POCUS Leads the Way: Safer Care, Less CT Scan Risks

At Global Ultrasound Institute (GUSI), our mission has always been rooted in a simple yet powerful goal: empowering clinicians with the knowledge and hands-on skills they need to provide real-time, POCUS-informed,  patient  care — anytime, anywhere.

Providing patients with safe, reliable diagnostic answers is a universal need in healthcare. That’s why we are so deeply moved when research like the recent studies led by University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) invite the medical community to pause, reflect, and rethink how advanced imaging is used, particularly in the final chapter of life.

When Scans Don’t Help: The Case for Reassessing Imaging in End-of-Life Care

In San Francisco Chronicle’s recent coverage of a UCSF-led study, researchers highlight the growing concern over the overuse of CT scans in patients with advanced cancer. While CT is undeniably a powerful tool in modern medicine, the study underscores that in many late-stage cases, scans may offer little to no clinical benefit — and could even cause harm.

As Dr. Anand Narayan, senior author and UCSF radiologist, explains:

“There are patients who are experiencing symptoms like pain or shortness of breath, and imaging can help identify the cause. But for some patients, the scans don’t change management, and the results may lead to further invasive tests or false hope.”

This insight calls for a more thoughtful, patient-centered approach to imaging decisions, especially in end-of-life care, where comfort and dignity often take precedence over diagnosis.

The Hidden Cost of Radiation: Long-Term Risks of CT Imaging

In parallel, a groundbreaking study published in JAMA Internal Medicine estimates that 103,000 radiation-induced cancers could result from CT scans performed in 2023 alone — a figure that could represent 5% of all future cancer diagnoses in the U.S. The study places CT’s contribution to cancer risk on par with known hazards like alcohol consumption and excess body weight.

While the benefits of CT scans in trauma, cancer staging, and acute diagnostics are indisputable, these findings are a reminder: with great diagnostic power comes a responsibility to use it wisely. The cumulative effect of repeated scans — especially in patients with chronic illnesses or during prolonged hospitalizations — can pose lasting health consequences.

The Role of POCUS: A Patient-Centered, Radiation-Free Alternative

Both studies reflect an urgent need to rethink how and when we image. At GUSI, we believe point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help bridge this gap. POCUS offers real-time, bedside, radiation-free insights — enabling clinicians to answer focused clinical questions quickly and safely.

It’s important to note: POCUS is not a replacement for CT scans. Rather, it’s a powerful adjunct, particularly suited for scenarios where minimizing risk, improving patient comfort, and expediting care are top priorities. For example, POCUS is ideal for evaluating fluid status, guiding procedures, and rapidly assessing heart or lung function — all without exposing patients to ionizing radiation.

As emphasized in the Chronicle article:

“These findings underscore the need for clinical decision-making to prioritize patient-centered goals of care and reduce the use of imaging that is unlikely to influence management.”

Teaching a New Way of Seeing

Through our globally recognized, POCUS training programs, GUSI works to ensure that clinicians can see more, know more, and act sooner. By integrating POCUS into routine practice, healthcare providers can reduce unnecessary testing, enhance diagnostic confidence, and maintain a sharp focus on what matters most — the health and humanity of every patient.

Whether at a hospital bedside, a rural clinic, or a community health center, POCUS empowers healthcare workers to make imaging decisions that reflect both clinical necessity and deep compassion.

We’re grateful to the researchers and journalists who continue to spotlight these vital issues, and we remain committed to this shared mission: to build a future of healthcare where every test, every scan, and every decision is made not just with precision, but with purpose.

Because when we teach ultrasound, we’re not just teaching a technique. We’re teaching a way of seeing.

Sources:

• JAMA Internal Medicine: Projected Lifetime Cancer Risks From CT Imaging
• San Francisco Chronicle: CT Scans May Be More Harmful Than Previously Thought

POCUS training in Kenya is gaining momentum through GUSI’s partnership with AMPATH, delivering hands-on ultrasound education to frontline providers. This initiative aligns with our mission to enhance global healthcare access by equipping medical professionals with essential ultrasound skills that improve patient outcomes.

Scaling POCUS Access Through Strategic Partnerships

This training is part of a larger four-year initiative of POCUS training in Kenya led by AMPATH and Moi University, funded through Panorama Global with support from Novartis, Eli Lilly and Company, and MSD for Mothers with device support from Butterfly Network and GE Healthcare. The program aims to enhance patient-centered primary care by integrating POCUS technology into healthcare systems across six counties in western Kenya. Over the course of the project, 4,000 healthcare workers will be trained, and 190 ultrasound probes will be distributed to rural facilities, significantly expanding diagnostic imaging accessibility.

POCUS Training in Kenya: Expanding the Frontline

Following the success of the first cohort, this marks the second cohort of training under the AMPATH-led project in Western Kenya. Over the course of two weeks, we are training 95 mid-level healthcare providers, including medical officers, clinicians, and nurses. These professionals serve in Level 2, 3, and 4 healthcare facilities, ensuring that critical ultrasound skills reach the frontline of patient care.

Currently, the training is in its second week, focusing on healthcare providers from Webuye West and Webuye East subcounties. Our expert instructors are guiding participants through comprehensive modules on Breast Ultrasound, Obstetric Ultrasound, and Cardiopulmonary POCUS applications. By providing hands-on training and real-world applications, we aim to empower these providers with diagnostic tools that can significantly enhance maternal, cardiac, and pulmonary healthcare in their communities.

Why POCUS Is Essential in Resource-Limited Settings

POCUS training in Kenya has proven to be a game-changer in resource-limited settings, where access to advanced imaging is scarce. By enabling healthcare workers to visualize and diagnose conditions such as heart failure, breast cancer, and obstetrical complications earlier, we are improving treatment outcomes and saving lives. With POCUS, clinicians can make informed decisions faster, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to hospitals and ensuring timely interventions.

At GUSI, we believe that ultrasound technology should be accessible to all who need it, regardless of location or resource availability. By working with partners like AMPATH, we continue to bridge the gap in ultrasound education and expand the reach of POCUS across healthcare systems worldwide.

Stay tuned for more updates as we advance this mission and support healthcare professionals in delivering life-saving care through ultrasound. Join our mission and learn POCUS techniques to support your medical practice and improve your standard of care today.

For more information, visit: AMPATH News.

Advancements in medical technology continue to transform patient care, and SAGE AI, powered by the Global Ultrasound Institute, is at the forefront of this evolution. Designed to serve healthcare professionals at every level—from beginners to seasoned experts—SAGE AI provides instant, evidence-based answers to ultrasound-related medical inquiries. 

By leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence, this innovative tool empowers providers to make informed decisions, improve patient outcomes, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Accessible anytime, anywhere, SAGE AI is revolutionizing ultrasound education and practice, ensuring that medical professionals have the support they need—when they need it most.

This month’s newsletter focuses on Sage AI as a solution to enhance POCUS learning and clinical application through AI-driven, real-time educational support, with Dr. Scott Grogan, DO, MBA, RMSK, FAAFP, a board-certified Family Medicine physician with specialized training in ultrasound and medical education. 

“Training, or lack of training, is often cited as the major barrier to the implementation of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in clinical practice. Both users and leaders often overlook the need for in-the-moment supervision and guidance. Practitioners who wish to use the technology are not only limited by access to readily available equipment but also by the uncertainty of how to perform, optimize, and interpret POCUS examinations. Immediately available supervision from trained POCUS clinicians is often not available to guide those seeking to perform such exams. Clinical references are available but require time and effort to navigate in the hopes of finding answers to the questions that one has prior to, during, and after a POCUS exam. Sage AI, Global Ultrasound Institute’s (GUSI) POCUS educational tool, is now available to help provide rapid access to guidance and images to learners and clinical sonographers.

Sage AI is built on the foundation of GUSI’s educational library and offers quick and efficient answers to general and specific questions without having to navigate a book or resource library. As an example, when I asked Sage AI to “Help me image the biceps tendon” the ”What is the best way to view the subscapularis tendon?” Sage AI quickly delivers a concise, how-to instruction specific to the patient positioning, maneuvers, and tricks to optimize the view. It also offers links to the GUSI source content, instructional videos, images, and related journal articles. Similarly, Sage AI can help learners correct mistakes. When asked how to correct an off axis four chamber cardiac view, Sage AI reveals compact troubleshooting tips to optimize an apical window. 

Regardless of the area of the body, Sage AI opens new opportunities for a modern style of remote mentorship. It can provide confidence to new learners intimidated by unfamiliar POCUS exams or findings. There is comfort in a mentor by your side to reduce the time and cognitive burden of learning and mastering a new skill. Sage AI is yet another mentorship tool in the GUSI educational support armamentarium reducing barriers to meaningful POCUS use and improved patient outcomes.

As technology continues to evolve, so too does its potential to enhance the clinical learning experience. Sage AI holds great promise in providing on-demand, real-time support for healthcare providers. While the tool is still being refined, particularly in terms of user accessibility and functionality, its future is highly promising. I am excited about the upcoming integration of Sage AI into mobile applications. Once fully implemented, it will undoubtedly become an indispensable resource for developing clinicians, fundamentally transforming ultrasound education and enhancing clinical decision-making at the point of care.” 

Scott Grogan, DO, MBA, RMSK, FAAFP
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Medicine Residency graduate from Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA

Improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is a vital global challenge. Monday, 02 December 2024 marked a significant milestone in this journey with the handover of Butterfly Network, Inc. ultrasound devices to the Zambian Defence Force (ZDF). This initiative is more than just a technological upgrade—it is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in transforming healthcare systems.

The Role of Technology in Transforming Care

These ultrasound devices will play a crucial role in the training the Global Ultrasound Institute (GUSI) provides in Obstetric Point-of-Care Ultrasound (Ob POCUS). This initiative aims to empower medical teams to make timely, life-saving decisions for mothers and newborns by equipping healthcare providers with these tools and the necessary skills.

The Zambian Defense Force operates:

• 60 military hospitals that provide antenatal care (ANC).
• 46 military facilities offering delivery services.
• Yet, only 5 facilities currently have access to ultrasound technology.

This gap highlights the importance of initiatives like this one, which strive to bridge disparities in access to essential diagnostic tools.

Building Stronger Partnerships for Health

The collaboration between Butterfly Network, the American Office of Security Cooperation (OSC), the Zambian Defense Force, and GUSI represents a shared commitment to enhancing healthcare infrastructure and reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths. Such partnerships demonstrate how global efforts can make a local impact, fostering healthier communities in LMICs.

A Future of Healthier Communities

This handover is not just a moment in time—it’s a building block for a future where every mother and child has access to quality care. The work being done here is a reminder that with the right tools, skills, and collaborations, we can overcome systemic challenges and create lasting change.

Gratitude and Optimism

A heartfelt thank you to all the teams and organizations that made this initiative a reality. Your efforts are shaping a healthier future, one innovation at a time. These are the moments that matter—moments that echo in eternity.

Together, we’re proving that progress in maternal health is possible and that no challenge is insurmountable when we work together.