Purpose: Limited access to specialist expertise in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in rural areas may adversely affect patient care and healthcare systems by increasing reliance on costly imaging modalities (e.g., computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging MRI) and unnecessary patient transfers to specialized centers. Telemedical support represents a promising strategy to address this gap.Methods: In this block-randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment, a total of 358 patients requiring ultrasound were assigned to two POCUS groups: 184 patients received standard POCUS without teleconsultation, and 174 received POCUS supported by remote experts via telemedicine. All examinations were performed by the most experienced available local providers. Standardized post-examination questionnaires were administered to assess perceptions of the diagnostic process.Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between telemedicine-assisted POCUS and standard POCUS. The study also provides insights into the feasibility and diagnostic performance of teleconsultation-supported ultrasound in real-world clinical settings. MRI utilization was significantly lower in the teleconsultation group (P=0.002).Conclusion: Telemedicine-assisted POCUS demonstrated acceptability and comparable care outcomes relative to standard practice. Its potential to reduce reliance on high-cost diagnostic modalities supports its relevance as a scalable and efficient care model.
Kleemann et al. (Thu,) studied this question.