Beyond the Stethoscope: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) as the New Norm in Family Medicine.

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has seen growing integration into family medicine over the past decade, to the point that POCUS competency is now moving toward inclusion in board eligibility. In parallel, excitement and interest around POCUS are growing at the medical student and residency levels. With its wide array of practical applications in the outpatient setting, POCUS invites us to imagine what family medicine could look like if ultrasound truly became "the new stethoscope" and a routine part of care. This commentary highlights how POCUS can be used accurately and efficiently for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening, avoid unnecessary emergency department visits by ruling out deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and change management of soft tissue infections by detecting abscesses. Together, these examples illustrate how POCUS can enhance care in the family medicine clinic.