From the Guidelines
Yes, Emergency Department (ED) Point Of Care (POC) ultrasound can increase revenue by improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing the need for additional diagnostic tests, although the provided evidence does not directly address the financial impact of POC ultrasound on ED revenue.
Key Points
- The use of POC ultrasound in ED settings can improve the correctness of diagnoses in patients with acute dyspnea, as shown in studies such as 1 and 1.
- POC ultrasound can also facilitate timely and appropriate management of critically ill patients, potentially reducing the length of hospital stay and the need for additional diagnostic tests, as mentioned in 1 and 1.
- However, the evidence provided does not directly address the financial impact of POC ultrasound on ED revenue, and therefore, the answer is based on the potential benefits of improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced need for additional tests.
- It is essential to consider the costs of POCUS, as mentioned in 1, and weigh them against the potential benefits to determine the overall financial impact on ED revenue.
- Further studies are needed to directly assess the financial impact of POC ultrasound on ED revenue, but based on the available evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that POC ultrasound can increase revenue by improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing the need for additional diagnostic tests.
From the Research
Emergency Department Point Of Care Ultrasound Revenue
- The implementation of a point-of-care ultrasound (POC) billing and reimbursement program in an emergency department (ED) can increase revenue, as seen in a study where the net profits gained by the ED ultrasound program was approximately $350,000 2.
- A novel POC ultrasound billing protocol can lead to a significant increase in the number of ultrasound examinations billed, resulting in increased revenue, with a 7-fold increase in facility fees revenue and a 6.34-fold increase in professional fees revenue 2.
- The use of POC ultrasound in EDs can also lead to increased revenue through improved billing and reimbursement, as seen in a study where the potential revenue increased from $546.01 to $22,014.47 after the implementation of a POC ultrasound workflow integrated into the electronic medical record (EMR) 3.
- However, the use of POC ultrasound in EDs can be limited by barriers such as limited training, expense, and limited need, which can affect revenue generation, as seen in a study where only 8% of EDs billed for POC ultrasound 4.
- The expansion of insurance coverage for emergency ultrasound (EUS) and ultrasound education can also lead to a significant increase in the use of POC ultrasound, which can result in increased revenue, as seen in a study where the EUS rate increased significantly after the expansion of insurance coverage and ultrasound education 5.