Who Uses a Pocket Ultrasound Machine

There is a newcomer to the field of ultrasound technology: pocket ultrasound devices. For many physicians across the country, this tiny machine has been a part of normal physical exam tools in both hospital and outpatient clinic settings. Although pocket ultrasound devices are not necessarily standard in every healthcare environment, more physicians and sonographers are considering purchasing these machines to make bedside ultrasound a seamless part of the scanning practice.
Sonographers may find that pocket ultrasound machines are a welcome and unexpected bonus since many patients find the technology fascinating. In some cases, a sonographer may decide to allow the patient to hold the device so that the sonographer can point out what it is that he or she is seeing. However, since some sonographers are not legally permitted to discuss ultrasound findings with the patients, this may be a tricky line to walk, and many ultrasound technicians may decide to use the device only for their eyes.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Pocket Ultrasound Machines
As a sonographer, the first item to consider when deciding to purchase a handheld ultrasound device is the cost. The average pocket machine can retail for more than $8,000, though they may be available through secondhand markets or from an overseas retailer. Many sonographers and physicians balk at the notion of spending this amount of money on a single piece of equipment since many of the most expensive gadgets that sonographers use are owned by the practice or hospital in which they work.
However, musicians, for example, purchase their own instruments that often exceed tens of thousands of dollars, leading many sonographers to consider whether the cost ought to be a serious consideration when deciding whether to purchase a pocket ultrasound machine.
Additionally, it is important to note that not everyone can purchase one of these devices and expect to know how to use it right away. Rather, sonography and ultrasound imaging can take years to learn, so it may be in a sonographer’s best interest to gain experience using the standard ultrasound machines before he or she purchases a device for his or her own use.