A study published in Annals of Family Medicine by a research team from the University of Minnesota Medical School found that implementing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to assess pregnancy viability and gestational age in the first trimester significantly enhanced care for pregnant patients. The integration of POCUS reduced emergency visits by 81% for non-miscarrying patients, demonstrating the benefits of this innovative approach.
Background: Historically, early pregnancy care involved separate appointments for ultrasound assessments, risk evaluations, and patient education. However, this new integrated approach allows patients who are under 14 weeks pregnant to receive comprehensive care in a single visit. This includes ultrasound-based pregnancy dating, immediate assessment of pregnancy viability, risk evaluation, and on-site counseling, all based on real-time ultrasound results.
Key Findings: The study was conducted at M Health Fairview Clinic – Bethesda, starting in the fall of 2022, and it showed promising results in improving pregnancy care. The integration of POCUS led to several key outcomes:
81% Reduction in Emergency Visits: Non-miscarrying patients experienced an 81% reduction in emergency visits, urgent clinic appointments, and first-trimester phone inquiries, highlighting the effectiveness of the integrated care approach.
Timely Diagnosis of Abnormal Pregnancies: The use of POCUS allowed for quicker identification of high-risk cases, enabling timely intervention for complications such as miscarriage or abnormal pregnancies. This resulted in more efficient care delivery.
Improved Patient Education and Support: The integrated approach enhanced patient education and support for all patients, including those who experienced miscarriage, offering on-the-spot counseling and support.
Faster Diagnosis for Miscarriage Cases: For patients experiencing miscarriage, the time from initial concern to diagnosis decreased significantly, from an average of 5.8 days to 1.7 days.
Quotes from Study Authors: Dr. Allison Newman, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and family medicine physician with M Health Fairview, stated, “Our study demonstrates that the use of point-of-care ultrasound provides meaningful benefit to the patients we serve by addressing early pregnancy problems at the time they are identified. POCUS in early pregnancy helps clinicians more efficiently and accurately diagnose problems without compromising the quality of needed first trimester assessments – saving time, money, and stress for patients.”
Future Steps: Given the success of this approach at M Health Fairview Clinic, the next steps involve expanding the process to other family medicine practices and conducting broader studies across multiple sites. This expansion could further validate the effectiveness of POCUS in early pregnancy care, potentially transforming how first-trimester pregnancies are managed.
Conclusions: The study highlights the value of integrating point-of-care ultrasound into early pregnancy care. By providing real-time assessments of pregnancy viability and gestational age, clinicians can more effectively manage pregnancy complications, leading to better outcomes for patients and a reduction in unnecessary emergency visits. The integration of POCUS offers a promising model for improving early pregnancy care while saving time and resources for both patients and healthcare providers.
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