A group of researchers found that using point-of-care ultrasounds (POCUS) to evaluate the viability and gestational age of early pregnancies significantly improved care for expectant mothers and reduced emergency visits by 81% for patients who were not experiencing miscarriages.
Recently published in Annals of Family Medicine, researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School discovered that the application of point-of-care ultrasounds (POCUS) for assessing pregnancy viability and gestational age in the first trimester greatly enhanced care for pregnant women and cut down emergency room visits by 81% for those not suffering a miscarriage.
In the past, early pregnancy care required separate appointments for ultrasounds, evaluations of risks, and patient education. This new streamlined method enables patients who are less than 14 weeks pregnant to receive all necessary care in a single visit. This comprehensive approach includes assessments for pregnancy dating via ultrasound, immediate checks on viability, risk evaluations, and on-the-spot counseling based on live ultrasound findings.
“Our study shows that point-of-care ultrasound significantly benefits our patients by resolving early pregnancy issues right when they are identified,” stated Allison Newman, MD, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a family medicine doctor with M Health Fairview. “Using POCUS in early pregnancy allows healthcare providers to diagnose issues more efficiently and precisely without sacrificing the quality of essential assessments in the first trimester—thus saving patients time, money, and stress.”
The research team rolled out this integrated strategy at the M Health Fairview Clinic – Bethesda in the fall of 2022, enabling the clinic to swiftly recognize high-risk situations and provide prompt help for conditions like miscarriage or abnormal pregnancies. Their findings included:
- The clinic experienced an 81% decrease in emergency visits, urgent appointments, and initial phone inquiries for patients not facing miscarriages.
- The implementation at the clinic resulted in quicker diagnoses for abnormal pregnancies and better education and support for all patients, even those who encounter a miscarriage.
- For cases of miscarriage, the average time from the first concern to diagnosis dropped from 5.8 days to just 1.7 days.
Future steps proposed include expanding this practice to other family medicine clinics and conducting a broader study across various locations.
