent to all VAMC Chiefs of Staff and Chiefs of geriatric clinics. Results All Chiefs of Staff (n=130) completed the survey (100% response rate). Chiefs of geriatric clinics (“chiefs”) at 76 VAMCs were surveyed and 52 completed the survey (68% response rate). Geriatric clinics were located throughout the United States, mostly at high-complexity, urban VAMCs. Only 15% of chiefs responded that there was some POCUS usage in their geriatric clinic, but more than 60% of chiefs would support the implementation of POCUS use. The most common POCUS applications used in geriatric clinics were the evaluation of the bladder and urinary obstruction. Barriers to POCUS use included a lack of trained providers (56%), ultrasound equipment (50%), and funding for training (35%). Additionally, chiefs reported time utilization, clinical indications, and low patient census as barriers. Conclusions POCUS has several potential applications for clinicians caring for geriatric patients. Though only 15% of geriatric clinics at VAMCs currently use POCUS, most geriatric chiefs would support implementing POCUS use as a diagnostic tool. The greatest barriers to POCUS implementation in geriatric clinics were a lack of training and ultrasound equipment. Addressing these barriers systematically can facilitate implementation of POCUS use into practice and permit assessment of the impact of POCUS on geriatric care in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:56:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dabdb782797248b094561f411baaea92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:56:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-dabdb782797248b094561f411baaea922023-11-26T14:11:28ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182023-09-012311710.1186/s12877-023-04313-2Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centersMaya Gogtay0Ryan S. Choudhury1Jason P. Williams2Michael J. Mader3Kevin J. Murray4Elizabeth K. Haro5Brandy Drum6Edward O’Brien7Rahul Khosla8Jeremy S. Boyd9Brain Bales10Erin Wetherbee11Harald Sauthoff12Christopher K. Schott13Zahir Basrai14Dana Resop15Brian P. Lucas16Sandra Sanchez-Reilly17Sara Espinosa18Nilam J. Soni19Robert Nathanson20South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative MedicineSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative MedicineDivision of Hospital Medicine, Emory School of MedicineSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, Research ServiceLouis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical CenterMedicine Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care SystemHealth Analysis and Information Group, Department of Veterans AffairsHealth Analysis and Information Group, Department of Veterans AffairsPulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical CenterDepartment of Emergency Medicine, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System—NashvilleDepartment of Emergency Medicine, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System—NashvillePulmonary Section, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care SystemMedicine Service, VA NY Harbor Healthcare SystemCritical Care Service, VA Pittsburgh Health Care SystemsEmergency Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of WisconsinMedicine Service, White River Junction VA Medical CenterSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative MedicineSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative MedicineMedicine Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care SystemMedicine Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care SystemAbstract Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can aid geriatricians in caring for complex, older patients. Currently, there is limited literature on POCUS use by geriatricians. We conducted a national survey to assess current POCUS use, training desired, and barriers among Geriatrics and Extended Care (“geriatric”) clinics at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). Methods We conducted a prospective observational study of all VAMCs between August 2019 and March 2020 using a web-based survey sent to all VAMC Chiefs of Staff and Chiefs of geriatric clinics. Results All Chiefs of Staff (n=130) completed the survey (100% response rate). Chiefs of geriatric clinics (“chiefs”) at 76 VAMCs were surveyed and 52 completed the survey (68% response rate). Geriatric clinics were located throughout the United States, mostly at high-complexity, urban VAMCs. Only 15% of chiefs responded that there was some POCUS usage in their geriatric clinic, but more than 60% of chiefs would support the implementation of POCUS use. The most common POCUS applications used in geriatric clinics were the evaluation of the bladder and urinary obstruction. Barriers to POCUS use included a lack of trained providers (56%), ultrasound equipment (50%), and funding for training (35%). Additionally, chiefs reported time utilization, clinical indications, and low patient census as barriers. Conclusions POCUS has several potential applications for clinicians caring for geriatric patients. Though only 15% of geriatric clinics at VAMCs currently use POCUS, most geriatric chiefs would support implementing POCUS use as a diagnostic tool. The greatest barriers to POCUS implementation in geriatric clinics were a lack of training and ultrasound equipment. Addressing these barriers systematically can facilitate implementation of POCUS use into practice and permit assessment of the impact of POCUS on geriatric care in the future.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04313-2GeriatriciansPoint-of-care ultrasoundVeterans administration |
| spellingShingle | Maya Gogtay Ryan S. Choudhury Jason P. Williams Michael J. Mader Kevin J. Murray Elizabeth K. Haro Brandy Drum Edward O’Brien Rahul Khosla Jeremy S. Boyd Brain Bales Erin Wetherbee Harald Sauthoff Christopher K. Schott Zahir Basrai Dana Resop Brian P. Lucas Sandra Sanchez-Reilly Sara Espinosa Nilam J. Soni Robert Nathanson Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers BMC Geriatrics Geriatricians Point-of-care ultrasound Veterans administration |
| title | Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers |
| title_full | Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers |
| title_fullStr | Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers |
| title_short | Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers |
| title_sort | point of care ultrasound in geriatrics a national survey of va medical centers |
| topic | Geriatricians Point-of-care ultrasound Veterans administration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04313-2 |
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