Telemedicine-assisted point-of-care ultrasound to improve the quality of patient care in rural areas

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.