Page 17 - HA Convention 2016 [Abstracts (Day 1)]

Special Topics HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2016

T4.3 Training in Emergency Medicine 13:15 Convention Hall C

Point-of-care Ultrasound in Emergency Department: Enhancing Our Role and Integrating with Ambulatory Care Tuesday, 3 May
Model
Lee HKH 1, Lee G 2
1Accident and Emergency Department, United Christian Hospital, 2Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital,
Hong Kong

Emergency medicine (EM) has been developing rapidly in the last three decades. One of the significant developments is the
use of better technology and enhanced clinical practice such as incorporation of emergency ultrasound to bedside care in
the Emergency Department (ED).

Emergency ultrasound has greatly enhanced the process of resuscitation and critical care. It was first introduced to the
ED in Hong Kong about 20 years ago. Its portability, rapidity to use, availability, and repeatability favour its use in ED. The
practice and standard of emergency ultrasound in Hong Kong is evolving rapidly and reaching international standards. In this
presentation, different points will be shared such as the development of emergency ultrasound in Hong Kong, the concept of
point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), the use of ultrasound in managing critical and emergency conditions, and the impact on
quality of care especially in resuscitation, time dependent critical management, extended and ambulatory patient care.

The use of POCUS in changing the delivery of patient care in ED will also be illustrated. Compression ultrasound (CUS)
for patients with suspected lower limb deep vein thrombosis (LL DVT) and pelvic focused ultrasound (FoUSG) for first
trimester pregnant ladies are two prototypical modalities. In the past, these patients would be admitted to hospital for further
management. LL CUS and pelvic FoUSG allow us to safely manage them in an outpatient setting. Additionally, the protocols
serve to risk stratify and triage those in real emergency for timely definitive treatment, resulting in reduced admission, and
improved quality of patient care and patient satisfaction.

Despite its widespread of use, the quality of ultrasound is operator dependent. Currently the ultrasound trainers are
credentialed and affiliated with overseas organisation, namely Winfocus. There is no emergency ultrasound training centre in
Hong Kong. Therefore future development, potentials and challenges will be shared in this presentation.

89