5 Stages of POCUS Adoption: A Step-by-Step Guide for Healthcare Institutions

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is transforming healthcare by providing clinicians with rapid, bedside diagnostic capabilities. Understanding where your institution stands in the POCUS adoption cycle can help you take the right steps toward effective POCUS education and implementation.

What is Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)?

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) refers to the use of portable ultrasound devices at a patient’s bedside to perform immediate diagnostic and therapeutic assessments. Unlike traditional ultrasound systems typically housed in radiology departments, POCUS devices are smaller, more mobile, and often used by clinicians outside of radiology, such as emergency medicine physicians, intensivists, and even primary care practitioners.

Why is POCUS Adoption Important for Healthcare Institutions?

POCUS program adoption is vital because it enables healthcare providers to make faster, more accurate diagnoses, improving patient outcomes in critical situations. Its mobility and cost-effectiveness reduce the need for more expensive imaging techniques and can expand access to diagnostic care, especially in underserved or remote areas. As a versatile and immediate tool, POCUS enhances clinical decision-making and integrates seamlessly into routine care, ultimately improving the quality and timeliness of healthcare delivery.

Understanding the Stages of Clinical Ultrasound Adoption

At Aeyr, we see organizations move through what we define as the five stages of POCUS adoption: Awareness & Discovery, Didactic Foundations, Pre-Clinical Foundations, Clinical Oversight, and Program Assessment and Expansion. POCUS is a skill that can be complicated to master and is best taught using a blend of healthcare ultrasound training methods over time. Since technological advancements move at such a rapid pace, education always struggles to catch up. Due to the lack of universal standards and guidelines regarding POCUS education, establishing POCUS programs can be logistically challenging.

Aeyr believes it’s important for organizations to be empowered with resources to help them understand the full POCUS adoption cycle, where they fall in this cycle, and what steps they need to take at each stage. Below, we define the characteristics of organizations at each stage and provide helpful questions and practical action items administrators can take to set themselves up for success.

Stage 1: Awareness & Program Discovery

In this stage, healthcare providers and institutions begin to understand the value POCUS brings to clinical practice and decide to prioritize the integration of POCUS training into their curriculum. Administrators often question if they should create their own POCUS program from scratch or partner with an existing education provider. To determine the best path forward, Aeyr recommends asking:

What are our POCUS goals and where in our curriculum does it make sense to incorporate POCUS?

• •     Identify whether the goal is to meet externally imposed standards or to improve patient outcomes.
• •     Audit your curriculum to see where POCUS fits best and determine if external training solutions could integrate seamlessly.

What resources do we already have? What resources will we need?

• •     Do you have ultrasound devices? Secure devices before starting education, as POCUS is a hands-on skill.
• •     Be wary of device + education bundle packages. We recommend buying the device that is the best solution for your team and running an independent RFP process for your education needs. Here’s a helpful article for selecting the best device for your team.
• •     Are there other departments with existing POCUS programs you can build upon?
• •     Consider hiring a full-time POCUS expert or partnering with external education providers to ensure program success.

What’s our budget?

• •     Start small, with enough devices for an initial cohort. Opt for on-demand digital training to reduce costs.
• •     Look into grants that could support POCUS program development.

Does our program have specific needs or limitations?

• •     If your institution is remote or has budget constraints, consider on-demand, asynchronous digital training.

How much work do we want to put into creating and maintaining POCUS programming?

• •     A comprehensive POCUS curriculum requires didactic education and consistent practice opportunities. Consider partnering with educational experts if internal resources are limited.

Stage 2: Establishing Didactic Foundations

In this stage, institutions determine whether to create their own POCUS program or leverage existing healthcare ultrasound training partners. Regardless of the approach, programs should begin by delivering didactic (which is structured and teacher-centered) POCUS education—either in-person or digitally—to help learners establish foundational knowledge. For example, ask:

What is our plan for assessing didactic education?

• •     Didactic education is most effective when it’s interactive. Include quizzes, case studies, and practical tests to assess understanding.
• •     Institutions can create these materials or use existing education providers for assessments.

Stage 3: Pre-Clinical Foundations

With a solid understanding of POCUS concepts, learners must move on to simulated, hands-on learning experiences to practice protocols, conduct scans on peers, and receive feedback from trained instructors. It’s good to examine your plan by asking:

What’s our plan for transforming theoretical POCUS knowledge into hands-on skills?

• •     Provide consistent opportunities for hands-on training, such as expert-led mentorship hours or regular practice sessions.
• •     Consider leveraging external partners to provide digital mentorship opportunities for small groups.
• •     Patient simulations or dummies can be useful but should be supplemented with real-patient practice for better results.

Stage 4: Clinical Oversight & POCUS Program Implementation

Learners must gain real-world experience by practicing on actual patients, encountering diverse pathologies, and applying their image acquisition skills in clinical settings. It is crucial to have systems in place for overseeing learners’ clinical work. For example, ask:

What processes do we have in place to provide clinical oversight?

• •     Consider having a POCUS expert on-site during rounds or available for consultations.
• •     If internal resources are limited, look into external partners for real-time or post-patient feedback.

How will we monitor the POCUS scans and determine competency?

• •     Implement a QI/QA process where scans are reviewed by experts to ensure they meet institutional standards.
• •     Require practitioners to conduct a minimum number of clinical scans per month and provide remediation if necessary.

Stage 5: Program Assessment & Expansion

In the final stage, institutions assess their POCUS program’s success and consider opportunities for growth and improvement. This includes expanding the scope of the program and continually updating the curriculum based on new advancements and organizational needs.

References

• The New England Journal of Medicine
• Journal of Clinical Ultrasound: Operational Efficiency and QA
  
• Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine: Study on POCUS Training

Need help with your POCUS adoption? Talk to our sales team to tailor a solution for your institution.

Whether you’re starting your POCUS journey, enhancing practical skills, or needing ongoing mentorship, Aeyr offers tailored solutions to meet your needs. Ready to take your POCUS adoption to the next stage? Schedule a free consultation with our experts today and discover the best training solutions for your institution.

Explore Aeyr’s POCUS Training Solutions